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Comment by sneak | Hacker News Reader

The problem is that ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITIES "drink a lot, often". Not hanging out is mutex with a top-notch career.

I go and drink one drink and then switch to soda. But don't pretend that it's only some subset of the US tech industry.

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I refuse to accept that as a norm.

And you already proved the exception by suggesting you can just drink soda and no-one thinks any less of you.

Often, people will think less of you. I have a 'straightedge' tattoo on my back, and even though I'd go to bars, never mention it, and just drink Coke, others felt that by not drinking I was judging them. I lost friends over it.

I drink now. Possibly too much.

Seems like people like you are easily convinced to do anything. And promptly blame others when bad things happen. Best of luck.

Like most things in life, the answer is much more complex than that. I decided that having experiences was a better life choice than teetoataling. I don't blame anyone for my decision to drink, it was a conscious choice on my part.

My straightedge tattoo is on the back of my left hand. Like many, I gave it up later in life. No shame in that, so long as you can avoid assaulting subordinates or killing people with your car.

In all seriousness, there were SO MANY bad decisions in the original story. They just happen to all belong to Joe. I have no doubt he'd have made different choices while sober. But it's not the fault of the "alcohol culture" or "tech", it's Joe's.

I drink one alcohol-containing drink then switch to soda. You can refuse to accept it but that's the way young big city upwardly-mobile American culture is, coast to coast.

"Poppin' bottles" isn't just a catchphrase.

I don't even like being drunk.

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