Is one bottle too much ?

[Idefix 2,275]

Hi. The topic of Greg_B about a drunk farang made me think about this pic I took last week :

 

 

Don't worry, I didn't drink that, not even a drop , I just "stole" this bottle from the "glass trash can" at my condo, to use as a temporary vase

 

There is a guy on my condo floor who throws away this same Vodka bottle *every day*. He is no more young (70++ ?) and barely quit his room. He must stay alone most of time as I very rarely saw or heard anyone with him. I think he spends most of every night looking TV while drinking (or the reverse) . I noticed that the size of his bottles increased from 0.7 to 1 litre a few months ago. Not a good sign. I never saw him drunk though.

 

I am not at all specialist in alcohol, but the label say alcohol 40% vol., so 0.4 litre of pure alcohol, about 320 grams of alcohol per day for a guy about 70 kg. Seems to me a huge quantity !??. Sad, and how many like him in Pattaya? Way too many I think.

 

These guys surely would need help, but what can we do here ?

[js007 795]

People like that can be hard to help. Even if they end up in a hospital half dead, they sometimes check themselves out against medical advice and head to the nearest bar. Sooner or later, they die of liver failure or other complications.

[Butch 3,456]

. Sad, and how many like him in Pattaya? Way too many I think. :(These guys surely would need help, but what can we do here ?

Good post. Unfortunately in my experience, and that of Mrs Butch, is that many of these people are beyond help, as they refuse to acknowledge ( in many cases) their problems or help themselves, let alone accept help from others. I'm sure we're all aware of the pitfalls of expat life in pattaya , and what peoples lives turn into when it all goes sour.

 

However, my wife often tells me of the look she sees in the eyes of those who have given up on life, the look of defeat and acceptance of their death, this is though , a person lying on a hospital bed very often with a terminal condition.

 

Maybe this is the same look some of us may have seen in the eyes of those as described by the OP, drinking to numb the reality of a desperate situation,being in the greatest funtown on Earth but with no money to enjoy yourself. For some they must wonder when the transition from living in heaven to existing in hell happened, but hit with the reality of it all, no return home , no loved ones or anyone to care for them, knowing that they'll die alone and probably in squalor, without any dignity is enough to defeat many, while all the time becoming bitter at those enjoying themselves, blaming them for increasing prices and ruining life in fun town from what it was a few years ago.

 

People come out with excuses for their situation rather than accepting their situation and doing something about it. I think the trick is perhaps , rather ruthlessly , not to waste energies on those making excuses but to invest time and energies on those asking for help for the right reasons. I and I'm sure many of us wouldn't turn our backs on a person in genuine need, or see a bloke go hungry because he admits his mistakes and wants to repair his life, we'd do the right thing and help him along, not necessarily financially because sometimes people don't need money, they need to lean on others, and Pattaya is possibly the last place on the planet where people like us cynics invest either money or trust these days.

Edited February 24, 2015 by Butch

[Parkwahn 61]

I know two lads who loved next door to guys who drink themselves to death. 2 bottles of Sangsom a day...

 

 

I know of one guy who smokes must smoke 60 a day and takes 4 changes from 7/11 to his room, he looks grey must be half his ideal weight,,, his eyes look as described here,,,

[Siam Sam 964]

I am not at all specialist in alcohol, but the label say alcohol 40% vol., so 0.4 litre of pure alcohol, about 320 grams of alcohol per day for a guy about 70 kg. Seems to me a huge quantity !??. Sad, and how many like him in Pattaya? Way too many I think.

 

These guys surely would need help, but what can we do here ?

Sorry to be pedantic but surely 400 milliliters of alcohol would be the equivalent of 400 grams? Even so it's a huge amount of alcohol to be consuming on a daily basis. I watched a video on You Tube recently about the number of homeless foreigners living on the streets in Pattaya (many of which are alcoholics) which is growing every year. Many of them are known to the authorities and they do nothing about it.

Edited February 24, 2015 by Siam Sam

[Idefix 2,275]

Sorry to be pedantic but surely 400 milliliters of alcohol would be the equivalent of 400 grams?

No. Why should it be? Alcohol is lighter than water.

 

Just checked Google: Alcohol density is 0.789 (when water is 1) so 400 ml -> ~316 grams

[Siam Sam 964]

No. Why should it be? Alcohol is lighter than water.

 

Just checked Google: Alcohol density is 0.789 (when water is 1) so 400 ml -> ~316 grams

You learn something new everyday!

[BigDUSA 71]

These guys surely would need help, but what can we do here ?

You might want to suggest he attend a Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. They can be very helpful.

[Butch 3,456]

You might want to suggest he attend a Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. They can be very helpful.

 

Most alcoholics you'll find are in denial and almost all are there due to pressure from a significant other or certainly in many cases, against their will (to start with). It takes a very strong willed person to admit they have a problem and attend one of these meetings purely by their own devices.

