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Why is not drinking alcohol still such a big thing?

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I wouldn't say anything, but I wouldn't feel comfortable drinking in front of a sober person who is not the designated driver or pregnant and would probably not drink around you myself. I barely drink usually so it would be easy for me.

It's good that you don't drink at all though, just not sure I can trust you if I have slightly dulled senses but you don't. Would respect it and not say anything, because your decision is smart, but I wouldn't drink near you, all the same.
 
My cousin just died after drinking all day and crashing into a tree; car literally burst into flames, he was pinned and he burned to death. Yeah I'm probably not drinking alone again ever and I don't care if my car gets towed after a night out with friends I'm calling a fucking uber.

I'd say that's a pretty good reason.
 
MrMephistoX said:
My cousin just died after drinking all day and crashing into a tree; car literally burst into flames, he was pinned and he burned to death. Yeah I'm probably not drinking alone again ever and I don't care if my car gets towed after a night out with friends I'm calling a fucking uber.

I'd say that's a pretty good reason.
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That's a smart decision, I hope you stick to it.

And I'm sorry for your loss.

Also if you don't mind hitting strangers with that info, you could give that as your reason, as if you need one to not drink (and I say that as someone who drinks now and then).
 
I have tried some drinks because people swear it's good but I always find that I don't like the taste and I have just decided it isn't for me. Most people understand that and leave me alone about it, thankfully.
 
I think sometimes the simple fact of being a non-drinker can be perceived as an implicit criticism of drinking itself, in the same way meat-eaters might perceive an implicit criticism of their dietary choices when a vegetarian asks for a meat-free dish at a restaurant.

It's kind of a natural reaction, I think.

That said, I certainly would try not to judge anyone who was straight-edge. That's their choice and I respect it.
 
Australia has a very very strong drinking culture so yeah I always get shocked reactions when I say I don't drink.

It's not a moral choice mind you. I don't drink because to me, all alcohol tastes like crap. If I could find an alcoholic drink that I couldn't taste the alcohol in, I'd drink it. Before anyone suggests drinks, don't. I've tried just about all of it. I'm like a Great White Shark with alcohol. Can taste it even in the most minuscule amounts.
 
Yeah I recently stopped drinking all together and a lot people have trouble accepting. I stopped cause it makes me really sick cause of my really low blood sugar.
My dad was recently saying that when he was on the construction sites he never was in the cool guys click cause he didn't drink
 
boiled goose said:
Casual drinking is basically harmless. Having a baseless hard line against it just makes you seem childish and uptight.

There are legitimate reasons for not drinking. Family history of alcoholism or bad reactions to it for example.

You can also just say, i dont feel like drinking tonight. That's different from saying i dont drink for no reason.
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you need *A REASON* to _NOT_ drink?

LOL
 
I also don't drink. Sometimes people hassle me about it, but I've got a fairly solid excuse so they usually leave me alone after I explain.
 
I have hard time explaining to people in social situations that I choose to quit drinking because I'm depressed and drank to numb any feelings, leading to a good 7 year near-alcholic levels of binge drinking.

So I just tell people I don't drink anymore, they laugh and move on. Some people don't get that not everyone is the same.
 
As a more then social drinker, I have no problem with people who choose not to partake. Although if you frequent a bar and you meet someone who comes alone and often and only drinks coke or water it is strange. To each there own
 
Minus_Me said:
Considering how much property his house sits on, it would be quite a feet for him to somehow stumble drunk out of a giant mansion to a place where people could see him.

Would be a gas though lol
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I'm sure he has a groundskeeper with property on his property

and I bet he drops by his place to get hammered

Bill Gates man, what a character
 
I just offer to be the DD every time my friends want to drink, and they no longer care.

I used to drink, then just decided that I didn't care for it anymore.
 
This becomes less and less of an issue the older you get. People will start to assume you aren't drinking for your health, or at worst that you had a drinking problem at some point, or simply that you have other responsibilities preventing you from drinking. Not really a big deal post-30.
 
I held off on alcohol 100% after my second child when I decided to get my body back and work out. It seemed nuts to those around me that I wouldn't even have a light beer socially. Everyone just assumed I was pregnant again, no matter what I said.

That was the point where I realized how strange it is to some folks that other folks can just either never drink, or quit altogether.
 
Can I ask what will be the drinkers reactions if I say "Because I have seen other people causing hurt to themselves due to being drunk".
 
