Did Magnum have an alcohol problem?

[Luther's nephew Dobie]

This may be a sensitive topic, but I have often wondered about this. Throughout the series Magnum was often shown drinking or hungover. In "Mac's Back" he had kept himself in a drunken stupor for weeks on end. He was always raiding the wine cellar or putting drinks on Robin's tab at the club. When he got stood up he switched from beer to scotch. Were we to gather that Thomas Magnum had an alcohol problem or was he supposed to be a moderate drinker that would occasionally over imbibe?

SignGuy,
All things considered, I always thought Magnum's and his buddies' drinking wasn't realistically portrayed. They should have been drinking a whole lot more.
CBS historically being the "family" oriented network that also drew a large share of older and rural viewers likely factored in to the boys not being shown boozing the way single young men did in the 1980's.
The culture has changed a lot since then, men of the 20th century adhered to a different code of ethics and mores, rightly or wrongly.
Magnum and the boys would have been bar hopping most every weekend Mad Buck Gibson style, chasing not just the local women but also female tourists from around the world flocking to Hawaii.
Of course now a days young "men" spend their time chasing Pokemon monsters instead.

Game, set and match folks. This one's over.

Hi Conchmeister,
Thank you for your kind words. Seeing as you are the "Chief Barkeep-Flemingo key" my Uncle Luther Gillis and me are raising our steins to you, a fellow traveler.
Unless of course you have gone on the wagon.
200 years ago when condemned prisoners were being taken to Newgate Prison to be hung, they were allowed to stop in at a pub for one last drink.
Just one mug, courtesy of the Crown.
Then they had to go back "on the wagon" to their execution, which meant not just their death but even worse no more beer.
Dobie Gillis
Don't ruin my whiskey with ice! I'm not a bloody American!
...Higgins

[Steve]

Hi Conchmeister,
Thank you for your kind words. Seeing as you are the "Chief Barkeep-Flemingo key" my Uncle Luther Gillis and me are raising our steins to you, a fellow traveler.
Unless of course you have gone on the wagon.
200 years ago when condemned prisoners were being taken to Newgate Prison to be hung, they were allowed to stop in at a pub for one last drink.
Just one mug, courtesy of the Crown.
Then they had to go back "on the wagon" to their execution, which meant not just their death but even worse no more beer.
Dobie Gillis
Don't ruin my whiskey with ice! I'm not a bloody American!
...Higgins[/quote]

Fascinating............Does it make any statement about some of us that it takes a thread about roistering to get into multiple posts

[SignGuyHPW]

This may be a sensitive topic, but I have often wondered about this. Throughout the series Magnum was often shown drinking or hungover. In "Mac's Back" he had kept himself in a drunken stupor for weeks on end. He was always raiding the wine cellar or putting drinks on Robin's tab at the club. When he got stood up he switched from beer to scotch. Were we to gather that Thomas Magnum had an alcohol problem or was he supposed to be a moderate drinker that would occasionally over imbibe?

SignGuy,
All things considered, I always thought Magnum's and his buddies' drinking wasn't realistically portrayed. They should have been drinking a whole lot more.
CBS historically being the "family" oriented network that also drew a large share of older and rural viewers likely factored in to the boys not being shown boozing the way single young men did in the 1980's.
The culture has changed a lot since then, men of the 20th century adhered to a different code of ethics and mores, rightly or wrongly.
Magnum and the boys would have been bar hopping most every weekend Mad Buck Gibson style, chasing not just the local women but also female tourists from around the world flocking to Hawaii.
Of course now a days young "men" spend their time chasing Pokemon monsters instead.

Don't forget that TC had given up drinking shortly into the the first season so he'd not be drinking at all. Rick was usually shown as a social drinker. Magnum and Higgins both were shown to be drinkers. Higgins never shied away from having wine or scotch with his meals, but I doubt he was the type to go out drinking at a series of bars on a regular basis. From what we saw, I can imagine Magnum doing that, but that fits in with my original question.

[Styles Bitchley]

Speaking in the first person, I can tell you, I often had a few drinks in the Officer's Club, after a difficult deployment, training maneuvers, etc. In many of the units in which I served, it was both a form of stress relief, bonding, and a forum for junior officers to to work a few things out.

In the form of stress relief, I could laugh at dangerous experiences, which were often no laughing matter. I can't tell you how many times after the "lubrication" of several adult beverages, that my compatriots and I could laugh at my vehicle being engaged in another fratricide incident, me nearly being vaporized with a demolition accident, or laugh how fast I could run when being shot at. My thoughts from those times are that I could have given Usain Bolt a run for his money, even with a basic combat load!

During that assignment, I had a friend come to my aid, after the engine in my armored reconnaissance vehicle blew up. I, and everyone there, thought we had taken a hit from an artillery or mortar round, and between the flames, smoke, and me dragging my driver along with me, thought I had indeed set a new world sprint record for the nearest bit of cover. He remarked that maybe we needed a little live fire for our APFT Army Physical Fitness Test, to ensure passing scores for all. A few weeks afterwards, we all laughed about it at the Club.

For bonding, each and every unit has what were known as "Hails and Farewells", where incoming and outgoing personnel, would have the chance to give their hellos or goodbyes. Again, the lubrication of a few adult beverages, made the event a little easier. If you were in the military long enough, coming into a unit you would know several people, and a few drinks to renew a friendship, was good for everyone there. For Farewells, it was a time to say goodbye to those leaving, and to the spouses as well. For those soldiers who had given their all, it was a time for remembrance.

