Mob bosses who chose not to drink alcohol??

We know that many mob guys love to drink, its part of the lifestyle. Go out with the guys, hang out in social clubs, get fucked up and chase women.

But on the other hand, there have been some guys that chose not to drink. Could have been that they felt it was bad for business, or maybe they just didn't like how it made them feel.

Anyone come to mind that you can think of? Michael Franzese seems like the type of guy that wouldn't have consumed alcohol very often.

What about Gotti? Was he a big drinker?

Anthony Casso from what I remember hardly ever drank alcohol unless he was out for dinner with his wife. Never mixed business with getting drunk.

Sonny Franzese supposedly wasn't a big drinker.

In that business I honestly think it would be stupid to drink anything that messes with your judgement and awareness of what is going on around you.

Some guys can handle the booze and still be in control. But for many, it just isn't a wise choice.

I know its a fucking movie but lets look at HEAT as an example. Robert Deniro's character never consumed alcohol and always hung out in diners drinking coffee for a reason.

Totally agree with that.

Plus brings unwanted attention onto yourself. How about if you get pulled over and busted for a DUI or an alcohol related offense? It makes you vulnerable and a liability that you may end up being a RAT.

Thats a broken fuckin rule in my opinion to put yourself in that situation.

This is what brought down Tommy Pitera. Frank Gangi was arrested for DUI and ended up talking and ratting.

Same with Chuckie Merlino in Philly. Got busted for DUI down the shore, tried to bribe the cop by giving him his gold watch, got nailed for both the DUI and bribery.

Chuckie Merlino is a good example. He was demoted from his underboss position because of his heavy drinking.

Italy's Toto Riina and Serbia's Arkan...still, two of the most ruthless crime bosses that ever existed on international level....

If a guy is drinking too much and making bad decisions I'd have to say at one time I'd have to have someone get rid of him. Just way too much of a risk to keep him around.

Even if you demote him that isn't going to stop him from going around like a fucking moron and getting fucked up. Too much of a liability.

There are also plenty of Islamic crime bosses who never drink or maybe some wine (haram)

Well, one of Chicago's most infamous bosses Jack Cerone was an abusive alcoholic (even the feds knew) but still, he was a capo since the late 1940's until he became official boss in 1967 and later he was underboss until his imprisonment in 1986, although back in 1970 he had to take the fall for Ricca and went to jail.....




Lol thats true, although I personally never heard about a non-drinking (muslim) Albanian crime boss....terrorist leaders maybe, but not crime leaders....for example, one known Albanian muslim crime boss from the village of Grchec was arrested in Dubai few days ago and his main picture is while being in some restaurant and holding a huge glass of cognac

Yes it's probably one of the most broken rules in Islam. Alcohol in the Arab world is often a shadowy affair of secret backstreet liquor stores and breweries run by Christians, I read . But compromises ensure that both drinkers and non-drinkers are served.

Thats also spot on since their legacy and youth accepted the Christian/western type of life and right now their main problem is also cocaine, smack, hookers and booze. Currently the world's best hookers are in Dubai (including famous singers, actresses etc.) possibly because most of the crime bosses from around the world hide in that same area...

Let's be honest; alcohol is poison. If you enjoy a drink and if you want to drink, that's entirely up to you. I rarely consume alcohol, but every once in a while I'll have a drink myself as well. But if you're being honest and you cut the crap you'll have to admit that alcohol is something that actively poisons you. When you're sober and you're around someone who even had a slight drink too many it's clear to see that the person in case is functioning on even less than a third of his/her normal mental as well as physical capacity. It's just painful to watch. I've known plenty of people that are quite intelligent while sober, but who turn into absolutely pitiful mentally impaired morons after only a few drinks.

I realize I'm coming across like some kind of anti-alcohol activist, but I'm not and I still do have a drink myself every now and then. I just like to call it out for what it is: poisonous garbage. And when I'm sober I find it easier to deal with people that are high on cocaine than it is to deal with someone who had a few drinks.

