Drinking at tournys

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**AgeOfEgos**

Mannahnin wrote:You can't entirely divorce alcohol from behavior

I absolutely agree. Drinking lowers inhibitions---and those whom get drunk from poor impulse control---are usually going to display even more grandiose impulse control issues when sloshed. For that type of person, that requires it to loosen up and 'be themselves'---the first drink quite literally is the one that gets them drunk.

**Auxellion**

I'd say... drinking in a tournament setting? Not "Serious drinking". Not even "Casual 3-4 beers drinking".

Drinking at a friends house? Warhammer drinking Games? Have a beer on a lunch break at a tournament? Sure. Just not when you PLAY the actual game.

Talking about 40k drinking games... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE3ezRBXyZQ was a few days back

**littleboyblues**

I always bring an ice chest and at least one 12 pack of shiner bock to every event (gt wise) I go to. I drink beer before round 1 starts and am drinking up until Saturday night. I use this time to drink with some of the people or online personalities I've finally met and just all around be social and hang out with fellow hobbyists and gamers. Sunday drinking depends on how well I did day 1 and also if I have to drive back or a friend is driving. I've always ended with a good sportsmanship.

I'll have to second what some have already said a couple of times. Drinking more works to get rid of your inhibitions. This is why people will have a couple of drinks before approaching a girl in a bar or a similar scenario. So drinking can make a timid person 10x more social but on the other hand can make a jack--s 10x more of a jack--s. Every person I've personally met that doesn't drink because they get too mean when they do are generally pretty mean spirited or petty people sober. Drinking is neither bad nor good. How much you drink, how you act when you drink and what environment your in while drinking is what can make it a bad or a good thing.

I think the poll should have been more specific too.
Drinking at FLGS on a Saturday local tournament. Absolutely not! Kids may show up its a family friendly environment and most stores of this type don't have a license to even have people drinking in them anyway. (this varies from state to state and country) Now several of these Saturday events we've all headed out to a pub and got a pizza and a couple of pitchers of beer for lunch and then went back for game 2 and 3.

Drinking at a GT where planes or long drives are involved and your average age is 20-40. I think it should not only be allowed but should be there. I may sound like an alcoholic but I would be less inclined to drive 6 hours if I can't even drink at the event. I mostly however just show up to GT's to show off my army and look at all the other armies, socialize and try and steal best painted.

I think for the folks that think drinking should be banned or are offended by playing a buzzed player should probably not go to an event where it is allowed. The exact same if you don't like the scoring system. If you don't like how a tournament is being scored and you go and then bitch about it afterward you probably should have found another tournament to go to or just accepted that that isn't how you would have done it and play it out. Its hardly fair for someone to have a beer or two at an event when your allowed to drink and then you be annoyed or dock them in sports for what is allowed. I'm sure there are lots of events where drinking isn't allowed. Now as far as your Larger events I think it will always be allowed. Man has socially bonded over booze and other effects for thousands of years and this isn't going to change anytime soon.

All that being said no you shouldn't get so hammered you can't stand up straight or even be able to make a proper sentence. But guess what? A person that was that sloshed in a bar (where people go to drink) would annoy me or ruin my buzz. So I think that is kind of stating the obvious.

**Da Boss**

I fall on the "I'll have a couple of beers over the day" end of things. Generally, 1 pint every two to three hours is enough. If I want to go to a convention and drink more than that, I won't play, so that no one is forced to interact with me when I am intoxicated.

I wouldn't be particularly irritated by a jolly drunk though.

**Dice_Junkie**

i say if you're gonna drink a beer or two during a game with me... you'd better offer me one. not kidding. i would be more offended if you had a cooler of suddy goodness, and didnt offer me one.

as for drunks, i dont deal with drunks in bars, much less around my fancy breakable miniatures. besides, i came to play warhammer, not to drink.

more realistically, ive never seen anyone play warhammer and drink, but as long as real youngins arent present, i'd be fine with it. i just dont like setting the bad example. i know how parents can be. you dont even have to talk to a whipper snapper and mama bear can go 0-grizzly in 3 seconds for just smelling it on you. i wouldnt take the chance.

but form private apocalypse games, my friends and i party and wargame. not much more fun than that.

