Alcohol: What is its place in the Outdoors?
I have to start off this post by being honest – I drink a brewskie every once in awhile. I like a good beer occasionally, and I will not, and am not, going to apologize for that. I have no problems with drinking socially, or having a beer with dinner. I have also, on many occasions, sat down with my friends and relatives after a hunt, and enjoyed a good brew. Good beer tastes damn good, and can have quite a good calming effect on me.
My problem with alcohol lately, is that it seems to be everywhere hunting is. It started with a picture in one of Holly’s post, and it continued at an outdoor show I went to last week. Why can’t most hunters go anywhere without having a beer?
Alcohol has no place in the woods. Puking does not a party make, and alcohol and guns do not mix AT ALL! There, I got that out of the way. I was very appalled to see the women that were featured in Holly’s post drinking while hunting. It is bad enough that all of us hunters are already viewed as drunk, redneck monkeys, so why would anyone drink while hunting? And if they did, why would they let a picture of that get posted for the whole world to see? It seems pretty foolish to me.
On that same note, why does beer always have to be featured at the outdoor shows? Why can’t anyone walk around – a mainly family-oriented event – without a cold brew in hand? Doesn’t this help to fit all of us into the stereotype that hunters, and fisherman, are beer guzzling, pot-bellied idiots?
I’m trying to be a little objective here, because I feel that I may be overreacting somewhat, but I just wonder what everyone else’s thoughts on the issue are. Do you think having alcohol available at the hunting show, and hunters walking around with brew in hand, contributes to our stereotypes? Do you think it has a negative impact on our image as a whole? Or do you think – as I fear – that maybe I’m being a bit uptight and arrogant about the whole thing?
I am totally not trying to attack alcohol, or those that drink it; as I said I partake quite often as well. I also salute Budweiser, and their continued support of the outdoors. I just wonder if maybe, just maybe, for these certain events, that the alcohol should be left at home; left in reserve to enjoy later while telling hunting stories.
What do you all think?
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First the disclaimer: I don’t drink alcohol at all, never really liked the stuff and know too many people who couldn’t control it and keep their consumption reasonable.
That said: I have no problem with people who enjoy alcohol and who can drink it without letting it control them.
OK, on to the topic of the post: I think it does contribute to the bad image of our sport when alcohol is a feature of every outdoor show. Especially since those are family oriented events. If it is the DU Banquet or whatever that is geared primarily towards adults and not families then I don’t have a problem with the alcohol at the event.
I will say that I do enjoy a beer every now and then like yourself I do agree that alcohol and hunting DO NOT MIX.
I’ve never had an issue about it but sense I have been on certain medications that do not allow me to drink alcohol I have found that I really don’t miss it all that much.
It is bad enough that we don’t get the good publicity that we should be getting and when you add instances like that into it then it really effects us outdoors/hunters as a whole.
I have to agree with you on this matter Arthur and I don’t mind saying that I am just as happy with a hot cup of coffee or a cold soda.
Sorry Arthur I cannot give you an objective view point as we have seen alcohol and its effects on those around it up close and personel. It is ugly and I haven’t the time of day for it in any form and in anyplace. Anything that destroys lives and their families lives needs to be treated like the plague.
I do enjoy a few good drinks. Socially with friends, if we are out to dinner or sometimes relaxing around the house. On our fishing trips we never have alcohol on our boat but will have a few drinks afterward.
I’ve been to a few outdoor sport shows that were selling alcohol. I personally didn’t think much of it.
Being the non-hunter, I’ve never related the two – hunters & booze.
OK, I’m with the others, I drink and I don’t think there is any place for it while hunting. But, its also not just outdoor shows – it is everywhere: NASCAR, professional sporting events, rodeo, etc, etc. Nothing unique about outdoor shows. And I don’t have a real problem with it because I don’t think it adds to a particular stereotype. Its all about market share and target consumer audience.
The negative stigma associated with alcohol and family events is one I knew all too well growing up and now looking back now I don’t understand it. When alcohol is enjoyed in moderation I don’t understand what the negative impact is on whatever event may be occurring. Is the mere presence of beer bad? Is it the obnoxious beer breath? My point is that I haven’t seen a negative impact of beer at these events as people seem to enjoy the beer in moderation. IMO it’s no different than a fan enjoying a beer up in the stands while watching the Lions put up another glorious loss.
I don’t drink much, primarily now because of medication issues, but I never did drink much. I’m certainly not against having a drink with friends or a glass of wine with dinner.
That said, I don’t think alcohol has any place in hunting or anywhere that guns or bows are involved. Once those are put away, then crack open a beer.
As for serving alcohol at an outdoor show I don’t mind that particularly. It really only bothers me when hunters are shown with guns and alcohol in both hands. That just reinforces the stereotype and it’s dangerous.
Guns & alcohol? No. Period. End of story.
Guns and events? There’s a reason for it that no one’s really addressed here: At fundraising events, alcohol lubricates the wallet. Pour fruit punch at a DU dinner and just watch happens to the bottom line. Alcohol ain’t going away.
I’ve run in a lot of different circles – hunting, journalism, politics, academia – and alcohol is ubiquitous at all of their events. I don’t think alcohol is creating or even substantially contributing to our image problem.
But pictures of people drinking on the hunt, or with drinks and guns in hand, yes, that’s a problem. One, they shouldn’t be doing it. And two, if they’re so bull-headed that they have to do it, they’re nuts for letting anyone take their picture.
Of course, no one should ever handle alcohol and firearms simultaneously. I don’t see selling beer at outdoor shows as a big deal though.
Guns and alcohol do not mix ever! However I don’t have a problem with it being served at many of the outdoor shows.
I think that it is more important how we all interact with our local communities when we are in camo. And it is the idiots throwing carcasses on the side of the road that I hate.
I personally view drinking alcohol while hunting as one of the stupidest things a person can do. To me, it’s just as bad as drinking and driving. It’s not just yourself you are endangering, but everyone else around you that could be hit with one of your stray bullets. I even know someone who recently fell out of the back of a pick-up going 55 mph while hunting…and guess what? He had been drinking, and so had the driver. So for me it’s not as much an image issue, but a safety one. I don’t want to have to worry about my husband’s life because some idiot with a gun couldn’t wait until after his/her hunt to drink.