I love wine, especially red...I've noticed that I just get sleepy and drunk faster now...kind of sad. I still want to drink it occasionally, though, because I love the taste. And I've read on here that people in long term ketosis, etc, completely lose the taste for it and the thought of it makes them gag. I don't want to get to that point!!

I'm with Sharky on this one. I have given up all grains, sugars (Manuka honey I was particularly fond of), gone low carbohydrate but cannot cut back on the wine. Funnily though, I have noticed on a couple of occasions recently that, though not regularly a fan of white wine, just a couple of glasses intoxicate me. Fortunately, I do not have the same problem with red wine. After all what are we getting fit for?

I used to have an occasional 'fun drink' like rum in a fruity cocktail or even a homemade margarita. Now I just see those as mostly sugar. I recently had a margarita that I have always revered as "the best in the world" at Casa de Pico in San Diego and I couldn't believe how fake it tasted. I didn't even finish it. We never buy rums and cocktail type liquors anymore.

I have no problem with a glass of wine when I'm out at a nice restaurant. I think red wine really pairs well with red meats and highly flavorful meals.

And beer... oh man. I won't touch the cheap stuff, but I LOVE a good quality brew. Love it. Especially if it's on draft at a micro-brewery type restaurant. Like a Stone IPA, or maybe an Oggi's pale, or Karl Strauss lager. I used to keep a decent stock in my fridge too and have several per week. Now, I don't even think I have 1 per week. Weird too, because that was not a conscious decision. It just sorta 'happened'.

I think some alcohols have their place, some for preference and some for more social purposes, but overdoing it on the booze is not a good idea if you want to stay healthy long term.

I only drink wine but damn good wine. Life is to short to drink shit. It's not paleo but it's for longevity and that is my end game anyhow

2 bottles of red wine per day:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/08/23/man-swims-the-entire-length-of-the-amazon-115875-21616720/

Pffftt...What kind of question is that?

"I feel bad for people that don't drink, because when they wake in the morning, that's the best they'll feel the rest of the day." ~ Frank S.

But seriously, I drink alot less than I used to, but you guys are gonna still be shocked at the amount I drink, I think. I live in New York City! What else is there to do?! Kidding. I do have a very active social life, and I'm also a bartender though...so there's that.

I used to DRINK. For the past 8 or 9 years, during which I've been in and out of numerous bands, and worked in various bars and restaurants in the city. I probably put back at least 6-10 drinks a night, sometimes more, between all the shots everyone wants to do with the bartender. I drank HORRIBLE things like Red Bull (Ugh...just thinking of the amount of sugar now, makes me wanna puke!), frozen syrupy margaritas...and it showed. I've always been pretty lithe, used to weigh 125 in college. I ended up this past year at 142, and I was disgusted.

So here we are today, I'm down to 135, mostly muscle (drinking that much leads to hangovers, which DO NOT lead to the gym, ha!). A year ago or so I cut out beer, and sugary drinks, quit smoking (yeah I know...what was I thinking??). I still have a bottle or two of wine with dinner, sake with sashimi, good belgian beers in big bottles, small batch American stuff, and I drink the hell outta some Tequila. If I go out (only on weeknights, god the weekends suck in Manhattan) I still have upwards of 6-10 drinks. Alot? Maybe, but I'm Irish. I've never been too squeamish about drinking or hangovers.

As far as Paleo goes, I noticed that if I drink, I wake up at the same time as on normal days, which is a VERY early (for me, anyway) 11:00 AM. And the hangovers are pretty mild! No impact on desire though.

I drink on nights out a couple times a month. I tried the NorCal Margarita recently, and I liked it. Everyone else turned their noses up at it. It's definitely a drink begging for sweetness for non-paleos. I'm going to try and give up beer.

Yes, I still drink. I've never really like beer or wine, but I'm all about the liquor. 8)

I drink only the fruit alcohols (e.g. wine). I don't drink grain alcohols like beer or most types of vodka.

This is more out of my taste preferences than thinking that grains are bad for you.

due to being fully paleo/primal in eating and exercising 90% of the time I can drink 50 million beers per weekend and still maintain a lean shape.

Pinot Noir is my favorite and I usually have some 3-4x a month. When the weather warms up I ocassionally have the Nor Cal Margarita which is very refreshing when dining outdoors in the hotter months.

I used to drink Crown Royal and Diet Dr Pepper. Being Southern, I sure do miss that sweet sweet bourbon concoction! But I haven't really had much artificial sweeteners in over a year and the Diet DP has started tasting worse and worse the longer I am paleo. I still have one every few months, but they are becoming less enjoyable.

Yes. Still drink - and for some reason am not getting hangovers from just one drink since eating more paleo.

Giving up beer was leaps and bounds the hardest part about going paleo (it is the only gluten I ever had for a long, long time).

Wine? Eh, it's tasty and I drink it with meals, but the social circles I run in are not really wine-friendly.