 

My hat goes off and utmost respect to anyone who stands by and helps a friend or loved one through addiction, as I know it's a very hard road to follow and most frequently you bear the brunt of their frustrations and take the blame for everything, but the true heart understands their hardships and carries the burden without complaint or regret, guided by the hope that you're doing "the right thing". Some people need someone to walk alongside them, some to hold their hand, others to know that you are always at the end of a phone if things go tits up. Whatever happens, as long as you are there to reach down to them and haul them up, help them dust off and face the future that is what matters. It might not make you a better person than anyone else, but it does make you a decent one.

Edited February 24, 2015 by Butch

[Siam Sam 964]

You might want to suggest he attend a Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. They can be very helpful.

Depends on the individual. AA isn't for everyone but there's no doubt that it does work for thousands of people the world over. I went twice but left both times before I even started the twelve steps. I found the whole thing very cultish and didn't relish the prospect of sitting in a church hall three times a week for the rest of my life. I like to think I have the problem under control now and I did that without the aid of AA. Some people need it some people don't. I do think that many people use AA as a crutch.

[Greg_B 306]

Well, someday you won't see him around and he will be in his room....very dead

 

Not much you can do, as this is the way he plans to leave this world..

[Butch 3,456]

Well, someday you won't see him around and he will be in his room....very dead

 

Not much you can do, as this is the way he plans to leave this world..

 

Sad but very true Greg.

[Siam Sam 964]

Well, someday you won't see him around and he will be in his room....very dead

 

Not much you can do, as this is the way he plans to leave this world..

Exactly. The first step is recognising the problem and genuinely wanting to change. Most alcoholics don't make it that far and many are very happy to drink themselves to death.

[Parkwahn 61]

Exactly. The first step is recognising the problem and genuinely wanting to change. Most alcoholics don't make it that far and many are very happy to drink themselves to death.

The chap I see who lives where a mate lives, is grey his eyes are sunken he looks resigned , sad to see he chain smokes and I have never seen him eat he must weigh 40 kilo tops...

 

 

All our lives are stories, I look at him and wonder what his story is ?

 

 

He can't have six months left...

[theram 22]

Good post. Unfortunately in my experience, and that of Mrs Butch, is that many of these people are beyond help, as they refuse to acknowledge ( in many cases) their problems or help themselves, let alone accept help from others. I'm sure we're all aware of the pitfalls of expat life in pattaya , and what peoples lives turn into when it all goes sour.

 

However, my wife often tells me of the look she sees in the eyes of those who have given up on life, the look of defeat and acceptance of their death, this is though , a person lying on a hospital bed very often with a terminal condition.

 

Maybe this is the same look some of us may have seen in the eyes of those as described by the OP, drinking to numb the reality of a desperate situation,being in the greatest funtown on Earth but with no money to enjoy yourself. For some they must wonder when the transition from living in heaven to existing in hell happened, but hit with the reality of it all, no return home , no loved ones or anyone to care for them, knowing that they'll die alone and probably in squalor, without any dignity is enough to defeat many, while all the time becoming bitter at those enjoying themselves, blaming them for increasing prices and ruining life in fun town from what it was a few years ago.

 

People come out with excuses for their situation rather than accepting their situation and doing something about it. I think the trick is perhaps , rather ruthlessly , not to waste energies on those making excuses but to invest time and energies on those asking for help for the right reasons. I and I'm sure many of us wouldn't turn our backs on a person in genuine need, or see a bloke go hungry because he admits his mistakes and wants to repair his life, we'd do the right thing and help him along, not necessarily financially because sometimes people don't need money, they need to lean on others, and Pattaya is possibly the last place on the planet where people like us cynics invest either money or trust these days.

Butch. That is by far and away the best reply to that type of question i have ever heard. I don't agree with you wholesale, but you are about on the spot. Have a nice day ...

[Butch 3,456]

Cheers Ram,

 

you too buddy.

[Sailfast 503]

I'm not saying it's a good way to go, but it probably beats dying in a rest home someplace.

 

I figure if I make it to 85 or 90, my health starts going to shit and I overhear them talking about putting me in a nice place.... I'll take up heroin and cocaine. Maybe start off slow doing acid and ecstasy. Gradually build up to meth or molly, or whatever is the "in" thing by then. See just how much abuse an old heart can take. Throw in some viagra and pay some crazy hookers to fuck me to death.

Edited March 24, 2015 by Sailfast

[Butch 3,456]

I'm not saying it's a good way to go, but it probably beats dying in a rest home someplace.

 

I figure if I make it to 85 or 90, my health starts going to shit and I overhear them talking about putting me in a nice place.... I'll take up heroin and cocaine. Maybe start off slow doing acid and ecstasy. Gradually build up to meth or molly, or whatever is the "in" thing by then. See just how much abuse an old heart can take. Throw in some viagra and pay some crazy hookers to fuck me to death.

 

Make sure you wear a condom.

[soidoggy 5]

That is a lot, and as some have said, either in denial, or quite comfortably numb! Some people just like to drink more than anything else. You only live once, the duration can be longer or shorter depending on many things. Alcohol on its own is a small influencer on duration for most. But for a few, it can mean a very short life indeed. If he is around 70 and alone, he likley suffers from depression from a mix of alcohol and genetics or earlier life conditions he lived through. He probably could care less about the remaining duration or quality of his life.