---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I drink during every show. I can't…"
description: "\"I drink during every show. I can't remember the last show I did completely sober. It works for me. I use it as a tool. It's like steroids are for athle..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/doug-stanhope-1528_athlete_i-drink-during-every-show-i-can-t-rememb_2356170.jpg"
---

#  I drink during every show. I can't remember the last show…

![“I drink during every show. I can't remember the last show I did completely sober. It works for me. I use it as a tool. It's like steroids are for athletes. I'm looser and more self-confident. If I drank less, I wouldn't have been on stage this long.” quote by Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/doug-stanhope-1528_athlete_i-drink-during-every-show-i-can-t-rememb_2356170.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/doug-stanhope-1528_athlete_i-drink-during-every-show-i-can-t-rememb_2356170.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/doug-stanhope-1528_athlete_i-drink-during-every-show-i-can-t-rememb_2356170.jpg)

> “I drink during every show. I can't remember the last show I did completely sober. It works for me. I use it as a tool. It's like steroids are for athletes. I'm looser and more self-confident. If I drank less, I wouldn't have been on stage this long.”

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He treats alcohol as a performance enhancer, likening it to steroids for athletes, suggesting it boosts confidence and stage presence.

**In simple terms:** Alcohol as a confidence tool.

Key Takeaway

Consider the risks of relying on substances for performance.

Themes

addiction performance confidence

Mood

candid self‑deprecating

Type

motivational controversial

When to use this quote

- stage performance
- creative work
- social gatherings

Key Concepts

substance use psychology of risk

Questions to Reflect On

- What would happen if you performed sober?
- Is confidence sustainable without the substance?

A Different Perspective

Dependency can impair health and authenticity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Confident Drank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confident-drank-5753986/) [Drank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drank/) [Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Like Steroids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-steroids-5753988/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self confident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-confident/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sober/) [Sober Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sober-works-5753987/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Steroid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steroid/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/)

## Related quotes

> [I drank, smoked and did drugs to get where I'm at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-drank-smoked-and-did-drugs-to-get-where-i-m-at/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [My first open mic, I drank a full pitcher of beer by myself. I wasn't afraid of being in front of people as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/my-first-open-mic-i-drank-a-full-pitcher-of-beer-by-myself-i-wasn-t/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [I would think if someone connected to steroids made the Hall of Fame, that would enhance my chances of making the Hall of Fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/i-would-think-if-someone-connected-to-steroids-made-the-hall-of-fame/)

[Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/)

> [We're Norwegians. You know, the Vikings. My deadlift was 310 pounds. I mean, I was very, very strong - and I didn't take steroids.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-mondale/we-re-norwegians-you-know-the-vikings-my-deadlift-was-310-pounds-i/)

[Eleanor Mondale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-mondale/)

> [Anyone who has seen me spin that heavy, giant wheel on television knows that I'm not a steroid user](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-sajak/anyone-who-has-seen-me-spin-that-heavy-giant-wheel-on-television/)

[Pat Sajak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-sajak/)

> [I was always known as that stocky, muscular, powerful, short, athlete. People always wondered if I was on steroids, and it was because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-johnson/i-was-always-known-as-that-stocky-muscular-powerful-short-athlete/)

[Shawn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-johnson/)

> [I played with 11 Hall of Famers and played against 52 Hall of Famers, and I don't know any of them linked to steroids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/i-played-with-11-hall-of-famers-and-played-against-52-hall-of-famers/)

[Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/)

> [Because tanning and steroids are only a problem if you plan to live a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-tanning-and-steroids-are-only-a-problem-if-you-plan-to-live-a/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [I don't prefer to fill my body with antibiotics, pesticides, steroids, and growth hormones - my body is my temple, and I treat it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-whang/i-don-t-prefer-to-fill-my-body-with-antibiotics-pesticides-steroids/)

[Suzanne Whang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-whang/)

> [What we, thanks to Jung, call "synchronicity" (coincidence on steroids), Buddhists have long known as "the interpenetration of realities." Whether it's a natural law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/what-we-thanks-to-jung-call-synchronicity-coincidence-on-steroids/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [I had already developed inherited back problems. I had degenerative disk disease, a form of scoliosis, arthritis. And I truly believe that if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-canseco/i-had-already-developed-inherited-back-problems-i-had-degenerative/)

[Jose Canseco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-canseco/)

> [America is capitalism on steroids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lowkey/america-is-capitalism-on-steroids/)

[Lowkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lowkey/)

> [ They pick me \[to be tested for steroids\] every time. I don't know why. I don't know if it's because I'm a big guy,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ortiz/they-pick-me-to-be-tested-for-steroids-every-time-i-don-t-know-why-i/)

