The Sam Malone (Cheers) factor?

[Ken Bessler]

X-No-Archive: Yes

I've been sober for almost 15 months now, pretty much
souley on will power. At the time I quit I was drinking a
1 liter bottle of vodka and a case of beer everyday. My
hands were shaking so bad I had trouble writing the check
at the liquor store unless I had a buzz going. I had black
stuff coming out of both ends of me.

Wretched, eh?

Anyways, I did it - I quit. I won't even eat a beer bratwurst
or take NyQuil now.

Problem is that I need a job and there is a liquor store down
the street with a "help wanted" sign in the window.

Q's: Can I work in a liquor store safely? Will I be tempted to
drink, being surrounded by booze or will the exposure to
drunks stumbling in, reeking of booze make me even more
resolute to stay sober?

I feel the latter is more likely.

What do you people think?

[David M]

Ken Bessler wrote:

> Problem is that I need a job and there is a liquor store down
> the street with a "help wanted" sign in the window.
>
> Q's: Can I work in a liquor store safely? Will I be tempted to
> drink, being surrounded by booze or will the exposure to
> drunks stumbling in, reeking of booze make me even more
> resolute to stay sober?
>
> I feel the latter is more likely.
>
> What do you people think?

Some former drunks could do it; some couldn't. How would we know
better than you what you could do?

But clerking in a liquor store isn't exactly the height of ambition
and probably doesn't pay any better than flipping burgers at Mickey
D's. Have you looked for other jobs?

[Matt]

Personally, I work in a store that sells liqour, and I feel that it makes it
harder for me, at the end of the day, to avoid just picking up a bottle on
my way out. The easier it is to get, the harder it is to resist. You could
always give it a try, and if the temptation becomes to much for you, find
some place else to work.

"Ken Bessler" <kg0wx@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:CNpNe.3221$ct5.1020@fed1read04...
> X-No-Archive: Yes
>
> I've been sober for almost 15 months now, pretty much
> souley on will power. At the time I quit I was drinking a
> 1 liter bottle of vodka and a case of beer everyday. My
> hands were shaking so bad I had trouble writing the check
> at the liquor store unless I had a buzz going. I had black
> stuff coming out of both ends of me.
>
> Wretched, eh?
>
> Anyways, I did it - I quit. I won't even eat a beer bratwurst
> or take NyQuil now.
>
> Problem is that I need a job and there is a liquor store down
> the street with a "help wanted" sign in the window.
>
> Q's: Can I work in a liquor store safely? Will I be tempted to
> drink, being surrounded by booze or will the exposure to
> drunks stumbling in, reeking of booze make me even more
> resolute to stay sober?
>
> I feel the latter is more likely.
>
> What do you people think?
>
>

[Been There, Got a mug]

We're similar ! I gave my 1 Liter of vodka a day 361 days ago.
Tuesday will be 365... The couple months before that
I almost lost my job, and health was terrible, and my
outlook towards anything was negative. I was so physically
ill that I barely leave the house except early in the morning
when my wife was gone. Then I gather up all my empties
and started all over. I said to myself every morning after I
threw up whatever I ate the night before that I'd quit

I stayed in a hospital for 6 weeks.

You've surviving on will-power, your chances (IMO)
are very very *BAD*. Your a dry drunk surviving on day to
day basis. How can I tell ?

Do yourself a favor.

Write down 10 things you want to keep.

Write down 10 consequences if you start drinking
again .

Compare the list.

Hopefully ... you say no.

[Ken Bessler]

X-No-Archive: Yes

"Matt" <nothingisworking@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:zKsNe.122$Vg7.44@trnddc06...
> Personally, I work in a store that sells liqour, and I feel that it makes
> it
> harder for me, at the end of the day, to avoid just picking up a bottle on
> my way out. The easier it is to get, the harder it is to resist. You could
> always give it a try, and if the temptation becomes to much for you, find
> some place else to work.
>

IMHO There is a difference between working in a store that sells
liquor and working in a liquor store - the difference is that a liquor
store is more likely to have customers falling over themselves like
pathetic boozers and reeking of stale beer and sickarettes.

If that's the case, working there for me would be like a DUI convict
being forced to work in an emergency room at 2am on new years
day.