**chromedog**

There are only three tournies in my state where drinking (alcohol) is allowed, and my club runs one of them (but our club is located in a licenced club, so we can drink during club meets, too), and they have not had any issues with excessive consumption.

I don't see a problem with it, unless drinking itself is a problem for those involved.

Those who do drink at our club tourney tend to already be staying locally (walking distance) anyway, so driving is not an issue.

**Grot 6**

Gaming in europe is different in America by that account.

I'd say yeah, if people could handle thier drinks like they do over there. Unfortunately, you always have a standard issue D bag that is the 30 year old kid that can't handle themselves, sober, let alone put a drink or two in them.

Between You, Me, and that Door, the way in which people drink has 100% the issue in how they will behave.

If they know how to drink, and arn't just drinking like a kid, then yeah, you can have some really good times.

If they drink like a college fratboy and get pissing, bark at the moon drunk, forget it.

I'm all for it in the right crowd, then again, I learned how to drink in the right setting. The ones that taught me wouldn't tolerate drinking to be a D bag.

You get blackballed by these types, you get excommunicated.

Whats the old saying? "Theres a time and a place..."? Yeah, you get !@#$'d in the wrong crowd, and you might as well not show your face at another game.

**zedsdead**

Im by no means a prude and enjoy a beer and a shot like any other.

However a T.O. that allows drinking at a tournament they host where they accept registrations from kids under the age of 18 isnt making a wise choice.

Creating a situation that might possibly expose a child to a drinker is pretty darn irresponsable.

I take my son with me to many tournaments and i would be pretty pissed if my son was at a table with a guy who was drinking.

If you want to do a tournament or a side event, such as Mikes "wiskey challenge" that allows drinking.. hey thats cool, however dont allow under aged players.

**Dashofpepper**

Interesting that 5% (or 7 people) don't like the idea of drinking + gaming, among which are people who have been the most vocal about the issue. =p

If you are at a GT, and your opponent breaks out some booze, and offers you one....accept it. Or don't. But if you feel indignation or morally outraged that they're about to consume alcohol in your holy presence, get over yourself. You're not special, and your opinion is worth even less than everyone elses' because you want to force YOUR views onto other people. They're not forcing you to drink. You have a 6x4 table between you. You won't even smell it unless they throw it at you across the table. And if slurred speech or hard to understand language is your gripe.....try TRAVELING. People from North Carolina can't understand what people from New York are saying, even without booze. People in California have words that people in Loiusiana have never even heard of. And around and around it goes.

If being around adults engaging in adult behavior is too much to handle, then retract from adult life back to privacy.

I liken this to people who get offended when an Ork player shouts "WAAAUGH!" during a tournament, because it startled them, or hurt their ears, or distracted them. And they say, "Could you not do that again please?" We're role-playing WARHAMMER, pretending to be GENERALS conquering EVIL ALIENS, and someone got offended that someone else let out a warcry?

Bloody bones of baby Gandalf, some people are dysfunctional.

**XxRVNGRDxX**

I have no problems with drinking during friendly games or friendly tournaments. Now if I were at a large event and someone was drinking heavily and screwing around being a TFG, then yea, I would have an issue.

Mostly its about the environment and the type of people I would be gaming against. I drink during many games. But I don't at tourneys.

**Monster Rain**

Dash, I don't think you really need to be calling people names.

There was a poll, people gave their opinions. No one insulted you so it seems that calling others "dysfunctional" is inappropriate.

**micahaphone**

Tipsy gamers are poor gamers. That being said, alcohol and dice don't mix.

**Gornall**

Monster Rain wrote:Dash, I don't think you really need to be calling people names.

There was a poll, people gave their opinions. No one insulted you so it seems that calling others "dysfunctional" is inappropriate.