I don't drink, but the very rare times I have been to parties or social gatherings and there is alcohol, first thing I do is look if there is Soda and get on that, or juice, since I can easily realize if it has vodka in it because they just ruin the taste, but it looks the same so no one bothers me.

If someone does bother and insists in getting me a beer or a drink, and I can't refuse them politely, I just take it, give it a sip, and just leave it there on the table next to me, maybe pretend I am drinking from it every now and then by picking it up and putting it back on the table. I don't think alcohol is the devil, I just dislike its taste, but I can handle a sip just to get people off my ass.

I think people who usually pressure you into drinking may just think you are too polite or timid to accept it, and insisting is usually made with the idea to include you in the gathering. Of course, there are jerks who insist and belittle you if you mention you don't like to drink, but simply saying I dislike the taste and that is fine if they like it usually is enough to leave you alone.
 
If a person says they don't drink, it doesn't surprise me. I'm more surprised by a person who has never had a drink and refuses to even try a sip for no reason. I get drinking isn't for everyone.
 
Most people don't care. They really don't. As long as you don't try to make them feel guilty for their choice to drink it's fine.

It's more so curiosity. Drinking is considered normal, so purposefully not doing it is different and therefore odd by definition.

To most people over 21 (in the US), saying you don't drink at all is like saying you don't eat candy at all or you don't drink milk at all. It's different and people are going to be curious as to why you've made that decision.

No you don't need an explanation, but being defensive or vague about your reasoning is going to heighten their curiosity even more. Saying "I've tried it once and I didn't like it so I'm never drinking it again" sounds dumb when you replace alcohol with most any other category of food/beverage.

Bottom line is, if you do something abnormal (and yes, not drinking is considered abnormal for most people) people will question you about it. Everyone has something they do that is abnormal. Don't make it out like you're being persecuted, it's just how things work.


xk0sm0sx said:
Can I ask what will be the drinkers reactions if I say "Because I have seen other people causing hurt to themselves due to being drunk".
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They probably won't pursue it further after saying that. To make it more of a sure thing be more clear in your phrasing, "Causing hurt to themselves" can mean anything from tripping and falling to driving into a tree and dying.

If it's something that was actually traumatic, say "I've had a traumatic event happen involving alcohol in my life that I rather not talk about, so no thank you. It doesn't bother me if you drink around me though" etc.
 
lightus said:
No you don't need an explanation, but being defensive or vague about your reasoning is going to heighten their curiosity even more. Saying "I've tried it once and I didn't like it so I'm never drinking it again" sounds dumb when you replace alcohol with most any other category of food/beverage.
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It's not a normal food category, it's a drug. I get significantly less shit for saying to someone that I'm a bit of a fussy eater and don't like mayo than I do for saying that I'm a non-drinker. I don't rub it in anyone's face, I don't tell other people they shouldn't drink and I don't judge them for it. I don't even like to mention it in person usually but there have been numerous occasions where someone else in the group has said "oh he's a non drinker" and then suddenly my life is their business and they won't rest until they're personally satisfied about my reasons for not drinking. The drunker the group of people, the more likely "that guy" is to appear. It's extremely obnoxious.
 
I don't drink. Never have, don't plan on doing so in the future. If someone asks, I literally tell them that I don't drink for moral reasons. If they push me on it, I tell them that while I understand the need to sometimes get some relief from the realities associated with being a human (I take an Ativan occasionally for anxiety), I feel that society in general is way too lax on the dangers involved with substance abuse and that I personally don't want to contribute to that culture. I've been sober my whole life and things have been perfectly fine despite the struggles I've faced. I don't need it to talk to people or have fun. Also, why even take chances? I've seen a few of the most responsible drinkers end up doing stupid shit like drive drunk or fall into a bottle when times got hard. That's not even an option for me.

Because of my stance, I don't go to most gatherings where alcohol is the main attraction. It was difficult through my 20's because of how stupid people that age are with booze and how embarassing people are when they're drunk and you're sober, but it's gotten a lot easier in my 30's as more people have calmed down due to age, families, work, etc. The biggest problem comes from people who have literally built their whole personality around drinking (of which I've met a disstressingly large number of). These are the guys who will treat you like an alien if you mention you don't drink.
 
It seems that everyone knows they're drinking this fluid just so they can feel good and when they run into someone who doesn't want to get on that level, it fucks with them

Of course this isn't just exclusive to alcohol.
 
