Alcohol after strenuous work

tomstrees

tomstrees

Participating member
I've had a bad habit after strenuous work having a double IPA beer and big meal in the evening after strenuous work. I lost several friends to lung cancer, which was probably due to active or prior smoking habits. I lost a friend to alcoholism a few months ago.

I was once on a job where the tree company owner got some wine coolers later in the afternoon on a hot day. It seemed like Jerry was having a stroke; his system did not tolerate that.

Do others regard alcohol consumption a problem after strenuous work?

Probably most health issues are due to what we do wrong, not necessarily due to not taking enough nutrients or vitamins but they do help.
 
Alcoholics tend to have an allergic reaction to it and just can't stop. For those who can drink, quality drinks are probably acceptable at the right time.

In my case a beer or two is probably not that bad but it does add calories to your diet, like liquid bread.

I try to eat a clove of organic garlic when I am active; I drink a lot of healthy organic teas, take a good supplement and have been taking Wisconsin ginseng daily in powder or root form.
 
I’ll preface my thoughts with a note: I generally do not drink alcoholic beverages, I’m too easily addicted, so take my thoughts for what you think they’re worth.

To the best of my knowledge, a drink or two after a day of hard work should not be a problem. However, if you’re dehydrated (likely after working hard in the heat) you should rehydrate first. Alcohol will dehydrate you even more, so I can see that becoming a problem - quite possibly the cause of Mr. Wine Cooler’s “stroke”.

A beer or two is also probably quite different from a couple shots of tequila/whiskey in its effects on your body after a hard day.
 
I find beer or wine very helpful, but I only drink socially, a habit I have had since my youth since I come from a long line of frequent and/or heavy drinkers and seen what consistent alcohol can do. Plus after 30yo or so your liver processes alcohol differently so you can handle heavy lifestyles better in your youth - no surprise there.

Alcohol does wash out minerals - if you have enough it can be an additional issue if you can’t supplement what your losing. If you drink Stout then it’s the other way around.

Heavy work in hot weather I find beer supplements what I lost better than food alone, unless I eat dinner early.

If I am feeling drawn near the end of the week, even one stout and I feel a better in a nutritional sense, probably due to its iron content.
 
I'll second that about actual hydration before beer. If you don't get a lot of water or other 'good' liquids in your system first, one can easily drink beer, especially light beers, at a faster rate than indented trying to rehydrate with it instead.
 
27RMT0N said:
I'll second that about actual hydration before beer. If you don't get a lot of water or other 'good' liquids in your system first, one can easily drink beer, especially light beers, at a faster rate than indented trying to rehydrate with it instead.
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I do this almost every time as a help to liver and kidneys even if they don’t need it.
 
Probably ideal activities after strenuous work are rest including a hot shower and other therapeutic activities. I like to use quality muscle rubs like Max Freeze and Tiger Balm--never undercut your body's need for rest and recreation. There's always another day to do the work, don't work tired or in bad shape.

I have known many in the laboring trades who when they get to 50 or even before suffering shoulder issues like rotator cuff, back issues and muscle pulls. Not worth taking the chance on those no matter how heavily you are pushed.
 
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I am cognizant of those concerns but when I am in top shape it doesn't matter. I can chow down on organic garlic cloves, add hot pepper to Angus beef and steamed veggies or salad. You know what is good for your body. Follow that.
 
Not until, and only if, I have rehydrated and had a proper healthy meal and some time to relax. A dram or two after the boys are put to bed can be great but sometimes I have to listen the the body and just go to bed, especially if it is a workout day in addition to a rough work day
 
Chaplain242 said:
I find beer or wine very helpful, but I only drink socially, a habit I have had since my youth since I come from a long line of frequent and/or heavy drinkers and seen what consistent alcohol can do. Plus after 30yo or so your liver processes alcohol differently so you can handle heavy lifestyles better in your youth - no surprise there.

Alcohol does wash out minerals - if you have enough it can be an additional issue if you can’t supplement what your losing. If you drink Stout then it’s the other way around.

Heavy work in hot weather I find beer supplements what I lost better than food alone, unless I eat dinner early.

If I am feeling drawn near the end of the week, even one stout and I feel a better in a nutritional sense, probably due to its iron content.
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Guinness and Murphy's were known as "Restoratives" and workers would have a pint or two after a long day. Perhaps where we get Happy Hour
 
Or stop drinking for a week or two weeks. The alcoholic tends to have an allergic response, an addiction they can't control.

Very few alcoholic beverages have nutritional or medicinal value. Maybe IPAs with all the hops. The nutrients in Guinness are minimal. Jagermeister is absolute crap with little in the way of herbs/spices. Swedish bitters is one exception, but you only take it an ounce at a time and it is not inexpensive.
 
tomstrees said:
Or stop drinking for a week or two weeks. The alcoholic tends to have an allergic response, an addiction they can't control.

Very few alcoholic beverages have nutritional or medicinal value. Maybe IPAs with all the hops. The nutrients in Guinness are minimal. Jagermeister is absolute crap with little in the way of herbs/spices. Swedish bitters is one exception, but you only take it an ounce at a time and it is not inexpensive.
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I beg to differ, my wife is a herbalist and makes many tinctures, sometimes I get in trouble for drinking all the little bottles of flavored fire water
 
Is it too obvious to say that after a particularly hard/hot day that the fizzy bitter beverage is delicious and the alcohol is a balm for the physical and mental suffering endured on some of the most difficult work days? Therein lies the trap of the "innocent" beer or ale, it's fine as long as it stays to one or two.
-AJ
 
evo said:
I beg to differ, my wife is a herbalist and makes many tinctures, sometimes I get in trouble for drinking all the little bottles of flavored fire water
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I had one of those swedish bitters bottles, probably 4 or 8 oz on a construction job in Maine, and infrequently took the medicinal in a swig or two; I think the foreman saw me doing it once and did not like it. Only for medicinal value, as he would have known had he tried some. The stuff is too expensive to drink in quanity any way.

Drunkenness on the job is usually a cause of termination. However I worked with a guy at Home Depot that came in drunk most days, the worst that would happen is he would get sent home or a warning, went on for over a year.
 
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tomstrees said:
I had one of those swedish bitters bottles, probably 4 or 8 oz on a construction job in Maine, and infrequently took the medicinal in a swig or two; I think the foreman saw me doing it once and did not like it. Only for medicinal value, as he would have known had he tried some. The stuff is too expensive to drink in quanity any way.

Drunkenness on the job is usually a cause of termination. However I worked with a guy at Home Depot that came in drunk most days, the worst that would happen is he would get sent home or a warning, went on for over a year.
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Just a note on sending someone home that is inhibited in some form. As an employer it is your responsibility to not let them drive. There can be legal consequences I know its little off topic but wanted to mention it.
 
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