Non-drinkers discussion/rant thread

[Regina_George]

When people automatically think you’re a ex alcoholic because you don’t drink

 

[Rosie glow]

I work in retail and the amount of alcohol we sell early in the morning before 9am is actually quite eye opening, we have home orders for bottles of vodka virtually every day again early in the morning I definitely think this country has a problem with alcohol and it seems to be a badge of honour to go out and get drunk
You can't advertise cigarettes and you can't stock sweets/crisps/unhealthy snacks within so many meters of the tills but there is no such laws for alcohol which I find puzzling

 

[ClockworkDolly]

I don't drink due to health issues (alcohol could impact on that but also I don't need a hangover on top of I'll health). Absolutely sick of people not getting it. I don't judge people who drink, don't judge me for not drinking. I even had a friend call me boring once (when she was drunk). Yawn.

It is predictable when people resort to calling their friends boring, because you don’t join them in their favourite pursuit.

My counter-argument is to say, “well you must be boring as you need a stimulus to liven you up!”

 

[Horridhenrietta]

I don't drink due to health issues (alcohol could impact on that but also I don't need a hangover on top of I'll health). Absolutely sick of people not getting it. I don't judge people who drink, don't judge me for not drinking. I even had a friend call me boring once (when she was drunk). Yawn.

 

[OatMatchaLatte]

I think people take it as a moral judgment on their own drinking if you say you don't drink. It's not, you do you, and I'll do me, thanks.
I do find it tedious being around drunk people, and I don't think any of it is "fun". My dad is a recovering alcoholic, and saw the impact it has on the person and the people around them, and frankly it stripped away all of the appeal.
I do think that it's the only drug that if you abstain from it, people assume you have had a problem with it, though.

 

[Starlight_100]

This thread is for people who don't drink alcohol to discuss and rant about the many things that happen when you don't drink. No we are not boring, we do know how to have a good time at a party and no we won't "just try" what you are drinking. Thought I'd make this thread as I've seen this topic mentioned a few times on other threads.

 

[Miggsy]

3.5 years dry here after it got totally out of hand during lockdown

 

[Piff paff puff]

I've never been interested in it and don't hide that fact. I've also never socialized so it's never been a problem.
Drinking, like high street shopping no longer seems to be a big part of people's life like it used to be so hopefully there's less pressure on people who just don't want to.

 

[justonemorepage]

Thank you for making this thread. I stopped drinking in my early twenties because I didn't like feeling out of control and a few very bad things happened to me while drinking. My friends acted like it was the worst thing in the world that I didn't drink when I was out with them - I wasn't stopping them from drinking! They'd harass me all night over it so I'd have to ask the barman to put my lemonade in a gin glass just to appease them. They are no longer my friends. But why are people so weird when you don't want to drink? They knew I'd had bad experiences while under the influence so you'd think they'd be more understanding. So selfish. One of them got pregnant before another friends wedding and she was so grumpy that she couldn't drink. I just find it bizarre.

 

[Elle898]

I haven’t drunk for over 2 years now, I’ve been invited to 2 different brunches for friends birthdays, one of the brunches is £45 for one course and unlimited processco for 2 hours, when I enquired about just buying a ticket for food no booze I was told that doesn’t exist and my only option is to buy a £12 ticket that doesn’t include anything just entry but I won’t be able to get into the venue until after 2pm when all my fiends are allowed to be in there from 12pm! How outrageous is that! I refused to pay £45 for a shitty burger, The other brunch I’m going to is £65 for 3 hours and that’s for booze or mocktails! So I have to pay the same as everyone else for mocktails it’s so unbelievable!

 

[DipsyDoodle]

Hello fellow teetotallers! I have a very handy excuse for avoiding alcohol (it causes migraines), but I've even had people say "oh just take your medication and carry on" like no, I'd rather not feel like death for several days just to have a drink, thanks.

 

[ClockworkDolly]

I work in retail and the amount of alcohol we sell early in the morning before 9am is actually quite eye opening, we have home orders for bottles of vodka virtually every day again early in the morning I definitely think this country has a problem with alcohol and it seems to be a badge of honour to go out and get drunk
You can't advertise cigarettes and you can't stock sweets/crisps/unhealthy snacks within so many meters of the tills but there is no such laws for alcohol which I find puzzling

It doesn’t help when you have all these people on social media advertising “wine o’clock” I don’t really get the mentality. It is as though they elevate themselves in the social pecking order, see who can drink the most, to gain popularity.

