How to discover your Alcohol Tolerance Level (drinking capacity)

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HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR DRINKING CAPACITY (ALCOHOL TOLERANCE LEVEL)

“Flash Point” and “Fire Point” Method

Booze Wisdom By Vikram Karve

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There is a saying in the Navy:

“If you want to know the true characteristics of a officer — ask his course-mates and shipmates…”

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If you ask my course-mates and shipmates about me — the one thing they will tell you about me — is that — in my heyday — I drank a lot of booze.

But — they will also tell you that I had enormous drinking capacity.

So — despite drinking generous quantities of alcohol — I was never seen drunk.

Yes — I was often seen in “high spirits” — but — I was never seen drunk.

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(I remember only one occasion on which it can be said that I was drunk — and — I never let that happen again)

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The Navy taught me many things.

One of the things I learnt in the Navy was how to drink alcohol.

After around 25 years of enjoyable drinking — I quit drinking 20 years ago.

For the benefit of posterity — I wrote a series on HOW TO DRINK ALCOHOL and posted it online on my blogs in the year 2011 — and revised versions later — in 2012 and 2013.

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DRINKING ALCOHOL

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Nowadays — many youngsters — boys and girls — drink alcohol.

Sadly — I observe that — many youngsters do not know how to enjoy drinking — and — how to get the best from alcohol.

The evidence of this is the increased propensity towards drunkenness — which can lead to all sorts of consequences — including — personal harm, misbehaviour, violence, brawls, inappropriate behaviour, date rape, drunk driving, accidents etc

Sometime ago — during a “Cocktail Party” — which was more of a drunken spree with wild dancing — I observed many young persons who got terribly drunk and made a spectacle of themselves.

From time to time — you hear of the increasing number of drunken driving accidents.

All this prompts me to delve into my “alcoholic archives” and post — once again — Part 4 of my series on How to Drink Alcohol on the topic HOW TO FIND OUT YOUR DRINKING CAPACITY (Alcohol Tolerance Level)

Every individual has a different drinking capacity — and if you want to avoid getting drunk — you must know your alcohol tolerance level.

Below this article — I am giving the links to my posts (Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) of my series on “Booze Wisdom” on HOW TO DRINK ALCOHOL.

Cheers — Enjoy…!!!

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HOW TO DRINK ALCOHOL — Part 4

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HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR DRINKING CAPACITY or ALCOHOL TOLERANCE LEVEL

(“Flash Point” and “Fire Point” Method)

Booze Wisdom By Vikram Karve

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HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU DRINK…?

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It is best not to drink alcohol.

But if you do drink then you must ask yourself:

“Why do I drink…?”

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The answer is simple.

You drink because you want to “feel good”.

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If you drink too much — you will get drunk.

When you get drunk you hardly feel or remember anything — since your senses are dulled.

But — if you get inebriated — in your intoxicated and drunken state — you will make a fool of yourself — and you may embarrass your near and dear ones.

And on the morning after your alcoholic binge — you will certainly feel miserable when you come to your senses from your drunken stupor — and suffer the pains of a terrible hangover.

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The Moot Question is:

“HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU DRINK…?”

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How much should you drink…?

If you drink too little — well then — there is no point in drinking alcohol at all.

You might as well have some fruit juice — or a soft drink — or a glass of milk.

You may find it laughable — but at some parties — I have seen some persons just holding a drink in their hands just for keeping up appearances to show others that they drink.

They do this because they want to project a “proper” image before their hard drinking bosses and colleagues — and — they don’t want their hard-drinking colleagues and friends to call them a “sissy”.

There is no shame in being a Non-Drinker Teetotaller — in fact — you should be proud of it.

By the way — after over 25 years of “work hard — play hard — drink hard” — Navy Style Living — I too am living a life of sobriety for the last 20 years.

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I write this series as I wish to share my drinking experiences with you — and enable you to take more out of alcohol than alcohol takes out of you.