Lol I've come across many criminals from a Muslim background throughout the years (Moroccan, Turkish, Kurdish, Albanian, Algerian) and I don't think I've met one that didn't drink alcohol. Most were high on weed half of the time and more than a handful snorted almost as much coke as they were selling.
Go to for instance a Moroccan wedding and you'll find a strict traditional wedding going on indoors while young hoods are getting drunk outside on the parking lot from liquor they hid in the trunk of their car lol.

Plenty of personal Relationships have been ruined due to the fact that decision making becomes seriously fucked up under the influence for many. It happens every single day in the world in regards to alcohol.

My grandfather and grandmother opened a bar together. He was drinking and giving away all the profits so she gave him the choice to quit drinking or get a divorce. He literally would have an entire bar of people and buy them rounds all night long without charging them.

Nicely said and I personally agree with your statement. But I drink 3 to 4 beers almost everyday and so does that make me an alcoholic? In some way "yes", and in other way "no". Drinking hard liquor or wine every day is poison as you already said and its only a matter of time when someone will end up six feet underground, but believe it or not some people really function under the influence of booze. For example, again believe it or not, the world's best surgeons and pilots are mainly heavy drinkers. Again, I agree on everything you said but I have to disagree on the booze vs cocaine situation. You can never see a drunk guy having an epileptic seizure in front of you and also blood coming out from his nose, while on the other hand...I think you know what Im saying?!

Haha when they are back in Marrakesh, Casablanca or Istanbul it's the same or even worse with all that hashish.

Impulse control goes to shit on alcohol. My uncle was a big time alcoholic. Guy was loaded with cash, but the idiot spent all of his money on gambling, hookers and BMW's (he managed to crash about seven times - and I mean crashed as in totaled).

I do agree that some types of drinks are worse than others. And some people certainly can hold their drink better than others.
For instance, you ever had to deal with a woman who had two glasses of port wine? It's like she turns over-emotional while at the same time acting like she's in some kind of zombified state. It's horrible.
Dealing with your average guy who downed half a bottle of liquor is even worse. Many turn into drooling bumbling wrecks that are a spasm away from pissing and shitting their pants at the same time. Just pitiful.

Light beer for me such as Michelob Ultras always seem to keep me well grounded and never have any issues with impulse control.

If I start doing shots, well Im a loose cannon. I can't remember the last time I did shots as they also make me feel horrible the next day.

Lol +1 especially about drunk women and drunk guys pissing in their pants

Beer cant get you in trouble (im talking about 5 or 6), but 10 shots of tequila sometimes can take you to the lowest point of your life

If you are young you want to try everything, I live in a university town our future "elite" drink a lot lol.

Almost impossible to lose control on 5 or 6 beers. I don't drink that much anyway, usually just 2-3.

Carmine Galante rarely drank.

Isn't it interesting that most of the best mob guys never were big drinkers? That tells you something.

Anthony Mirra didnt touch the stuff and he was a huge earner for the Bonnanos in his day. Also as viscious as they come. Not a boss I know..

Speak for yourself. Most of my friends growing up stuck to alcohol. I don't think any of them actually tried coke or any of the super hard stuff. You sound like you grew up around a bunch of losers

The same applies to successful people for the most part. They are not big drinkers. The only exceptions are the porn industry and the music industry lol

according to Buscetta the members of Sicilian Cosa Nostra can't drink much to avoid speaking out of turn

not a mafia member, martin the general cahill did not drink the hooch. to be from dublin surrounded by drunks that was no small feat. although he did guzzle countless bottles of orange fizz/pop which really is no better.

the debate goes on i guess which is worse, the booze or the white devil ole king sugar.

I mean think about it this way. You have to be aware of your surroundings at all times, able to conduct business at any moment. You are a marked man and cannot put yourself in a vulnerable state.

Alcohol is a sure way to do just that, just go ask Sonny LoSpecchio from the Bronx.

Alcohol is indeed a hard drug, but under influence people are more honest.

The mainstream film industry also, Plus the extreme drug use.