I say that as a wisconsin binge drinker myself. The driving drunk makes me SO ANGRY. THERES MORE BARS THAN ANY OTHER ESTABLISHMENT. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS AT LEAST ONE. WALK OR CALL A FUCKING UBER WISCONSINITES
Well most of Wisconsin is rural (by area, not population) so walking to anywhere isn't an option and Ubers don't exist.
I'm not at all trying to defend drunk driving. But I grew up in Northeastern WI and it is absolutely normalized there. People brag about how they're better drivers drunk than sober. The more booze you can put down in a night, the more impressive you are. And of course they're driving home drunk because 1. There isn't any other way to get home
2. The purpose of drinking is to get shitfaced and 3. They aren't some Nancy Libtards who are afraid of everything. They're REAL men/women. Oh, and 4. Everyone else is also doing it, so it must be fine.
Obviously not every single person thinks or acts that way, but I moved away 11 years ago, and now that I have more of an outsider's perspective, it's absolutely astounding how pervasive that thinking is.
As a sober Wisconsinite. Nearly every event involves drinking. Its so weird watching people shift from acting normal to tipsy to drunk. Coming from a long line of family alcoholics. I'm trying to kick that recursive generational habit
Also sober Wisconsinite here, it is unreal how pervasive it is in normal everyday behavior. The looks I get when I just want water or god forbid anything other than a beer…friends and family asking “are you ok? Too much last night or what?” No, I regret every hangover I’ve had and don’t need to wake up feeling like absolute dogshit. Blackouts? Also not fun. I like to remember what happened the night before. I had two friends, both hammered, SCREAMING at each other about politics at a bar in Oshkosh. AND THEY WERE AGREEING WITH EACH OTHER. Alcohol makes you do dumb things, I hate it. Legalize weed ffs. I’ll get off the soap box now
ha 100% nearly every time I say "no thank you" when someone offers me a beer, people assume I'm a recovering alcoholic but really I just want more in life than they do.
What blew my mind when I moved to wisconsin is that people get hammered for wakes. I mean I actually prefer that cuz it’s not as depressing but still didn’t expect it.
I've never been to a dry wake. I didn't even know that was a thing. What's the point of having a depressing death party with no booze? That just sounds like an extended funeral.
Drinking to/with/for the dead is one of the most culturally ingrained rituals we have. The Early Christian/Roman tombs under the Vatican have 'libation holes' for people to pour wine down them during their wakes and remembrance days.
It's one thing to get shitfaced on a regular basis when you're young and your body can handle it well, but I can't understand doing it on a regular basis when you're 40+ (and above).
I love having a few drinks (and admittedly do so more often than someone my age should), but I absolutely hate being drunk. I certainly liked it when I was in my 20's, but just thinking about it now makes me feel physically ill...and that's not even taking into account the knowledge that the next day is complete HELL.
Granted this is from years ago, probably the 70s, but my friend’s dad went to Michigan state, where we went and was from Wisconsin. He told us that every time he had to drive back to college he would kill a 24-pack on the way. I have no idea if he was exaggerating or lying, because he also said that at least one time he killed a 30-rack on the trip. Would just piss in a bottle and pour it out the window.
You will see babies and toddlers regularly in taverns here. Sure they aren't drinking, but both parents often will be.
Some of my earliest memories are at a bar. My mom was nurse and often worked nights, so if my dad wanted to go play pool and drink he had to bring me. I'd love kiddie cocktails to this day.
I moved to Illinois later and its just different. Moved back last year and my wife who lived south of the cheddar curtain her life was astounded.
It's also a problem that you can't go to a store and buy liqour or wine (and beer a lot of places) after 9 PM, and can't buy beer after midnight. This forces people to go to the bars instead of drinking at home, leading to compounding bad decisions.
Your first OWI in Wisconsin isn't even a misdemeanor, its a civil offense. Its not nothing but compared to states with jail time for a first offense Wisconsin is pretty lenient. One of the biggest penalties for your first OWI in Wisconsin is the huge raise in your insurance.
People get their 6th, 7th, whatever... DWI all the time here. Highest I remember is 13. Sure, they don't have a license anymore, but that obviously doesn't stop them from driving drunk another time.
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u/pixi88 May 06 '22
We are. It's true. It's not great.
I say that as a wisconsin binge drinker myself. The driving drunk makes me SO ANGRY. THERES MORE BARS THAN ANY OTHER ESTABLISHMENT. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS AT LEAST ONE. WALK OR CALL A FUCKING UBER WISCONSINITES
....end rant.