[David Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ortiz/)

> [I don't believe in bodybuilders using steroids. If a man doesn't have enough male hormones in his system to create, a nice hard, muscular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-reeves/i-don-t-believe-in-bodybuilders-using-steroids-if-a-man-doesn-t-have/)

[Steve Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-reeves/)

> [Baseball needs to put the steroids era behind it by having and enforcing tough rules against all kinds of artificial advantages, so that spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/baseball-needs-to-put-the-steroids-era-behind-it-by-having-and/)

[Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/)

## More by Doug Stanhope

> [I had no musical or athletic ability, and I wasn't particularly good looking. Comedy was something I could do for attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-had-no-musical-or-athletic-ability-and-i-wasn-t-particularly-good/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [Jesus died for your sins. I'm doing it for your mere entertainment dollar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/jesus-died-for-your-sins-i-m-doing-it-for-your-mere-entertainment/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [I believe that everyone should be treated as an individual. Women should be treated equally in the right to vote, sure. But if Im…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-believe-that-everyone-should-be-treated-as-an-individual-women/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [They say 'life is precious'. To who? To you, when you're young and you've got a few dollars in your pocket. Tell that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/they-say-life-is-precious-to-who-to-you-when-you-re-young-and-you-ve/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [The ultimate act of cowardice is the fat-headed wrestling guy sitting behind the frail kid in math class, clipping him on the ear, saying:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-ultimate-act-of-cowardice-is-the-fat-headed-wrestling-guy-sitting/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [There's no such thing as addiction, there's only things that you enjoy doing more than life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/there-s-no-such-thing-as-addiction-there-s-only-things-that-you-enjoy/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [ The whole acting and Hollywood \[thing\], it's just work to me. Stand-up comedy ruins you so badly for doing television. I don't really need… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-whole-acting-and-hollywood-thing-it-s-just-work-to-me-stand-up/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [You should laugh everywhere you can find even the slightest glimmer of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/you-should-laugh-everywhere-you-can-find-even-the-slightest-glimmer/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [I have no fear of death, except I hate waiting for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-have-no-fear-of-death-except-i-hate-waiting-for-it/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [Everybody's angry. They've got nothing to be angry at, so they're angry about nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/everybody-s-angry-they-ve-got-nothing-to-be-angry-at-so-they-re-angry/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [People who want to kill other people are the last people I want to party with, because I get mouthy when I drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/people-who-want-to-kill-other-people-are-the-last-people-i-want-to/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [Democracy is the worst kind of government, I'm sorry. Would you still call yourself a Christian if they elected a new Jesus every four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/democracy-is-the-worst-kind-of-government-i-m-sorry-would-you-still/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [You forget, when you're in the Scandinavian countries, you forget they don't speak English first and they speak better than I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/you-forget-when-you-re-in-the-scandinavian-countries-you-forget-they/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [Life's temporary for a reason, it gets boring after awhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/life-s-temporary-for-a-reason-it-gets-boring-after-awhile/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [The more business gets involved, the less fun it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-more-business-gets-involved-the-less-fun-it-is/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

[Explore all 230 Doug Stanhope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

## More Athlete quotes

> [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/)

[Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/)

> [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/)

[Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

> [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/)

[Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/)

> [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/)

[Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/)

> [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/)

[Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/)

> [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/)

[Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/)

> [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/)

[Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/)

> [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/)

[Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/)

> [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/)

[Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/)

> [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/)

[Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/)

> [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/)

[Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/)

> [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/)

[Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/)

> [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/)

[Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/)

> [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/)

[Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/)

[Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I drink during every show. I can't remember the last show I did completely sober. It works for me. I use it as a tool. It's like steroids are for athletes. I'm looser and more self-confident. If I drank less, I wouldn't have been on stage this long.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Doug Stanhope"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-drink-during-every-show-i-can-t-remember-the-last-show-i-did/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Athlete"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-drink-during-every-show-i-can-t-remember-the-last-show-i-did/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/doug-stanhope-1528_athlete_i-drink-during-every-show-i-can-t-rememb_2356170.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/doug-stanhope-1528_athlete_i-drink-during-every-show-i-can-t-rememb_2356170.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/doug-stanhope-1528_athlete_i-drink-during-every-show-i-can-t-rememb_2356170.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I drink during every show. I can't remember the last show I did completely sober. It works for me. I use it…” — Doug Stanhope",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Doug Stanhope",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I drink during every show. I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-drink-during-every-show-i-can-t-remember-the-last-show-i-did/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-drink-during-every-show-i-can-t-remember-the-last-show-i-did/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