I've always seen this as one of those inconvenient friend-filter things...

If someone consistently questions your personal decisions, they probably aren't worth being around. Obviously, we all have insecurities that manifest themselves as criticism. But in a situation like this (where there is nothing objectively wrong with your choice (in actuality, it is probably a fantastic choice)) it can get incredibly tiresome.
 
I'll taste stuff if someone offers a sip to be polite, but otherwise I don't drink and have never been drunk. Just never cared to.

Most people don't really care. At most they might think it makes me even more boring than I already am. :P
 
ThoseDeafMutes said:
It's not a normal food category, it's a drug. I get significantly less shit for saying to someone that I'm a bit of a fussy eater and don't like mayo than I do for saying that I'm a non-drinker. I don't rub it in anyone's face, I don't tell other people they shouldn't drink and I don't judge them for it. I don't even like to mention it in person usually but there have been numerous occasions where someone else in the group has said "oh he's a non drinker" and then suddenly my life is their business and they won't rest until they're personally satisfied about my reasons for not drinking. The drunker the group of people, the more likely "that guy" is to appear. It's extremely obnoxious.
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I agree that it isn't the same as a normal food category, but most people don't really think about it that way.

I've never experienced anything like what you're saying. I'm not doubting what you're saying, I just guess I've gotten lucky.

I'm a heavy drinker myself, I drink with my friends a couple times a week and I frequent local bars for a couple of beers as well. I routinely cut out drinking completely from a range of a week to a month. During this time I still go to bars and hang with friends while they drink. My friends never pressure me into drinking, but I do get questioned when I go to bars. My more distant friends I see ask me why I'm not drinking, and say I should just have a few etc. I just smile and say I can't and they leave me alone.

Maybe since I don't stop drinking for longer than a month at a time it doesn't get annoying to me?
 
I have straight edge friends. It's not a particularly big deal.

THAT SAID, if anything there's always a non-drinker who wears it like a badge of honor.
 
It's really awkward when people ask about it and I end up trying to avoid telling them that I'm on various anti-anxiety meds that don't interact well with alcohol. Just...don't do it. Don't ask.
 
Personally I just go out to bars a lot and the thought of a person who doesn't drink booze being in a bar is weird to me. I honestly get bored at a bar if I'm not drinking.
 
Now that I have had my thyroid removed I'm not sure what my alcohol tolerance will be like. I have read many different comments suggesting I'm screwed. Well, it was a good run.
 
It's the people who have not and will not ever even try a drink that make me want to start asking questions. In the same way a super picky eater does. There's an aquired taste aspect to it as well that is often unrecognized. Of course you're not going to like it if you never try it, that's how it works!
 
During a transition class out of the military I had a guy who in a mock job interview was "invited" out to lunch because the interview ran over into lunch hours. He said yes and in the story the instructor ordered a drink and then asked the interviewee what he would like. He said he doesn't drink. He doesn't like it. Well this dude told him that this is a commonish issue and believe it or not potential employers will judge the decision. His example was it's a close knit group of coworkers who go out to the bar every other Friday to relax in a social enviorment without work. A guy who doesn't drink might not fit the mold.

His advice was if you don't like drinking it's fine but if the issue is taste find a drink you can tolerate or you very well may limit yourself in opportunites either through networking or professionally( another example is a client you have likes to have drinks and wants you to have a drink with him before you seal a contract).

The guy argued thats not a company he wold want to work at then.

The instructor repeated that it is fine to feel that way but that is a limiter and it's important to keep that in mind.

Not as relevant to the topic but it is very good advice imo.
 
Doing a bout of not drinking and its especially hard here in Japan where everyone drinks and everyone is expected to participate in drinking. It's generally not that bad but taking a few weeks off makes me feel bad when someone offers drinks.
 
mental thing, it doesn't encourage their drinking so they feel awkward and they think you can't possibly loosen up or have fun without drinking.


like i said mental, and i swear my friends try to use drinking as a reason to be social, instead of just being social. They take 1 drink then 2 seconds later they acting all crazy and social, there is no way the alcohol can affect you that fast. lol they social and don't even realize it, they think its the alcohol but nope.
 
N.Domixis said:
23 and don't drink alcohol. Had a sip once and it tasted terrible. don't see the appeal.
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This is like saying "I met a human once. He was an asshole so I don't see the appeal in human interaction."