So I generally stick to my old favorite, good old American bourbon whiskey. Often with soda. Fernet Branca if they have it (oh oh yes). Fancy craft cocktails if I'm at a craft cocktail bar.

I used to match the boys shot for shot. Those days are long past. But a couple drinks from time to time, sure. I do, however, think about drying out for more than a week, just to see what it's like. Who knows?

Warning: Not Paleo

Ace Pear Cider - Magners / Strongbow Ciders for when I would like alcohol but don't want to have the physical "day-afters" of breaking my diet.

Whiskey straight for special occasions. As long as this remains in moderation I don't get major backlash (except too often, I end up losing willpower and cheating w/food).

Microbrew or Guinness when I've reached the "I'm gonna pay for this tomorrow, I might as well enjoy myself now" mindset. This is not a healthy mindset, btw...

The last few years I've had some champagne on New Years, but I think I'm going to phase that out as well. I've tried to enjoy it, but it just makes me feel disoriented (in a bad way). That being said, I have terrible motion sickness that has in the past been alleviated via alcohol consumption. I have some trips coming up and I'm planning on getting loaded beforehand (flying, not driving) and seeing how it goes. I figure the liver damage from a couple drinks is roughly equivalent to what I'd experience with motion sickness drugs.

I gave up alcohol - used to have several glasses of red wine a week. I cut it out altogether for about 8 weeks going very strict paleo. Now I have probably one glass on the weekend and I barely get through the one glass. It's enough to satisfy me with the taste. If I have two glasses, I feel crummy the next day, for sure. Not only does this cut out sugar and unnecessary calories, I also find I eat more regular portions when drinking less.

Red Wine is my "cheat" for the week since I don't eat dessert, so I allow myself 2-3 glasses over the weekend. Especially if i go out to eat with friends....when they are ordering their triple layer lava cake with ice cream, I order another glass of Pinot!!!!

i drink red wine at least once a week! in summer i think the norcal margarita is brilliant- i had been drinking something pretty similar long before paleo. never been a fan of really sweet mixed drinks. i do love a vodka tonic with lots of fresh lime. i make my own infused brandys and vodkas, too. not willing to give that up. in fact, this years big summer food project is my first attempt at rumtopf. im super excited! most of it will be given away as xmas gifts, but im not going to deny myself a little sumpthin'-sumpthin'.

I have never drank alcohol in my life. It just never interested me.

I love red wine and have a few bottles in my fridge right now. I just rarely can talk myself into drinking it because of how it tends to affect me. I always, always get bloated and retain water when I drink alcohol, it takes me 2-3 days to get rid of the affects. Even just one glass seems to do it to me. When I drink more often, it doesn't seem to happen, but what I think is that I just hold that same 2-3lbs all the time if I don't leave enough time after drinking.

Potato vodka. Red wine. I've given up beer, which I dearly loved. Thankfully, it doesn't taste nearly as good as it used to.

Paleo all week but booze on the weekends. Im a good 10 lbs from being as fit(cut) as I want to be because of it, but to stay home every night and not get a buzz going sounds pretty boring to me. However, with a buzz comes the desire to eat unhealthy so definitely not the best combo for staying fit.
So, to answer your question, I know for a fact I would workout at least one extra day if I didnt drink and consume a good 2,000 - 5,000 calories less a week. So, If you want the best results, drinking isnt an option. But, is a little more fat in the belly for a little more fun on the weekends worth it? That is what you have to ask yourself...

When I cheat it's usually with alcohol. I love real ale, especially stouts and porters (dark beers are very high in antioxidants, which are even more readily available than the ones in red wine). My initial worry was there was so many carbs in beer but I guess that in comparison there isn’t as many as you’d find in bread, pasta or bananas? You could also try armagnac, cognac, and bourbon whiskey which has some positive benefits too?

Oh and I have found that I get drunk quicker too, probably if you are in ketoisis I assume?

Yes, but not often. I usually drink wine or ales. I figure Paleo people probably got at least some alcohol from fermented fruit - possibly fallen fruit just lying under the tree. If birds can get drunk on wild fruit, why not our ancestors?

I gave up beer which was the HARDEST thing for me - I come from a beer drinking family and well, THEY haven't given up beer so every social family gathering we have has been hard; but my will has won everytime. I hate dealing with the bloated water retention problems afterwards not to mention the carb/crap cravings it causes for days afterwards. To think that I use to drink sooo much beer at any given time - it was like water to me. The side effects just aren't worth it anymore. I will still drink wine (some red but mostly white) and make special plans about once a month to enjoy a proper homemade margarita (calories be damned!). I found that whatever is in red wine causes my heart rate to increase in the middle of the night (weird), anyway, life's too short not to enjoy a good mixed drink or a nice bottle of wine.

Nope! Sober!!!! WOOHOOO!!!

Amusingly, I never drank until paleo. Still despise wine and beer but my tastebuds have changed so much, and now I love a finely crafted, non-sugary cocktail!