Do any newcomers feel this? (buy, living in, restaurant)

[azgkrudi]

My husband and I moved to the South Sound a little over a year ago. We like to go out to dinner and when we do, we dine at the bar (service tends to be quicker, and usually no kids allowed; we don't have kids). It's pretty frequent that we do this (at least twice a week).

Tonight I decided I have to ask. Do any of you ever feel unusually tired/loopy/under the influence after having only a drink or two, across 2+ hours? Tonight we went to a well-established chain and I don't think the bartender over-poured (we know her by now) and that was 3 hours ago and I am still loopy, dizzy, sleepy, having a hard time standing. This is not the first time this has happened. It's probably been around a dozen times across a year. No, I'm not on medication. I have been drinking the same drink for probably 20 years now, only one or two, across 2 or more hours.

So as an almost 50-year-old who has lived in 9 other states and never had this feeling: do you get - what - contact highs or something around here? People who are smoking joints around the back of the restaurant?
Or are there remnants of marijuana in the bar glasses, or something? I've never had this loopy, uncomfortable reaction in my life, except since moving to Washington.

Flame me if you want, but there might be someone else out there who feels this same thing. It's not cool.

[USDefault]

The older you get, the more difficult it becomes for your body to process alcohol. Lots of articles on this. Also, if you've recently gained weight, drinks are going to hit you harder. I don't think it has anything to do with Washington state. Natural consequence of aging, and possibly your health/fitness.

[Angry-Koala]

I don't drink myself so I don't know one way or the other, but I've never heard anybody else complaining about it as a thing around here.

Does this happen at that one place only or at other bars too? Has your husband experienced any of the same symptoms? If so there's probably something to your theory of contact highs. If not, you might want to ask your doctor about it.

[jacqueg]

Originally Posted by azgkrudi

My husband and I moved to the South Sound a little over a year ago. We like to go out to dinner and when we do, we dine at the bar (service tends to be quicker, and usually no kids allowed; we don't have kids). It's pretty frequent that we do this (at least twice a week).

Tonight I decided I have to ask. Do any of you ever feel unusually tired/loopy/under the influence after having only a drink or two, across 2+ hours? Tonight we went to a well-established chain and I don't think the bartender over-poured (we know her by now) and that was 3 hours ago and I am still loopy, dizzy, sleepy, having a hard time standing. This is not the first time this has happened. It's probably been around a dozen times across a year. No, I'm not on medication. I have been drinking the same drink for probably 20 years now, only one or two, across 2 or more hours.

So as an almost 50-year-old who has lived in 9 other states and never had this feeling: do you get - what - contact highs or something around here? People who are smoking joints around the back of the restaurant?
Or are there remnants of marijuana in the bar glasses, or something? I've never had this loopy, uncomfortable reaction in my life, except since moving to Washington.

Flame me if you want, but there might be someone else out there who feels this same thing. It's not cool.

Sounds like aging to me. It's very common for people to become less tolerant of alcohol as they get older. Or maybe you're used to somewhat watered down versions of your favorite drink and are now going to a better bar where you get what you pay for.

It is illegal to smoke weed in public, and no reputable restaurant would tolerate either their employees or customers doing it - it would be a very good way to get their liquor license yanked. Yes, people do break this law, but not in numbers large enough to get you high or even a bit woozy.

While "contact high" is a real phenomenon, it requires A LOT of smoke. As in, a literal cloud. Trace amounts on a glass or a whiff of second-hand smoke can't do it.

I've been smoking (and occasionally eating) dope for nearly 50 years. I agree, it is VERY UNCOOL for someone to secretly drug someone else. I've only had that experience once in all those years, the overwhelming majority of marijuana users would never do that. Anymore than most alcohol users would spike a stranger's drink.

BTW, MSG makes some people feel what you are describing. Is that a possibility?

[PS90]

I have no clue how living in a particular state would have anything to do with your personal health.

Alcohol is alcohol - this state is no different than anywhere else on earth. And as far as some ambiguous "contact high" - it's not like there are pot smokers every three feet on the sidewalk just because it's now legal.

[Old Town FFX]

No. It is not cannabis. That's not how it works.

[elkotronics]

I would tend ta go with the "older age effect from the alcohol" thing going on here. That's probably what's going on.

[Thom52]

I like the MSG theory. That definitely matches the symptoms of an MSG "overdose".
My wife and I had an extreme case happen to us in a chinese restaurant and thought we were coming down with the flu or drugged or something, until we finally figured it out. Since then we have been a lot more aware of the symptoms.


Or age. 50 is a good time in life to start losing tolerance. But this sounds pretty extreme

Maybe a slight chance that your previous location was watering down the drinks, and now as a favored regular customer they think they are doing you a favor by adding a bit extra.

[azgkrudi]

Thanks for your replies, everyone! Could very well be the age thing or MSG. I really hadn't thought about it like that. It stinks getting old...

[pikabike]

If you buy that drink from a liquor store and mix it yourself, does it have the same effect?

Maybe there is some environmental factor at that bar making you logey.

Are you diabetic?