There's so many kinds of drinks out there, including ones that taste like they don't have any alcohol in them at all. There are some really good "teas" that taste like normal tea but have a kick :)

Anyway, nobody has to justify themselves to me. But I'm obviously more socially gravitated toward people who understand the benefits and the risks of drinking and play responsibly within: they don't mind a drink or two to have some fun but they don't get smashed every day of the week with strangers or do risky behavior when drunk. If you don't drink for personal, moral or health reasons that's fine, but my friends and I are going to enjoy a good time and you're welcome to join however you like to, just don't be a snooty fuckface to us when we have a cocktail or some wine and enjoy ourselves.
 
Switch Back 9 said:
Ah, but there is a difference between someone who doesn't drink and is actually fun to be around and someone who doesn't drink and is in fact a boring, lame person who brings the energy and vibe down.

EDIT Question to the rest of the posters though. I've been around and participated in drug and alcohol use since my early teenage years. However, I don't remember one instance of anybody pressuring me into trying something. Every time I tried a new drug it was completely of my own volition. Peer pressure to do drugs or get drunk really did not exist in my social circle. Is this common?
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It's not as direct as you phrase it here. It isn't like they say

"Hey man, you wanna hit of this shiiiiet right here motherfucka? Huh??! HUH!? PEOPLE WHO DO THIS ARE COOL! YOU WANNA BE COOL DONT YOU?! Then hit THIS shit!"

Nah it is more like literally everyone is sitting in a circle laughing and sipping on some shit. You come to the table and your friend is like "ayyyyy man you made it! Here, let me poor you a dr--"

"Sorry, I don't drink"

"...." the entire table is looking at each other.

"...oh ok then man uhh... yea no sweat--sit down bro"

The table is quiet for what feels like an eternity before starting the next convo.

It is indirect pressure. You feel... I dunno. Shitty. Not me, I just fake drunk when I don't feel like drinking (get a glass of whatever and either sip it slowly, or act more intoxicated than I actually am). That'll teach em.
 
Switch Back 9 said:
Ah, but there is a difference between someone who doesn't drink and is actually fun to be around and someone who doesn't drink and is in fact a boring, lame person who brings the energy and vibe down.

EDIT Question to the rest of the posters though. I've been around and participated in drug and alcohol use since my early teenage years. However, I don't remember one instance of anybody pressuring me into trying something. Every time I tried a new drug it was completely of my own volition. Peer pressure to do drugs or get drunk really did not exist in my social circle. Is this common?
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In college I would hang with a group of people that smoked weed and got drunk every Thursday. At the time, I didn't drink and didn't do drugs. They would pressure me to do both every week, and every week I'd say no thanks.

Now at parties people will pass around weed and ask me if I want a hit, I decline, and the joint continues its way around the group. Pressure seems to come most between 16-23yrs of age. Beyond that no one gives a shit anymore unless they are doing it to bust your balls.
 
Full disclosure: I'm having a drink right now while I'm browsing GAF. A snakebite to be specific, and anyone who says they don't like alcohol because of the taste should try one.

I used to not drink much though for a lot of the reasons listed in this thread but mainly because I couldn't afford it. I really only got harassed about it when I was younger, like during college and the years following college, and in retrospect it was because my friends thought I wasn't having fun and they wanted me to have fun. There wasn't anything malicious or judgmental about it. But I got pretty sensitive about it and would get pissed if they harassed me too much. Once I got a decent job I started drinking more regularly but by then my friends knew to not bug me about it too much.

It depends on where you are and what you do, but in some jobs grabbing a beer with coworkers is going to help you move forward.

xk0sm0sx said:
Can I ask what will be the drinkers reactions if I say "Because I have seen other people causing hurt to themselves due to being drunk".
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That'll probably just make me ask you more questions. Like, what were they drinking and what happened to them? What makes you think the same thing will happen to you? If I'm tipsy at the time the questions may persist for a while.

Honestly though, most people don't care why you don't drink, most of the time when people ask you if you want a drink or offer you one they're just being polite. So unusual excuses aren't needed, just tell them you have to wake up early in the morning or something.
 
If someone gives me shit for not drinking then it's a good sign that I shouldn't hang out with that person (granted I've only ever encountered two people that couldn't believe I have never drank and then proceeded to spend all night telling me about how great alcohol is). 99% of people are cool about it, and I'm always cool about them drinking.

I do wish more parties I attended had something else besides just water or alcohol but I've learned to bring my own sodas.
 
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