The question is this: Is the exposure to the bad effects stronger than
the temptation of easy access?

I guess it's one I'll have to find out for myself and I think I've got
an idea. I used to go to this bar/grill near town. They have diet Coke,
fresh iced tea, great coffee and burger's and nachos to die for.

I ***MAY*** go there someday and see how I do. I'll tell you
this - if I feel tempted to have a pitcher of Bud with my 2/3rd lb
double bacon mushroom swiss cheeseburger, I'll run and never
go into a bar again. Maybe it's worth the risk?

Thanks to all who responded.

Ken

[rob]

good luck man, not personally a choice i would make.But who the hell am I
right.
"Ken Bessler" <kg0wx@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:CNpNe.3221$ct5.1020@fed1read04...
> X-No-Archive: Yes
>
> I've been sober for almost 15 months now, pretty much
> souley on will power. At the time I quit I was drinking a
> 1 liter bottle of vodka and a case of beer everyday. My
> hands were shaking so bad I had trouble writing the check
> at the liquor store unless I had a buzz going. I had black
> stuff coming out of both ends of me.
>
> Wretched, eh?
>
> Anyways, I did it - I quit. I won't even eat a beer bratwurst
> or take NyQuil now.
>
> Problem is that I need a job and there is a liquor store down
> the street with a "help wanted" sign in the window.
>
> Q's: Can I work in a liquor store safely? Will I be tempted to
> drink, being surrounded by booze or will the exposure to
> drunks stumbling in, reeking of booze make me even more
> resolute to stay sober?
>
> I feel the latter is more likely.
>
> What do you people think?
>

[WACO]

I'm a refrigeration mechanic by trade. My first week sober I happened to
be sent to numerous calls for walk in cooler systems for a chain of liquor
stores. I swear the Budweiser was talking to me. The stacked beer cases
looked like they were a mile high. (Princess and the Pea??) Sweating
profusly in a cooler which is at 35*F. What could I have done? Gone to
the boss and explained the quandary I was in? Not likely.

I just sucked it up and made it. Now such calls have no effect on me. The
coolers can be loaded with beer or turnips, it doesn't make a difference to
me at all.

Ken Bessler wrote:

> X-No-Archive: Yes
>
> I've been sober for almost 15 months now, pretty much
> souley on will power. At the time I quit I was drinking a
> 1 liter bottle of vodka and a case of beer everyday. My
> hands were shaking so bad I had trouble writing the check
> at the liquor store unless I had a buzz going. I had black
> stuff coming out of both ends of me.
>
> Wretched, eh?
>
> Anyways, I did it - I quit. I won't even eat a beer bratwurst
> or take NyQuil now.
>
> Problem is that I need a job and there is a liquor store down
> the street with a "help wanted" sign in the window.
>
> Q's: Can I work in a liquor store safely? Will I be tempted to
> drink, being surrounded by booze or will the exposure to
> drunks stumbling in, reeking of booze make me even more
> resolute to stay sober?
>
> I feel the latter is more likely.
>
> What do you people think?
>
>

[Fred Exley]

"Ken Bessler" <kg0wx@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:V9uNe.3441$ct5.407@fed1read04...
> X-No-Archive: Yes
>
> "Matt" <nothingisworking@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:zKsNe.122$Vg7.44@trnddc06...
>> Personally, I work in a store that sells liqour, and I feel that it makes
>> it
>> harder for me, at the end of the day, to avoid just picking up a bottle
>> on
>> my way out. The easier it is to get, the harder it is to resist. You
>> could
>> always give it a try, and if the temptation becomes to much for you, find
>> some place else to work.
>>
>
> IMHO There is a difference between working in a store that sells
> liquor and working in a liquor store - the difference is that a liquor
> store is more likely to have customers falling over themselves like
> pathetic boozers and reeking of stale beer and sickarettes.
>
> If that's the case, working there for me would be like a DUI convict
> being forced to work in an emergency room at 2am on new years
> day.
>
> The question is this: Is the exposure to the bad effects stronger than
> the temptation of easy access?
>
> I guess it's one I'll have to find out for myself and I think I've got
> an idea. I used to go to this bar/grill near town. They have diet Coke,
> fresh iced tea, great coffee and burger's and nachos to die for.
>
> I ***MAY*** go there someday and see how I do. I'll tell you
> this - if I feel tempted to have a pitcher of Bud with my 2/3rd lb
> double bacon mushroom swiss cheeseburger, I'll run and never
> go into a bar again. Maybe it's worth the risk?
>
> Thanks to all who responded.
>
> Ken


I personally wouldn't be able to handle it -surrounded by booze all day
every day. What about the customers who aren't pathetic boozers? There you
are, handling a bottle of your favorite stuff as you ring it up for a happy,
successful-looking customer, then you start to thinking...