Agreed. Overall the thread seems like it is fairly mellow atm. I am not shy about drinking in appropriate venues. However, as others have stated, a GT with children present may not be the best place for it. A GT that encourages drinking is another matter entirely... Either accept that people will be drinking (but hopefully not getting drunk) or vote with your feet.

**Grimgob**

Dashofpepper wrote:Interesting that 5% (or 7 people) don't like the idea of drinking + gaming, among which are people who have been the most vocal about the issue. =p

If you are at a GT, and your opponent breaks out some booze, and offers you one....accept it. Or don't. But if you feel indignation or morally outraged that they're about to consume alcohol in your holy presence, get over yourself. You're not special, and your opinion is worth even less than everyone elses' because you want to force YOUR views onto other people. They're not forcing you to drink. You have a 6x4 table between you. You won't even smell it unless they throw it at you across the table. And if slurred speech or hard to understand language is your gripe.....try TRAVELING. People from North Carolina can't understand what people from New York are saying, even without booze. People in California have words that people in Loiusiana have never even heard of. And around and around it goes.

If being around adults engaging in adult behavior is too much to handle, then retract from adult life back to privacy.

I liken this to people who get offended when an Ork player shouts "WAAAUGH!" during a tournament, because it startled them, or hurt their ears, or distracted them. And they say, "Could you not do that again please?" We're role-playing WARHAMMER, pretending to be GENERALS conquering EVIL ALIENS, and someone got offended that someone else let out a warcry?

Bloody bones of baby Gandalf, some people are dysfunctional.

yes but 55% of people dont mind if you drink just not if your drunk (I'm in this catagory). Getting trashed in public is not adult behavior like someone mentioned before. every ones opinion is valid (even the 90% you dont care about) thats what makes this a great community. you seam to be in the small vocal few (like the people who dont want you to drink at all) defending binge drinking at events and binge drinking at events is not cool. Apperantly the community agrees (please dont be offended that people disagree with you it happens). You might not agree that its binge drinking but here is the definition for you "Binge drinking is the modern epithet for drinking alcoholic beverages with the primary intention of becoming drunk within a short period of time.[1] It is a kind of purposeful drinking style that is popular in several countries worldwide, and overlaps somewhat with social drinking since it is often done in groups. The exact degree of intoxication, however, varies between and within various cultures that engage in this practice".On a side note people can't always help were they are from but everyone can use discression when neccesary.

Oh and from me and Ice Cube "We Si Fi Li Ni"
edited to include California slang

**Kilkrazy**

If a tournament is held in a drinking venue like a pub, it would be silly to prohibit drinking.

Most tournaments are held in non-drinking venues. In such cases it is the TO's decision whether players are allowed to bring in their own booze.

People shouldn't get uptight if drinking is not allowed in such circumstances. There isn't a fundamental right to drink.

I haven't felt a desire to drink during tournament games, though I will happily drink during social gaming. If I were facing someone drinking my attitude would depend on their behaviour.

**ph34r**

Dashofpepper wrote:People from North Carolina can't understand what people from New York are saying, even without booze. People in California have words that people in Loiusiana have never even heard of. And around and around it goes.

Sup bra, you don't like talk about you're ballin in your scraper, goin stupid with casper, or like, just chillaxin with some stunners?

Like, no way. Bay is sinchy man.

I have hyphee to thank for a lot of things.

**Cottonjaw**

Dashofpepper wrote:Morning drinking is a little much.

My personal least favorite are people who drink the night before, or on Saturday night - such that they are hung over and in a bad mood Saturday or Sunday morning for gaming. People who are hung over are usually the least fun to play against.

I usually start drinking in the afternoon on Saturday, around game 3 after lunch (presuming there are two morning rounds). By the time the first day ends I've got a heady buzz going on, and I stop drinking, go to dinner, drink water, clear my head and am fresh for the next morning. Personally, I rarely drink on Sundays for two day events because of the travel time involved getting back home.

