Being vegetarian and getting drunk with alcohol

I'm just curious, but when you guys drink alcohol (beer, wine, liquor), and you get drunk, have you made mistakes and accidentally eaten meat because you were so wasted and uninhibited? Especially if you are an ex-meat eater?

I went to a wedding over the weekend, and got really drunk with vodka mixed with cranberry juice. Surprisingly, I still was aware of the fact that I was a vegetarian. However, when someone offered me a seafood appetizer, I took it and ate it unfortunately, not knowing that it was seafood and hence, non-vegetarian. It made me realize later on that I shouldn't drink so much because in public situations, other people may not care about the fact that you're a vegetarian -------- only you can care but must have full control of your senses and who you are.

Sorry if this post sounds like a joke -------- I'm actually serious, and I don't mean to imply that anyone on this board is an alcoholic. The vast majority of people drink socially, but unfortunately may lead to bad consequences while being incapacitated such as accidentally eating meat when you wouldn't normally eat it, or someone taking advantage of you.

Original Post by flonklar:

Original Post by amyvegan:

I've never slipped and eaten meat when drunk, but I've slipped and eaten non-vegan things for sure.  I can't think of an example, and I don't make a habit of it, but no veg*n is infalliable. 

I think people have covered the reason for the guilt pretty sufficiently already; a lot of veg*ns ARE vegan for moral and ethical reasons.  For me, at least, I consider killing another being to be immoral whether they are human or non-human.  Period.

Not intending to be rude, but (if this was directed at me) I was asking about vegetarians, not vegans.  Veganism I will never be able to grasp!

The point of the asterisk is that it means vegetarian/vegan.  Many of both choose their 'lifestyle' for moral and ethical reasons.

Don't underestimate yourself, it's simple.  Veganism is the logical extension of vegetarianism.  The dairy and egg industry is just as (if not more) exploitative, environmentally destructive, and the products can be just as unhealthy as meat products. 

Sorry Amy, when I said "grasp," I suppose I should have said "embrace."  It's not that I don't understand the whats and whys of veganism, I simply meant that I'm all for the harvesting and "exploitation" of said animals and their byproducts.  That's what they're there for, IMO.  On the other hand, I could easily see myself as a vegetarian, if I suddenly had reason to believe that carnivorism would adversely affect my health.

And btw, thanks for clearing up the mystery of the *.  I wasn't aware of the significance.

And thanks to everyone who participated in this discussion.  Your opinions and thoughts are much appreciated. 

What more evidence do you need that carnivorous diet is a health risk factor? Come on, take off your blinders! This is exactly what I meant by cognitive dissonance. You're formulating excuses; anyway, I'm not going to shove any philosophy down your throat but it seems you were searching for some trouble. Factual medical evidence supports that meat, and animal product are risk factors to clogged arteries, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, even cancer (hormone fed meat products). I'm sure according to you and cigarette companies, there are "only correlations" between smoking, and health risks *chuckle*. And no offense to you but how vain of you to think that animals were put on Earth for YOUR pleasure...silly silly. So, does the sun and all the planets revolve around the Earth as well?? Directing to all moral hypocrites: It sure is ironic when Christians (love the TRUE Christians) overlook "thou shall not kill" and transform that into "thou shall not murder humans only". It's like people will use any excuse to diffuse common morality that should exist in our core. I just don't have the tolerance for close-mindedness.

REASON TO believe it's adversely affecting your health...wow, *takes a breath* My mom is an endocrinologist and 80% of her patients are avid meat-eaters; my dad's a medical researcher for obesity, and diabetic treatments. His research publications are numerous, and there so many links to health risks and consumption of meat. It's absurd when people think they can "cure" their lifelong mistreatment to their bodies by simply popping a pill or visiting a physician. I'm a future medical student and self-proclaimed health-conscious individual, so I feel like I carry some weight when I say that it is completely harmful to eat meat. You don't hear of world's health troubles caused by vegetarian diet ever, now do ya??We are no longer the barbaric animals we were. We can't have this constant "advancement" and try to dress up meat as healthy. It never was, and it never will be. The hunter/gatherers only ate meat on rare occasions: and that's if they didn't die from hunting. It seems we want our  proverbial cake and eat it too. The two don't mix. Artificially fed and raised animals, and processed food...it is all going to affect your health, whether you *believe* it or not.

 I may be a vegetarian, but I'm not lacking the intellect, nor the physical health, so here to serve as proof. It's quite ridiculous to be in denial.

I personally haven't eaten meat but came close one time. I was at a bar with friends and one of the guys ordered nachos for the table. I will not even eat something if it has meat anywhere on it. I can't even pick the meat off, or simply "eat around it". But that night while drinking I was actually eating the nachos and picking the chicken off and tossing it onto the table. I can't believe I did that, and thinking about it makes me feel sick and totally grosses me out!

My cousin  has been a vegetarian since she as 3 years old. In 2007, at her sisters wedding, she drank too much wine and her mother thought it would be funny to feed her bites of her chicken marsala. It was in a way funny but I felt so bad for thegirl! Here she is, this vegetarian all her life and her mother found it funny to feed her chicken while drunk :-(. I'd be so mad at my mom if she did that crap lol!

