Question for alcohol drinkers...

[Robert]

I am writing about a character who is a 30 year old, white male Marine who has recently returned from Iraq. He is in a serious depression over what he has seen in battle. As a result, he is trying to self-medicate with alcohol. Question is, what kind of hard alcohol would be be drinking?

(I was initally having him drinking straight from bottles of whiskey, but it kinda feels cliched.)




I'm Irish, but know very little about drinking

 

[Loud Orange Cat]

I'd cover up the brand of liquor and make up something like "FAST BOURBON", "OLDE FORTRAN" (Nod to Futurama) or you can use my teenage nickname "JAGERMONSTER".

Make up something freakin' hilarious...

 

[T Shipley]

This article refers to something called "Iraqi cough syrup." It's unclear whether its is a specific kind of cough syrup, or the practice of mixing cough syrup with whiskey (and drugs). Would be worth looking into, though.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/08/08/060808145640.rffmjw7d.html

 

[T Shipley]

Did a little more poking around and found this...



"Cross testified that to beat stress, soldiers would take Iraqi cough syrup which "makes you feel high".

He also said that soldiers took pain killers and drank Iraqi whiskey."

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1980067,00.html

So, maybe cough syrup and whiskey. Two great tastes that go great together.

 

[Loud Orange Cat]

I once took an empty bottle that had its labels stripped off and filled it with water.

Once your character mentions the word 'vodka', there's no need to go into specifics as the seed has already been planted in the viewer's mind.

It's the illusion... it's maaaaaaaaaaagic... [slap!]

 

[indietalk]

That's no fun! Water? Give them the real stuff, lol.

 

[Will Vincent]

Of course you need to keep in mind that as this character is a 30 year old Marine, he's done his share of drinking already, so he's gonna have to drink a LOT of booze to even feel a buzz...

 

[Loud Orange Cat]

That's no fun! Water? Give them the real stuff, lol.

We'll be on take 32 and he'll be on the floor laying face down in a widening pool of his own vomit.

Then, the serious movie turns into the weekly YouTube feature.

I like the way you think.

 

[Unknown Screenwriter]

I somehow missed this thread so I'm coming in late...

I think it really depends on the story... If you show us the Marine in a total life decline, you may want to start him off with some decent stuff and then... As he spirals downward, show us how he will drink any fucking thing he can get his hands on.

In other words...

He starts out with Chivas or Johnnie Walker... Even Jack. He drinks only bottled beer in the beginning... The more expensive brew pub stuff...

Maybe he even scoffs at those who drink cheaper beer and whiskey as if he's some kind of connoisseur.

As he spends more money... Maybe loses a job... Loses a relationship... (you get the idea), he succumbs to the fact that all he wants is a drink.

He could even steal a bottle of Thunderbird from a wino...

"WHAT'S THE PRICE? A QUARTER TWICE!"

Show us his decline visually by having him reach for crappier and crappier alcohol...

If this is a tragedy, he could even end up drinking something like rubbing alcohol...

Show us his decline THROUGH his choice of drink... We'll get it. And, you don't really need the brand names... You just need to make the places he gets his liquor part of the downward spiral...

Maybe he goes to a crowded bar and steals drinks from people's tables.

Maybe he buys some teenagers some booze and KEEPS it.

Maybe while acting like he's shopping in a grocery store, this is simply a cover for him to open beer and whiskey and drink...

I could go on and on but I think you get the idea...

Good luck with it!

filmy

 

[Robert]

I've rewritten it. He's now drinking moonshine he made in his bathtub.




But seriously, thanks for all the info, tips and ideas everyone... it's given me a lot to think about!

 

[spinner]

That's no fun! Water? Give them the real stuff, lol.

...yeah! there is something to be said for method acting!

I am late to the thread, too. I think vodka is probably pretty cheap, maybe gin...

-- spinner