Some people have mentioned that drinking can make you friendlier. There's a lateral statement that holds true as well. Drinking can also raise your douche tolerance. I've seen some raging arguments at GTs. Shouting, yelling, TO interventions....I've never had to sit through any of that myself and am grateful. I *do* often have to put up with minor annoyances. People snatching up their hits instead of misses, measuring from the center or rear of their vehicles instead of the front, then not keeping consistency, eyeballing range, counting too many models under template weapons, claiming cover where none is available, denying cover when it is truly available, loose measurement, extra partial inches, accidentally bumping models into more favorable positions, doing the same to terrain, making up rules, forgetting their own rules, trying to shoot units more than once in a shooting phase....

Subjected to all this on a regular basis, I started calling minute things. Remember page numbers, quoting them, having to rules lawyer to keep people from cheating, even at the little things. These days, I realize that people who do that stuff generally don't have a bat's chance in hell of winning anyway, so I let them do it anyway unless it is egregious. Drinking raises my tolerance for having to deal with those people.

Situation: Opponent is trying to line up an assault against a unit of mine, and thinks he is about 13" away. During his movement, he does the "Measure 6", then remove the tape measure and put models roughly where the 6" mark was" trick to gain some extra distance.

Sober Dash: Dude, put your model back. That's a hell of a lot more than 6". Put your tape measure on the table, LEAVE IT THERE, and move the model up as far as you like, but not beyond the 6".
Drinking Dash: Phew! Those guys are really moving out EXTRA far this turn aren't they? I bet they smell my rum and are trying to poach it. STAY AWAY I SAY!

Situation: Opponent deep-strikes a drop pod with a dreadnought inside it next to a conga line of wyches and prepares to heavy flamer them. He places the template haphazardly, not at the flamer barrel, and doesn't hit as much of the squad as possible because he's trying to also peg their vehicle. He says, "Looks like I have 7 wyches and their raider."

Sober Dash: You mind if I double-check?
Drinking Dash: Coolio, I'll take your word for it.

Situation: Opponent is deep-striking a unit onto the table (or rolling a blast weapon, whatever), and they miss, and scatter 2d6. From eyeballing it and being pretty damned good with depth perception, I can see that the angle is going to scatter into a unit. When my opponent measures out the scatter over his unit, the direction of the tape measure is conveniently not identical to the scatter die, such that he scatters just to the side of the unit he would have mishapped on.

Sober Dash: Uh...that's not where they go. Here, let me help you. Extend your tape measure over the scatter die. Now I'm going to make my perpendicular to your own tape measure and cross your model. And finally, you take your tape measure and draw it perpendicular to mine over your model so that you are moving in the exact correct direction.
Drinking Dash: Phew, you got lucky that time. You know, it helps if you roll the scatter die by the unit - requires a lot less direction and measuring, and I'm all about easy!

I could go on and on. I've run into a *LOT* of this.

Drinking makes it easier for me to tolerate bullgak.

I finally have a reason to agree with DoP.

My douche-tolerance goes through the roof when I boozehammer. Why? Because I'm buzzing. So whatever TFG is busy buzzing off about... doesn't even get through.

"Sure. Go for it dude."

**Izeya82**

Gaming. Drinking...sounds win to me!!! I lsoe oh well I am drunk and having a blast. and helps to ignore the a-holes

**Praxiss**

A couple of relaxed dirnsk over a game wouldn't worry me at all.

Could be a fun drinking game though! Every time you lose a model, take a shot.

**Aldonis**

If you don't like drinking and gaming....never...under ANY circumstance....no matter what....attend the Kalm before the Waagh in Huntsville! It's held in a bar.....last year one of the scenario's required you place a beer bottle on the table as an objective. Guess what - ever one has a blast there - drinkers and non-drinkers, drunks and social drinkers. I've personally been all of those there.

I personally would rather play someone who's sober or socially drinking in a tourney.

I personally have only over done it at tourneys twice. Once was the above Kalm a few years back - which was the last time I've been totally sh*t faced. I had to be a pain for my opponents to play against. The other was at the Adepticon champs in the last round (I had's me some Mr. Jack to numb the pain of my poor showing). I played someone who I consider a buddy and was a might tipsy at the start of the game. I felt bad about it and hope I didn't irritate him too much - he's a good guy and one of the best painters in the game.