Like you say, a badge of honour.

 

[lilyannrose]

Nice to see this.

I've been a life long teetotaller just because very early on I knew I hated alcohol. I have absolutely zero tolerance for the taste of any booze that I've tried.

People have rolled their eyes at me like this is the stupidest reason ever not to drink but why would I consume something I hate? You do you but no thanks.

 

[Piff paff puff]

I don't drink due to health issues (alcohol could impact on that but also I don't need a hangover on top of I'll health). Absolutely sick of people not getting it. I don't judge people who drink, don't judge me for not drinking. I even had a friend call me boring once (when she was drunk). Yawn.

How judgey of them! You could be equally as judgy and wonder why someone needs to get drunk? What are people trying to escape? At least non drinkers have courage to face problems and to me there is only one way to go that. With a clear mind.

 

[Rosie glow]

Love this thread
Me and my husband are non drinkers through choice and have been for years I've never been a social butterfly and I certainly don't think I've missed out
A while ago a colleague asked me what my favourite drink was, when I answered that I don't touch the stuff they looked at me like I had two heads and actually asked me what was wrong with me
I've never understood why there is such a stigma around non drinkers

 

[Snippysnips]

So glad this is here, personally sick of people that think I need to drink in order to "join the fun" am not that keen on it, an personally cannot stand wine, even the smell of it starts to turn my stomach, I tasted it once an honestly thought I was going throw up, for me personally it's just outright disgusting same with any types of beers/lagers, I've never been interested in much else either an have only had cocktails the rare times I have had a drink

It's just wild to me that people who don't drink couldn't care less about people drinking but people who drink seem to think there's something wrong with you if you say you just don't want/like it, if I turned round an said I was going sober they wouldn't bat an eye but if I say I just don't want some then all of a sudden its like some game to them to see who can pressure me into it, even my mum will get pissy if I don't have a drink for the bells at new year

Personally I can have just as much fun as anyone else plus I get to remember what I done as well, an don't get in a right state that I've seen some others get in

 

[ClockworkDolly]

I can take it or leave it, but these days prefer to leave it. I was never a big drinker even when I did drink alcohol.

I live with someone who also doesn’t drink, so that makes it easier not to indulge.

Years ago I lived next door to an alcoholic, she would bring men back after she had had a skinful and inevitably there would either be a row between her and her latest bunk up, or she would blast out music at high volume keeping us all awake. I’ve seen the damage alcohol does to people and having worked in hospitality too, I am glad I no longer bother with it.

Besides, it feels rather good when the doctor/nurse asks you if you drink alcohol and you can tick that you don’t.

 

[Elle Woods]

I have never really been a drinker, I think I got drunk maybe a handful of times when I was 18 and it felt like “the thing” to do but I’m now late 20s and just don’t drink at all. My partner doesn’t drink either. I just don’t enjoy the taste at all and I absolutely hate the feeling of losing control and being under the influence, for me, it’s not enjoyable.

I also feel really uncomfortable when I am around heavily drunk people. Especially when it’s someone I know well, who suddenly isn’t behaving like themselves. I think that stems from coming from a family of big drinkers.

I do always find it frustrating when people automatically assume you won’t want to come somewhere just because you don’t drink. I’m teetotal, not a hermit.

 

[Suzesnooze]

I drank before I had kids but stopped once I had them as couldn’t cope with a hangover and toddlers. People are so offended if you don’t drink and call you boring. I don’t need alcohol to have a good time. My dad was a big drinker and always tried to force drink on me and the rest of our family. He really believed I couldn’t be having a good time without alcohol.

I had someone else say they don’t trust people who don’t drink

 

[ClockworkDolly]

I drank before I had kids but stopped once I had them as couldn’t cope with a hangover and toddlers. People are so offended if you don’t drink and call you boring. I don’t need alcohol to have a good time. My dad was a big drinker and always tried to force drink on me and the rest of our family. He really believed I couldn’t be having a good time without alcohol.

I had someone else say they don’t trust people who don’t drink

I too have heard that line many times over the years.