And, it was an opportunity to work a few things out, rather than stepping out behind the Battalion Headquarters. I had been known to do the latter, as well as the former. Often, it was a misunderstanding, or something that had been blown out of proportion, that in a different setting could be seen, as not the problem everyone thought it was.

It was indeed part of the culture of a very stressful occupation, that holds true with both law enforcement and firefighters. It was often a very necessary part of being able to deal with your Command, soldiers, missions, etc. So, in a long winded, first person account, I certainly don't think that Magnum had a problem.

This was great to read. Thanks for taking the time to paint that picture and enlightening me.

[KingKC]

This may be a sensitive topic, but I have often wondered about this. Throughout the series Magnum was often shown drinking or hungover. In "Mac's Back" he had kept himself in a drunken stupor for weeks on end. He was always raiding the wine cellar or putting drinks on Robin's tab at the club. When he got stood up he switched from beer to scotch. Were we to gather that Thomas Magnum had an alcohol problem or was he supposed to be a moderate drinker that would occasionally over imbibe?

SignGuy,
All things considered, I always thought Magnum's and his buddies' drinking wasn't realistically portrayed. They should have been drinking a whole lot more.
CBS historically being the "family" oriented network that also drew a large share of older and rural viewers likely factored in to the boys not being shown boozing the way single young men did in the 1980's.
The culture has changed a lot since then, men of the 20th century adhered to a different code of ethics and mores, rightly or wrongly.
Magnum and the boys would have been bar hopping most every weekend Mad Buck Gibson style, chasing not just the local women but also female tourists from around the world flocking to Hawaii.
Of course now a days young "men" spend their time chasing Pokemon monsters instead.

Now that I think of it Sign Guy is correct. From the late Seventies to the mid Eighties discos and singles bars were the rage. I was single during that time and weekends were definitely made for barhopping and skirtchasing.

[Steve]

This may be a sensitive topic, but I have often wondered about this. Throughout the series Magnum was often shown drinking or hungover. In "Mac's Back" he had kept himself in a drunken stupor for weeks on end. He was always raiding the wine cellar or putting drinks on Robin's tab at the club. When he got stood up he switched from beer to scotch. Were we to gather that Thomas Magnum had an alcohol problem or was he supposed to be a moderate drinker that would occasionally over imbibe?

SignGuy,
All things considered, I always thought Magnum's and his buddies' drinking wasn't realistically portrayed. They should have been drinking a whole lot more.
CBS historically being the "family" oriented network that also drew a large share of older and rural viewers likely factored in to the boys not being shown boozing the way single young men did in the 1980's.
The culture has changed a lot since then, men of the 20th century adhered to a different code of ethics and mores, rightly or wrongly.
Magnum and the boys would have been bar hopping most every weekend Mad Buck Gibson style, chasing not just the local women but also female tourists from around the world flocking to Hawaii.
Of course now a days young "men" spend their time chasing Pokemon monsters instead.

Now that I think of it Sign Guy is correct. From the late Seventies to the mid Eighties discos and singles bars were the rage. I was single during that time and weekends were definitely made for barhopping and skirtchasing.

Yep, I started in College the early seventies when many States lowered the drinking age to 18 and I hit them all..........College bars, Strip Bars, Discos, Fern Bars, live music venues and even up to the, uuugh, ultra lounges when I finally settled down. If I remember correctly the legal limit for blood alcohol back in the seventies and eighties was .18...My gosh were were heathens back then......

[Mad Kudu Buck]

I'm sure people here have already seen Magnum P.I. - Pub Investigator (Drunk Opening)


youtu.be/OGDsgxKBgHE

[Steve]

I'm sure people here have already seen Magnum P.I. - Pub Investigator (Drunk Opening)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGDsgxKBgHE

Now that's funny....Some of the comments are hilarious as well...............

[Styles Bitchley]

I'm sure people here have already seen Magnum P.I. - Pub Investigator (Drunk Opening)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGDsgxKBgHE

Now that's funny....Some of the comments are hilarious as well...............

Yep. That re-edit is truly funny.

[Luther's nephew Dobie]

I'm sure people here have already seen Magnum P.I. - Pub Investigator (Drunk Opening)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGDsgxKBgHE

Mad Kudu Buck,
Now THAT is the 1980's I remember. I salute you sir.
Dobie

"The past is a different country. They do things differently there".
L.P. Harley

[Mad Kudu Buck]

Mad Kudu Buck,
Now THAT is the 1980's I remember. I salute you sir.

I wish I could take credit, but it's not my video. I just posted the link.

Maybe I should start doing some Magnum cross edits. I've got plenty of ideas.

I don't know how other people get around YouTube's stupid "copyright infringement" rules. If I even post a little tiny clip of something (even without audio), they threaten to take it down and close my account - but there are thousands of videos with 100 X the amount of copyright material, in higher resolution and they never get taken down.

[☨magnum.t]

TM was an Iron Man you can not do an Iron Man and be an alcoholic its just not possible, he ran 8 miles every day and at a 7 minute 30 second per mile pace. What's funny though is that professional surf-skiers are known to be big drinkers.