At the end of the day, we own half the social contract in the game - and should try not to be TFG.....

**Dashofpepper**

Kilkrazy wrote:

Most tournaments are held in non-drinking venues. In such cases it is the TO's decision whether players are allowed to bring in their own booze.

Oh? What tournaments are those? Seems to me that most major events these days have adult beverages associated with them. I'm at the Alamo GT right now; I forgot my flask in the hotel room and had two beers today (Mississippi Mudslides) and draft beers were $1.00. The convention center has an attached bar; they even brought in a "Beer Goddess" cheerleader from the Flying Saucer to bring drinks to gamers.

I see more venues with drinking attached than not.

@Monster Rain: I didn't call anyone names. I labeled a group of people. Dysfunctional. People across ALL walks of life who wish to enforce their personal beliefs on other people are dysfunctional. People who believe that gamers without fully painted armies aren't good enough to play against them are dysfunctional. People who believe that anyone who doesn't share their faith in a particular religion should die are dysfunctional. People who believe that gamers who are indulging in a drink should have the cops called on them, or that shouldn't be gaming....are dysfunctional.

I have a problem with ANYONE who wishes to FORCE someone else to conform to their own personal beliefs. Mind your own damned business, live and let live, and all that jazz.

**Mannahnin**

Dash, please stop trying to pick a fight. Everyone in this thread who disagrees with you has been civil about it.

The person in the other thread who talked about calling the cops was talking from a position of dealing with an unpleasant drunk, and he later modified his comments. When you keep attempting to paint people who have different preferences in this way, it doesn't make your own position look good.

Remember that in a tournament you have very limited options when it comes to your opponents. If I voluntarily put myself in a state of intoxication where some folks find me less enjoyable to interact with, that's as much on me as it is on them.

**Monster Rain**

Mannahnin summed it up better. You can delete this.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001940/

Actually, leave it. I think some people should read this link.

**Mechanized Space Corps**

This thread is going downhill... :(

Can't we all just abide by the Flint Tropics[b] only rule, “Everybody love everybody“

Gotta love dat semi pro

**ShatteredBlade**

I drink at my friends house and play 40k, I drink at my house and play 40k. I don't think at a game store it'd be wise.

**Mannahnin**

At game stores (at least in the US) it's generally not an option. The store generally doesn't/can't allow it. At local clubs it's fair game. The Dorka Morka club in the Boston area plays at a fraternal association hall, and they have a full bar downstairs from the gaming room.

Mostly this is about big tournaments/GTs. The kind you go away for the weekend to attend. A lot of us enjoy these as mini-vacations as well, and enjoy some drinking during them.

**Dashofpepper**

Mannahnin, I'm truly not trying to pick fights. I get just as upset when people write, "I refuse to game against people who aren't fielding a fully painted army."

I also have no issue with people who don't want to play against people who are staggering drunk. Its the "Drinking doesn't belong in wargaming and shouldn't be allowed" crowed I have a problem with.

**WarOne**

Dashofpepper wrote:I also have no issue with people who don't want to play against people who are staggering drunk. Its the "Drinking doesn't belong in wargaming and shouldn't be allowed" crowed I have a problem with.

It is hard for some people to differentiate the mutually exclusive casual drinking and getting drunk off their arse crowds.

Drinking is bad period in their eyes.

Perhaps their experience with alcohol is what drives them down that path. Alcoholic parents, drunk driving incidents, alcohol related violence, ect.. Some just don't want to hear the argument for casual drinking because they cannot separate those who do it for leisure and those who abuse it.

**Monster Rain**

That is far too nuanced an opinion to have on the internet WarOne.

**WarOne**

Monster Rain wrote:That is far too nuanced an opinion to have on the internet WarOne.

It's the grimdark black and dullshine gold of the forum colors that drives me to be so intellectual here.