Original Post by flonklar:

Sorry Amy, when I said "grasp," I suppose I should have said "embrace."  It's not that I don't understand the whats and whys of veganism, I simply meant that I'm all for the harvesting and "exploitation" of said animals and their byproducts.  That's what they're there for, IMO.  On the other hand, I could easily see myself as a vegetarian, if I suddenly had reason to believe that carnivorism would adversely affect my health.

And btw, thanks for clearing up the mystery of the *.  I wasn't aware of the significance.

And thanks to everyone who participated in this discussion.  Your opinions and thoughts are much appreciated. 

You should!

Vegetarians live longer

Vegetarians have less disease

Yes, I have had a similar expereince. When I was 16 and I was at my friends' graduating class party that they had at someone's farm, they had made hotdogs and hamburgers and being an all night event, from 9 pm ish til like 6 am, everyone drinks, so you can imagine how much alcohol can be consumed in that amout of time...anyways long story short...I also still knew that I was a veg but for some reason I had a hotdog.

ick!

I, personally, am repulsed by meat. I ate it for most of my life, but I haven't missed it for a second. I've only accidentally ingested meat one time since I converted, and let me tell you, it was nasty. I basically made myself throw it up, but it was quite awkward 'cause I just happened to be in public at a music festival. Heh.

Basically what I'm saying is that temptation isn't even a factor for me. I'm never tempted to eat meat because it's simply disgusting to me. I know I'm not the only vegetarian who plans on never eating meat again to the point where it is such a strange and nasty concept that I can't fathom how anyone can enjoy chewing on carcass.

I digress.

No, but I have had nightmares that I did.  Once I woke up after dreaming that I ate a hamburger.  I was so horrified when I woke up I was practically crying.  I was so relieved to find myself in bed with no burgers in sight... :)

No, this doesn't happen to me. No matter how much I drink, I know my limits.

My old roommate was a vegetarian. He was also an alcoholic. One night he started eating chinese food leftovers (that didn't belong to him), while me and one of our other roommates tried to tell him that it contained meat. He didn't believe us, he also didn't believe that the leftovers weren't his. He wolfed down an entire container of beef fried rice while claiming it wasn't beef. He was oh-so-very sick, as well as embarrassed the next morning. 

The only time I've ever come close was once when I was out at a bar and went way over my limit. After a session of toilet-hugging, my friends decided I needed some bread so they took me to a bakery. In my blindly drunken state I thought I was buying one of those rolls with tomato and cheese on it, but it was actually salami and cheese. I spit it out as soon as I realized, but my friends haven't stopped making fun of my "slip up," which they interpret as my deep, subconscious desire to eat meat, lol.

Original Post by soph1984:

Original Post by flonklar:

Perhaps someone here can educate me.

I am happily omniverous, but I have no problem with people not wanting to eat meat, or even animal products.  I'm assuming that people choose to be vegetarian for various and particular reasons (unknown to me).  However, I also see many posts like this where the "vegetarian" is apparently (for lack of a better grasp on the subject) "relapsing," as if an alcoholic has been unable to resist having a drink or a recovering substance abuser found himself snorting lines at a party. 

My question then is: Why is it such a problem for a "vegetarian" to "slip" and eat some meat?  Obviously, if meat is knowingly being eaten by the "vegetarian," it is his choice to do so, but I don't understand the "guilt" that accompanies these "relapses."  It's not a crime, it's not an addiction or illness, and as far as I can tell, it's not a morality issue (or is it?).  He just feels the need or desire to eat meat at that point in time (which of course negates his self-imposed status as a true vegetarian). 

For example:  I'm on a quest to lose some weight.  I am a self-proclaimed "dieter."  I have sworn off Krispy Kreme in an effort to improve my general health and facilitate my goal of weight loss.  But once in 4 months, someone brings donuts into the office, and I eat one.  I choose to do so.  I don't feel bad about it, or walk around with a guilty conscience all day.  I simply have decided that 5 minutes of a favorable taste sensation is a reasonable trade-off for introducing a few extra calories into my diet.  It doesn't ruin my disposition for the day, I don't immediately get on the CC forums and lament my lack of self-control.

In my mind, a vegetarian just DOESN'T desire to eat meat, regardless of his level of intoxication.  If the temptation remains to eat meat after proclaiming vegetarianism, how (or even WHY?) can the person claim to be vegetarian?        

Could some knowing vegetarian please help to put this in terms that I can relate to?

Thanks. 

 Well I can't speak for other people, but the reason I have turned vegetarian is not because I don't like meat (I love it!) or because I think there is anything wrong with eating meat.  Fundamentally, I don't have a problem with eating meat at all, I think it is something that we as humans naturally do.  BUT my problem is with the meat industry.  It is wholly unethical, animals are kept in horrific conditions and treated in a tortuous way.  That just doesn't sit right on my conscience and if I buy that meat I am directly funding the industry and therefore condoning it.  I have a friend who lives on a farm and his cattle are all out in the fields living a happy life and when they slaughter them they keep the meat for the family.  I'd eat that and the same for other meat where the animals had been kept humanely.  But you can't really guarantee that unless you buy direct from source (I live in London so the free range ahppy farms are a little thin on the ground!!) and it can be so expensive, so for that reason I'm a vegetarian.  And that is why I could see myself slipping if I had had too much to drink but I would feel guilty the next day because I would have contributed to an industry that I am against and therefore gone completely against my morals.

