diff --git a/plugins/beers.go b/plugins/beers.go
index 0550e7e..b4e524e 100644
--- a/plugins/beers.go
+++ b/plugins/beers.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 package plugins
 
 import (
-	"database/sql"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
@@ -17,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/jmoiron/sqlx"
 	"github.com/velour/catbase/bot"
+	"github.com/velour/catbase/plugins/counter"
 )
 
 // This is a skeleton plugin to serve as an example and quick copy/paste for new plugins.
@@ -26,14 +26,6 @@ type BeersPlugin struct {
 	db  *sqlx.DB
 }
 
-type userBeers struct {
-	id        int64
-	nick      string
-	count     int
-	lastDrunk time.Time
-	saved     bool
-}
-
 type untappdUser struct {
 	id          int64
 	untappdUser string
@@ -75,58 +67,6 @@ func NewBeersPlugin(bot *bot.Bot) *BeersPlugin {
 	return &p
 }
 
-func (u *userBeers) Save(db *sqlx.DB) error {
-	if !u.saved {
-		res, err := db.Exec(`insert into beers (
-			nick,
-			count,
-			lastDrunk
-		) values (?, ?, ?)`, u.nick, u.count, u.lastDrunk)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		id, err := res.LastInsertId()
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		u.id = id
-	} else {
-		_, err := db.Exec(`update beers set
-			count = ?,
-			lastDrunk = ?
-		where id = ?;`, u.count, time.Now(), u.id)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Println("Error updating beers: ", err)
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func getUserBeers(db *sqlx.DB, nick string) *userBeers {
-	ub := userBeers{saved: true}
-	err := db.QueryRow(`select id, nick, count, lastDrunk from beers
-		where nick = ?`, nick).Scan(
-		&ub.id,
-		&ub.nick,
-		&ub.count,
-		&ub.lastDrunk,
-	)
-	if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
-		log.Println("DIDN'T FIND THAT USER: ", err)
-		return &userBeers{
-			nick:  nick,
-			count: 0,
-		}
-	}
-	if err != nil && err != sql.ErrNoRows {
-		log.Println("Error finding beers: ", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	return &ub
-}
-
 // Message responds to the bot hook on recieving messages.
 // This function returns true if the plugin responds in a meaningful way to the users message.
 // Otherwise, the function returns false and the bot continues execution of other plugins.
@@ -160,7 +100,7 @@ func (p *BeersPlugin) Message(message bot.Message) bool {
 				return true
 			}
 			if parts[1] == "+=" {
-				p.setBeers(nick, p.getBeers(nick)+count)
+				p.addBeers(nick, count)
 				p.randomReply(channel)
 			} else if parts[1] == "=" {
 				if count == 0 {
@@ -186,16 +126,15 @@ func (p *BeersPlugin) Message(message bot.Message) bool {
 		// no matter what, if we're in here, then we've responded
 		return true
 	} else if parts[0] == "beers--" {
-		p.setBeers(nick, p.getBeers(nick)-1)
+		p.addBeers(nick, -1)
 		p.Bot.SendAction(channel, "flushes")
 		return true
 	} else if parts[0] == "beers++" {
-		p.addBeers(nick)
+		p.addBeers(nick, 1)
 		p.randomReply(channel)
 		return true
 	} else if parts[0] == "bourbon++" {
-		p.addBeers(nick)
-		p.addBeers(nick)
+		p.addBeers(nick, 2)
 		p.randomReply(channel)
 		return true
 	} else if parts[0] == "puke" {
@@ -204,7 +143,7 @@ func (p *BeersPlugin) Message(message bot.Message) bool {
 	}
 
 	if message.Command && parts[0] == "imbibe" {
-		p.addBeers(nick)
+		p.addBeers(nick, 1)
 		p.randomReply(channel)
 		return true
 	}
@@ -292,22 +231,30 @@ func (p *BeersPlugin) Help(channel string, parts []string) {
 	p.Bot.SendMessage(channel, msg)
 }
 
+func getUserBeers(db *sqlx.DB, user string) counter.Item {
+	booze, _ := counter.GetItem(db, user, "booze")
+	return booze
+}
+
 func (p *BeersPlugin) setBeers(user string, amount int) {
 	ub := getUserBeers(p.db, user)
-	ub.count = amount
-	ub.lastDrunk = time.Now()
-	if err := ub.Save(p.db); err != nil {
+	err := ub.Update(amount)
+	if err != nil {
 		log.Println("Error saving beers: ", err)
 	}
 }
 
