Varieties of drinks??

[heat]

What's with all the varieties of beer??
if you are a first time drinker how do u choose. Suppose I go to a pub, what do I decide to get (YES, uni is done, im 19, i wanna go out with a couple of friends).

I have no idea what coolers are, and what are shots?? I hear you can get drunk with just one or 2?

Essentially, any thing I should know bout alcohol would be great.

Help would be appreciated
and dont flame!!

[matdwyer]

What's with all the varieties of beer??
if you are a first time drinker how do u choose. Suppose I go to a pub, what do I decide to get (YES, uni is done, im 19, i wanna go out with a couple of friends).

Marketing wants to tell you to get mainstream drinks... i.e. Canadian, Budweisers, etc.... in my mind the best beer is Rickards Red... but just go to the lcbo and try some... you'll tell which ones you like and don't like... but a bar is probably not the place to "test" stuff, as its super expensive. Most first time drinkers wont like the taste of anything... its sort of like an acquired taste for most. I hated it when I started, love it now.

I have no idea what coolers are, and what are shots?? I hear you can get drunk with just one or 2?

Coolers are basically mixed drinks in a bottle, (i.e. juice and vodka), typically they are associated with girls (you all know thats the sterotype ) |So try not to order a vex when you are with a bunch of frat boys... or you will get chirped hard.

Shots are just hard alcohol... 1oz of it.

Hard alcohol is usually 40% alcohol, which generally will taste a lot stronger then lower stuff (i.e. burn, taste bad) again you really have to go out and try these things to figure out what you like. Most people it takes 4-5 shots in a quick period of time to get "buzzed".

Hard liquor is usually 35-40%
Liquors are like 15-25%
Wine is like 9-15%
Beer is like 4.5-5.5%

The less alcohol the less "harsh" the taste is.

Start with something like coors lite or rum & coke, and then graduate to other stuff. But seriously, go to the lcbo and get a bunch of little bottles and try a bunch of stuff. Depending on your body type you should pace it out ALOT though... if you are somewhat small and first time drinking, then you'll be puking with 6-8 shots.

I write this a little bit buzzed so it might be inaccurate

[Bookpreviews]

Wow! you've never tried alcohol- not even at your parents house?
Well, I guess not everyone drinks that much then.

I also wanted to add Martinis are quite popular thesedays. They are basically a mix of strong alcohols on a 3oz glass- usually 30% or so alcohol and they cost about $10-15.
There is also the "classic" martini- whatever it is that James Bond drank (sry do not know recipe offhand).

But it is a very good suggestion to get all the mini bottles they are usually about $2-3 ea and you can sample quite a few that way.
They even have premixed shots at the LCBO

You should maybe also go to chapters and pick up one of the old school bar drink books- they have some with all the classic recipies.
I have Mr. Boston's drink and bar guide.

But, the LCBO they also have a free magazine and last summer they had a book with drinks you got free if you bought anything. It was a spiral bound book and I got a couple for gifts and the people that got them really liked the drink recipies.

[Shinyuki]

I don't know why people like beer so much, the after taste is terrible..so terrible that you drink more to wash it down. The only good thing is it's relatively cheap.

[Grassgreen]

Welcome to the real world OP!

For a tasty way to get buzzed easily, I recommend a 4 pack of vodka wildberry original coolers.

Chill them, and knock that 4 pack down in an hour. It doesn't taste boozy like Mikes hard Lemonade, but you will get a good shine quick.

[heat]

lol, im not looking to get buzzed.
I will try out a pub, see what they got there.

any other ideas?
wht bout coors lite? is the lite mean its light in alcohol?

[shannn]

The colder your alcohol, the less bitter it will be in general.

If you want a reallllly good beer, try Rickard's India Pale Ale...mmmm, that goes down really smooth. But in general, beer if an acquired taste...it takes a while to enjoy it (like wine)

If I were you I'd stick with mixed drinks if you haven't really been an alcohol person before. Mixed drinks like screw drivers, liquid cocaine, chocolate martinis are good (just look for recipes on google)

Just avoid tequila if you can!

[hozer]

I'm gonna go against the grain and say pound back as much tequila as you think you can handle, and then drink some more. I think everyone needs to have a 'I can't stand tequila because this one time...' story.

Seriously though, just try stuff, you might be called some rather unfortunate names if you decide you like the fruity drinks though. Though it's all in good fun, just have a good time with friends and soon to be friends.

Edit: I thought I should probably put some good information in, so if you want to learn about alcohol, the LCBO has a really good training program that they normally give out to people that get hired. It covers a lot about wines, spirits, how they are made, history, etc,..