If you want to truly enjoy drinking — you must drink just the right amount of alcohol that makes you “feel good”.

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AIM OF DRINKING

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The aim of drinking alcohol is to feel “HIGH” — but you must not to get DRUNK.

And — of course — the aim of drinking is not to remain dead sober as a Teetotaller — in which case — it is a waste of good liquor.

So — here is the answer to the question:

“How Much Alcohol Should You Drink”…?

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You must never make a show of drinking just to “keep up appearances” or to avoid being called a “prude” or a “sissy”.

If you drink too little — well then — there is no point in drinking alcohol at all — besides it a waste of good liquor (and your money).

You must drink enough — just that much so that you feel “high” — but you must not get drunk.

And — for achieving this delightful “high” state — you must know your “drinking capacity” — which depends on your “alcohol tolerance level”.

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HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR DRINKING CAPACITY

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Well — it was through sheer serendipity that I discovered my drinking capacity.

This method worked for me.

I named the experiment the “FLASH POINT” and “FIRE POINT” Test

To find out whether it works for you — do try it out — at your own risk — and tell us how it worked for you.

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“FLASH POINT” and “FIRE POINT” ALCOHOL TOLERANCE TEST

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Ingredients Required for “FLASH POINT” and “FIRE POINT” Test

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You will need 3 items which you must keep handy on a table next to your chair:

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1. A BOTTLE of RUM or WHISKY — or — an adequate quantity of your regular drink.

(If you drink Vodka or Tequila “shots” — line enough of them up)

It is best to start with a full bottle — so you can measure (estimate) the amount of liquor you are drinking.

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2. A BOOK (with comfortable font size you can read easily)

(In case you prefer reading on a digital screen — you may use your Smartphone or Laptop or Kindle)

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3. A JUG of WATER

(room temperature water or slightly cold — but — no ice)

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“FLASH POINT” and “FIRE POINT” TEST METHODOLOGY

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Before I describe the technique — let me impart to you some “theory”.

If you were a science student — you must have performed a chemistry laboratory experiment to find out the FLASH POINT and FIRE POINT of a fuel.

You start heating the volatile liquid.

First — the flash point occurs — when the fuel exhibits a flash.

If the fuel is heated further — and the fire point occurs — when the volatile material catches fire and starts burning and continues to burn.

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Applying the same analogy to drinking alcohol — you can say that your “flash point” occurs when you are “high”

Yes — at your “flash point” you have reached your drinking capacity.

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If you keep on drinking after your “flash point” — then you will reach your “fire point” — which is an inebriated state of drunkenness.

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Your aim is to remain happily high around your “flash point” — and in no circumstances must you cross your “fire point”.

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But — how do you find out your “flash point”…?

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DRINKING CAPACITY MEASUREMENT

ALCOHOL TOLERANCE TEST

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PROCEDURE — 10 SIMPLE STEPS

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Here is the technique of how to “measure” your “flash point” or drinking capacity in 10 simple steps:

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1. Drink a glass of water.

This is to stabilize you in case you are dehydrated — and to get you ready for the experiment.

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2. Pour your normal drink.

You may pour your normal peg of Rum or Whisky with Water.

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3. Pick up the book and start reading.

Start reading the book or from your digital screen.

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4. Keep drinking at your normal pace and also keep reading continuously.

Take your time — sip your drink — and focus your eyes on the book or screen — and read.

Drink at your normal pace.

When you finish your drink — pour another peg of your drink (rum or whisky with water)

Keep on drinking as long as you can easily read and comprehend clearly what you are reading.

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5. The moment you reach a state where your concentration starts wavering — you are reaching your “flash point”.

As you drink and read — a point will come when — you can read the words — but you realize that you are not clearly registering what you are reading in your mind.

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This is your “FLASH POINT” (feeling “high”)

At your “flash point” you will be in that delightful state of alcohol induced emotional flux which makes you feel “high”.