-func (p *BeersPlugin) addBeers(user string) {
-	p.setBeers(user, p.getBeers(user)+1)
+func (p *BeersPlugin) addBeers(user string, delta int) {
+	ub := getUserBeers(p.db, user)
+	err := ub.UpdateDelta(delta)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Println("Error saving beers: ", err)
+	}
 }
 
 func (p *BeersPlugin) getBeers(nick string) int {
 	ub := getUserBeers(p.db, nick)
-	return ub.count
+	return ub.Count
 }
 
 func (p *BeersPlugin) reportCount(nick, channel string, himself bool) {
@@ -452,7 +399,7 @@ func (p *BeersPlugin) checkUntappd(channel string) {
 		}
 		log.Printf("user.chanNick: %s, user.untappdUser: %s, checkin.User.User_name: %s",
 			user.chanNick, user.untappdUser, checkin.User.User_name)
-		p.addBeers(user.chanNick)
+		p.addBeers(user.chanNick, 1)
 		drunken := p.getBeers(user.chanNick)
 
 		msg := fmt.Sprintf("%s just drank %s by %s%s, bringing his drunkeness to %d",
diff --git a/plugins/counter/counter.go b/plugins/counter/counter.go
index f1be7dd..a804ef4 100644
--- a/plugins/counter/counter.go
+++ b/plugins/counter/counter.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ type Item struct {
 	Count int
 }
 
+// GetItems returns all counters for a subject
 func GetItems(db *sqlx.DB, nick string) ([]Item, error) {
 	var items []Item
 	err := db.Select(&items, `select * from counter where nick = ?`, nick)
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ func GetItems(db *sqlx.DB, nick string) ([]Item, error) {
 	return items, nil
 }
 
+// GetItem returns a specific counter for a subject
 func GetItem(db *sqlx.DB, nick, itemName string) (Item, error) {
 	var item Item
 	item.DB = db
@@ -60,6 +62,7 @@ func GetItem(db *sqlx.DB, nick, itemName string) (Item, error) {
 	return item, nil
 }
 
+// Create saves a counter
 func (i *Item) Create() error {
 	res, err := i.Exec(`insert into counter (nick, item, count) values (?, ?, ?);`,
 		i.Nick, i.Item, i.Count)
@@ -69,19 +72,29 @@ func (i *Item) Create() error {
 	return err
 }
 
-func (i *Item) Update(delta int) error {
-	i.Count += delta
+// UpdateDelta sets a value
+// This will create or delete the item if necessary
+func (i *Item) Update(value int) error {
+	i.Count = value
 	if i.Count == 0 && i.ID != -1 {
 		return i.Delete()
 	}
 	if i.ID == -1 {
 		i.Create()
 	}
-	log.Printf("Updating item: %#v, delta: %d", i, delta)
+	log.Printf("Updating item: %#v, value: %d", i, value)
 	_, err := i.Exec(`update counter set count = ? where id = ?`, i.Count, i.ID)
 	return err
 }
 
+// UpdateDelta changes a value according to some delta
+// This will create or delete the item if necessary
+func (i *Item) UpdateDelta(delta int) error {
+	i.Count += delta
+	return i.Update(i.Count)
+}
+
+// Delete removes a counter from the database
 func (i *Item) Delete() error {
 	_, err := i.Exec(`delete from counter where id = ?`, i.ID)
 	i.ID = -1
@@ -235,7 +248,7 @@ func (p *CounterPlugin) Message(message bot.Message) bool {
 				return false
 			}
 			log.Printf("About to update item: %#v", item)
-			item.Update(1)
+			item.UpdateDelta(1)
 			p.Bot.SendMessage(channel, fmt.Sprintf("%s has %d %s.", subject,
 				item.Count, item.Item))
 			return true
@@ -247,7 +260,7 @@ func (p *CounterPlugin) Message(message bot.Message) bool {
 				// Item ain't there, I guess
 				return false
 			}
-			item.Update(-1)
+			item.UpdateDelta(-1)
 			p.Bot.SendMessage(channel, fmt.Sprintf("%s has %d %s.", subject,
 				item.Count, item.Item))
 			return true