Does that make any sense?

I am in the same boat as soph, I also do not think it is morally wrong to kill animals, but cruelty to animals and the health risks that are associated with cruelty has kept me a vegetarian. The animals in factory farms (specifically the cows in this example), at the very least, eat corn for 70 percent of their lives. They become sick because their stomach isn't able to break the corn down, thus the need for antibiotics. Many are also given bovine growth hormone, which we ingest while consuming the steak/hamburger/etc. The cows are confined all of their lives to make them grow even faster - and because of the lack of exercise, their body has a lot more fat than grass-fed free range cows. There is way more trans fat than there should be thanks to this method. There is also a strong link between a high protein and dairy diet and cancer, diabeties, obesity, autoimmune diseases, and brain diseases - among other things. Raw meat and raw dairy have not been studyed to that extent yet, so I choose to drink raw milk and cheese from a local farm because it does not bother my already lactose intolerant body. Something about the casein in raw dairy being broken down, thus rending the potential carcinogens harmless. 

A good place to start is to read "The China Study" if you're interested in the health risks of the standard american diet. Its not the know-all-end-all book, and the writer is an avid supporter of veganism so it is a tad biased in my opinion, but you can't argue facts - and this definitely gives you a world of studies to refer to. 

Flonklar wrote:

"I am happily omniverous, but I have no problem with people not wanting to eat meat, or even animal products. . ."

"Veganism I will never be able to grasp!"

"I simply meant that I'm all for the harvesting and "exploitation" of said animals and their byproducts.  That's what they're there for, IMO."  

Flonklar - why are you here? Just a question. I know I'm going to get yelled at for this (but I really don't care). Aren't there enough meat-centric groups for you to offer your useless comments to? I mean really, why the hell are you here?

I'm THRILLED that you have "no problem" with us, but you know what? I've got a problem with you, or rather, with ignorant meat-eaters such as yourself. I'm sure I'm not the only one, either.

Oh, and comparing your Krispy Kreme addiction to the vegetarian lifestyle is ridiculously offensive. Quit stuffing your face with cruelty and ****- and you might actually be a healthy weight.

Animals are not here for your exploitation, neither are veg*ns. GO AWAY.

Umm I don't do drugs. Maybe you should try it?

Well, when I was younger I did have my share of parties and I never ate meat accidentally or other wise.  I grew up as a meat eater and when I was a sophomore in high school I choose to become a vegetarian. I think it is up to the individual. 

Original Post by sulfyr:

A similar thing happened to me this weekend actually. After downing quite a bit of vanilla vodka+diet coke I found myself munching on jellied candies and poptarts, both of which contained gelatin. Which, although it's not meat, is something I swore off when turning full veggie (along with founds containing rennet)

Hangover aside, I felt so bad the next day because if I know that if I wasn't drinking I wouldn't have considered eating either.

 Poptarts have gelatin too? Is there no end to the list of foods I've slipped up on because they have gelatin in them? Is it really necessary for everything to have gelatin? dsklafkldfjdlsajfl;j!!!!!!!!!!!

To the OP: I can't say I've had this happen, although I have definately slipped up and eaten things without reading the ingredients...such as the poptarts I just mentioned.... ......I also have had "friends" try and get me to eat me while I was intoxicated. Mostly now I just don't drink that much, because I don't like being drunk.

Poptarts with the frosting on top have gelatin, the other ones do not.

Still not exactly a healthy good to be eating.

I won't be drawn out or long winded, but I've been a "veg-head" for 7 years and I've never had a "slip-up" because I just completely lost the desire to eat any sort of meat.  That being said, I do enjoy the smell of street meat from the street vendors, but that's where it ends. 

Its an interesting question.

 

 Well I can't speak for other people, but the reason I have turned vegetarian is not because I don't like meat (I love it!) or because I think there is anything wrong with eating meat.  Fundamentally, I don't have a problem with eating meat at all, I think it is something that we as humans naturally do.  BUT my problem is with the meat industry.  It is wholly unethical, animals are kept in horrific conditions and treated in a tortuous way.  That just doesn't sit right on my conscience and if I buy that meat I am directly funding the industry and therefore condoning it.  I have a friend who lives on a farm and his cattle are all out in the fields living a happy life and when they slaughter them they keep the meat for the family.  I'd eat that and the same for other meat where the animals had been kept humanely.  But you can't really guarantee that unless you buy direct from source (I live in London so the free range ahppy farms are a little thin on the ground!!) and it can be so expensive, so for that reason I'm a vegetarian.  And that is why I could see myself slipping if I had had too much to drink but I would feel guilty the next day because I would have contributed to an industry that I am against and therefore gone completely against my morals.

Does that make any sense?

 Well said. I agree and feel very similar. I don't miss meat but I do miss chicken, though.