Sounds very risky. I mean, should gambling addicts work in a casino, or
diabetics in a chocolate factory....

-Fred

[rockhound]

On Sat, 20 Aug 2005 02:25:52 -0700, "Fred Exley" <fexley221@msn.com>
wrote:

>I personally wouldn't be able to handle it -surrounded by booze all day
>every day. What about the customers who aren't pathetic boozers? There you
>are, handling a bottle of your favorite stuff as you ring it up for a happy,
>successful-looking customer, then you start to thinking...
>
>Sounds very risky. I mean, should gambling addicts work in a casino, or
>diabetics in a chocolate factory....
>
>-Fred

How are you, Fred? You and your daughter have been crossing my mind
lately for some reason...sorry no idea why...

Still trying to beat the game by avoiding temptation, by the sounds of
it?

Well, i guess we've all had our days enduring discontented fingernail
sobriety, while inside we'd secretly give anything for a few drinks,
eh.

[bizbear@charter.net]

On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 13:45:54 -0500, "Ken Bessler"
<kg0wx@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote:

> X-No-Archive: Yes
>
>I've been sober for almost 15 months now, pretty much
>souley on will power. At the time I quit I was drinking a
>1 liter bottle of vodka and a case of beer everyday. My
>hands were shaking so bad I had trouble writing the check
>at the liquor store unless I had a buzz going. I had black
>stuff coming out of both ends of me.

I've bled internally, as well. Not a pretty picture. Temptation is @
every street corner. Why expose yourself to more? What would be the
purpose in that?

Ted

[Fred Exley]

"rockhound" <user@null.org> wrote in message
news:c1deg1dchv3plk3r3523pe9p9rnpa2pesa@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 20 Aug 2005 02:25:52 -0700, "Fred Exley" <fexley221@msn.com>
> wrote:
>
>>I personally wouldn't be able to handle it -surrounded by booze all day
>>every day. What about the customers who aren't pathetic boozers? There
>>you
>>are, handling a bottle of your favorite stuff as you ring it up for a
>>happy,
>>successful-looking customer, then you start to thinking...
>>
>>Sounds very risky. I mean, should gambling addicts work in a casino, or
>>diabetics in a chocolate factory....
>>
>>-Fred
>
> How are you, Fred? You and your daughter have been crossing my mind
> lately for some reason...sorry no idea why...
>
> Still trying to beat the game by avoiding temptation, by the sounds of
> it?
>
> Well, i guess we've all had our days enduring discontented fingernail
> sobriety, while inside we'd secretly give anything for a few drinks,
> eh.

We're having a really great summer, really. This afternoon I'm driving up
to L.A.X. to pick her up. She's been on a goat farm in Pennsylvania the
past two weeks, and having quite a blast.

You know, airports are another place synonymous with drinking any time of
day. After seeing her onto the plane two weeks ago, the thought crossed my
mind, 'hey, it's Saturday afternoon, no responsibilities, Venice Beach is
just up the road'... But believe it or not, I just don't want anything to
do with booze again. I do avoid the temptation, not so much because I'd
better or else, but because I'd rather be doing something worthwhile now.
Trying to make up for lost time, maybe. And really, I can spot somebody
whose been drinking a mile away, and that's the last person in the world I
feel like having a conversation with. When I get the airport, I'll be
waiting for the plane at the Starbucks, and looking forward to it. Thanks
for asking, man! -Fred

[Hugh Jarse]

"Ken Bessler" <kg0wx@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in
news:CNpNe.3221$ct5.1020@fed1read04:

> X-No-Archive: Yes
>
> I've been sober for almost 15 months now, pretty much
> souley on will power. At the time I quit I was drinking a
> 1 liter bottle of vodka and a case of beer everyday. My
> hands were shaking so bad I had trouble writing the check
> at the liquor store unless I had a buzz going. I had black
> stuff coming out of both ends of me.
>
> Wretched, eh?
>
> Anyways, I did it - I quit. I won't even eat a beer bratwurst
> or take NyQuil now.
>
> Problem is that I need a job and there is a liquor store down
> the street with a "help wanted" sign in the window.
>
> Q's: Can I work in a liquor store safely? Will I be tempted to
> drink, being surrounded by booze or will the exposure to
> drunks stumbling in, reeking of booze make me even more
> resolute to stay sober?
>
> I feel the latter is more likely.
>
> What do you people think?
>
>

If you spend enough time in a barber shop, sooner or later you will get a
haircut.

Jeff

[Ken Bessler]

--
X-No-Archive: Yes

>
> If you spend enough time in a barber shop,
> sooner or later you will get a haircut.
>
> Jeff

If that's true, then why do grocery store clerks
and others in the food industry always seem skinny?

Ken

[Dreamspinner3]

On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 18:44:53 -0500, "Ken Bessler"
<kg0wx@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote:

>If that's the case, working there for me would be like a DUI convict
>being forced to work in an emergency room at 2am on new years
>day.

Hardcore alcoholics with multiple DUIs probably would be shocked into
sobriety by working in an emergency room at 2:00am on New Year's Eve.
My husband, a multiple DUI alcoholic, faced his own death earlier this
year due to his drinking...spent 12 days in the hospital going through
the DTs plus other shit--and STILL returned to booze.
-----
Kim/Dreamspinner3
Visit My Homepage: http://members.tripod.com/dreamspinner3/

[stuart]

Dreamspinner3 <dreamspinner3@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ehhig1dt1kht1lo62k9hr41vqectqp70u5@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 18:44:53 -0500, "Ken Bessler"
> <kg0wx@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >If that's the case, working there for me would be like a DUI convict
> >being forced to work in an emergency room at 2am on new years
> >day.
>
> Hardcore alcoholics with multiple DUIs probably would be shocked into
> sobriety by working in an emergency room at 2:00am on New Year's Eve.
> My husband, a multiple DUI alcoholic, faced his own death earlier this
> year due to his drinking...spent 12 days in the hospital going through
> the DTs plus other shit--and STILL returned to booze.

If you buy into the concept behind step 1 "powerless over alcohol" that
would imply even the most dreadful experience in emerg would be unlikely to
scare off a true alcoholic from drinking. Hell, even the prospect of
imminent demise of THEMSELVES doesn't even shock them in not drinking in
many instances.
That's why a power greater than human power is required.....

> -----
> Kim/Dreamspinner3
> Visit My Homepage: http://members.tripod.com/dreamspinner3/

[rosie read n' post]

>
> Hardcore alcoholics with multiple DUIs probably would be shocked into
> sobriety by working in an emergency room at 2:00am on New Year's Eve.


nope!
that never worked for me!
i just went home and drank over the poor drunks!

[Gregg Fowler]

On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 21:28:54 -0500, Hugh Jarse <hugharse@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> "Ken Bessler" <kg0wx@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in
> news:CNpNe.3221$ct5.1020@fed1read04:
>
>> X-No-Archive: Yes
>>
>> I've been sober for almost 15 months now, pretty much
>> souley on will power. At the time I quit I was drinking a
>> 1 liter bottle of vodka and a case of beer everyday. My
>> hands were shaking so bad I had trouble writing the check
>> at the liquor store unless I had a buzz going. I had black
>> stuff coming out of both ends of me.
>>
>> Wretched, eh?
>>
>> Anyways, I did it - I quit. I won't even eat a beer bratwurst
>> or take NyQuil now.
>>
>> Problem is that I need a job and there is a liquor store down
>> the street with a "help wanted" sign in the window.
>>
>> Q's: Can I work in a liquor store safely? Will I be tempted to
>> drink, being surrounded by booze or will the exposure to
>> drunks stumbling in, reeking of booze make me even more
>> resolute to stay sober?
>>
>> I feel the latter is more likely.
>>
>> What do you people think?
>>
>>
>
> If you spend enough time in a barber shop, sooner or later you will get a
> haircut.
>
> Jeff

I know some long haired barbers. :-)