One of Nature's left-handed mercies, I guess, when it comes to getting old. I used to drink heavily (and sometimes do other substances as well) until 3 or 4am, sleep 2 or 3 hours, and still be able to get up and go to school or work. I maybe wasn't in the best shape when I got there (ok; I definitely wasn't), but I could do it without too much difficulty. Now? If I drink (or do other substances as well) too much now, I'll be hung-over for more than one day, and that hang-over will be far more debilitating that it was when I was young. My body just doesn't process these substances like it used to, which is sort of a blessing in disguise. For a lot of different reasons, I've drastically cut down on my drinking (and use of other substances as well), each different reason equally valid, but one of the MAJOR reasons is that I just can't handle anymore the sickness, nausea, dehydration, headache, sleeplessness, etc. etc. I'll occasionally have a glass of wine (or 2) now, but even that can disrupt my sleeping pattern, make me feel as if someone has poured a fair amount of sludge into my circulatory system, and will invariably cause me a pounding headache.

Yeah, you get to be about 30, or even younger, and you already start to bitch about "Giants walked the earth in those days."

The transition between these two started about the time I graduated from college, and was pretty much completed after two years of grad school.

HAHA Snort Snort!

Very true. I made the mistake a couple of years ago on my birthday of having a hangover...yes, you can be too old for hangovers. OUCH

Ain't that the truth!!  I swear when I was younger I could drink and never get too buzzed or too drunk but now I can really feel my limites LOL

This is really true. Also, remember the days when you were in bed and getting the "whirlies" and you put your foot on the floor to stop them? Or when you would say, "Please, God, stop this terrible hangover, and I'll never drink again!"