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6. If you continue drinking alcohol beyond your “flash point” — you will reach a hazy state where the words in the book will appear blurred.

You will have difficulty in reading — as your eyes may not focus properly.

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You have now reached your “FIRE POINT” (alcohol induced intoxication)

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7. Once you reach your “fire point” — you must stop drinking alcohol immediately.

Now drink a glass of water and relax.

Soon — you will gravitate back from your “fire point” towards your “flash point” — and you will feel less drunk.

However — if you continue drinking beyond your “fire point” — you will get inebriated and become drunk.

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8. Measure (estimate) the amount of liquor you have drunk to reach your “FLASH POINT”.

This is your “drinking capacity” or alcohol tolerance level (as on that day).

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9. Repeat this experiment a number of times (on different days)

Yes — do the “FLASH POINT”–“FIRE POINT” experiment at least 10 times.

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10. By successive iteration — “fine tune” the results — and soon — you will know your “drinking capacity” (alcohol tolerance level)

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After a few days of experimentation — you will have an estimate of the number of pegs of Rum or Whisky you must drink to reach your “flash point” — and — “fire point”.

The aim of drinking alcohol is to reach your “flash point” (and feel “high” or “nice”)

If you continue drinking alcohol beyond your “flash point” — you will reach your “fire point” (you will feel “drunk”)

If you reach this stage you must stop drinking alcohol and sip water till come back to your “flash point”.

If you continue drinking alcohol beyond your “fire point” — you will be inebriated and lose control of your senses.

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The moral of the story is that if you want to optimally enjoy the pleasures of alcohol — you must drink till your “flash point” — but never beyond your “flash point” — and certainly not beyond your “fire point”.

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1. Drink till you reach your “flash point”.

2. Avoid drinking beyond your “flash point”.

3. If by chance — you drink alcohol beyond your “flash point” and reach your “fire point” — drink water — and come down to your “flash point”.

3. Never drink beyond your “fire point”.

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There is a saying:

“First you drink alcohol — and then — alcohol drinks you”

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Similarly:

Till you reach your “flash point” — you are the one drinking alcohol.

Beyond that — alcohol will start “drinking” you.

And — if you cross your “fire point” — alcohol will drown you.

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At your “flash point” — you have reached the limit of your control — but you still have control.

Near your “flash point” — you will experience the “high” feeling which alcohol gives you.

When you get this “high” feeling — you must stop drinking at once.

You will remain “high” for sometime — enjoying the euphoric sensation — and then you will have a pleasant relaxing feeling as the “high” gradually tapers off — and — this is the best time to drift off into a nice sleep.

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However — if you continue drinking beyond your “flash point” — you will reach your “fire point”.

Once you reach your “fire point” — you will lose control — and — alcohol will take charge of you.

Beyond your “fire point” — it is the alcohol which will “drink” you — and you will get drunk.

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Let me sound a note of caution.

If you drink frequently — your alcohol tolerance will increase.

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Increased Alcohol Tolerance means that after continued drinking — consumption of a constant amount of alcohol produces a lesser effect — which means that larger amounts of alcohol are necessary to produce the same effect.

If your alcohol tolerance level increases:

You will need to drink more alcohol to reach your “flash point” to get a “high”.

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The moral of the story is:

If you drink regularly — your “drinking capacity” increases.

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As you continue drinking — this has a snowballing effect.

Having a great drinking capacity may be a “macho” thing to boast about — and may win the admiration of your friends and colleagues.

However — high alcohol tolerance indicates a propensity towards alcoholism — in later years.

So — you better watch out.

High alcohol tolerance level (good drinking capacity) is not necessarily something to be proud of — or to boast about.

Regular consumption of alcohol will raise your drinking capacity.

This in turn will tempt you drink more to reach your “flash point” (to feel “high”).

It is a vicious cycle.

As your alcohol tolerance level increases — you will start drinking more and more to feel “high” — and — this in turn will further increase your alcohol tolerance level.

And — if you continue this habit of drinking — you may develop alcohol dependence — and you may eventually slip into the abyss of alcoholism.

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So — if you realize that your “flash point” has increased — it is best to abstain from drinking for a few days — till your “flash point” falls to a reasonable level.

The less you drink — the better it is for your body.

So — in fact — it is advantageous to have a low drinking capacity.

But then — you must remember never to cross your “flash point”.

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Avoid binge drinking and competitive drinking — as this can damage your health.

Like I said in the beginning — it is best not to drink alcohol.

But — if you do drink — remember — as Winston Churchill once said:

You must take more out of Alcohol — than Alcohol takes out of You.

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And — how do you do that…?

Well — that I will tell you in my series on the golden rules of drinking alcohol.

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Happy “FLASH POINT”.

and

May you never reach your “FIRE POINT”.

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Remember:

The Aim of Drinking Alcohol is to feel “HIGH” — Not to get DRUNK

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Dear Reader:

Do let me know if this “Flash Point” and “Fire Point” method helped you discover your drinking capacity.

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EPILOGUE

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Dear Reader:

For me — initially — my “Flash Point” was 3 Large Pegs of Rum or Whisky (180 ml) — and — my “Fire Point” was 6 Large Pegs of Rum or Whisky (360 ml or roughly half a bottle)

With regular drinking — my alcohol tolerance level increased — and — my “Flash Point” became 6 Large Pegs of Rum or Whisky (360 ml) — and — my “Fire Point” became 10 Large Pegs of Rum or Whisky (600 ml or 80% of the bottle)

I decided to quit drinking when my “Flash Point” became around 8 Large Pegs and my “Fire Point” became almost a bottle of Rum or Whisky — since this indicated that I was on the verge of becoming alcohol dependent.

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Here are some of my articles on BOOZE WISDOM in my Series HOW TO DRINK ALCOHOL (click url links and read):

1. DOES ALCOHOL BRING OUT THE BEST IN YOU?

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/10/how-to-drink-alcohol-part-1-does.html

1. NEVER DRINK WHEN YOU “NEED” A DRINK

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/10/how-to-drink-alcohol-part-2-never-drink.html

1. DRINK TO FEEL NICE — NOT TO GET DRUNK

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/10/how-to-drink-alcohol-part-3-drink-to.html

1. BOOZE WISDOM — ARE YOU A BORN ALCOHOLIC

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/09/booze-wisdom-are-you-born-alcoholic.html

1. THE HIGHER YOU GO THE MORE YOU DRINK

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/03/humor-in-uniform-olq-alcohol-tolerance.html

1. HOW TO QUIT DRINKING

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/06/how-to-quit-drinking-easy-way-alcohol.html

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Cheers…!!!

Have you found out your drinking capacity…?

Did this method work for you…?

I look forward to your feedback.

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VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve
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© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. This article is based on my personal experience. It may or may not work for you. So please do due diligence before trying out this technique.
2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
3. E&OE

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

Link to my source blog post in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2020/02/booze-wisdom-how-to-measure-your.html

This series on HOW TO DRINK ALCOHOL was first written by me Vikram Karve in Oct 2011 and Posted Online by me Vikram Karve a number of times on my blogs since 2011 including at urls http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/10/drinking-alcohol-golden-rule-no-1.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/10/drinking-alcohol-golden-rule-no-2-how.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/04/drinking-capacity-or-alcohol-tolerance.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/06/how-to-quit-drinking-easy-way-alcohol.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/06/self-help-do-you-know-your-drinking.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/08/drinking-capacity-alcohol-tolerance.html and https://karve.wordpress.com/2020/02/13/how-to-measure-your-drinking-capacity/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2020/05/08/lock-down-experiment-for-drunkards/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2021/04/24/lockdown-wisdom-for-drunkards/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2022/01/29/booze-wisdom-how-to-measure-your-drinking-capacity-alcohol-tolerance-level/ etc

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

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