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Why is not drinking alcohol still such a big thing?

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I don't drink at all. I've probably made less friends because of it since most gatherings involve getting shitfaced when going through school.
 
24 and don't drink or smoke myself.

I spent 15 or so years watching an abusive prick do that. Any and all enjoyment I may have had is gone.
 
Because no matter how many times I mention I don't drink anymore, there are always more pushers.

Imagine there are people pushing the inverse, too. Just stop. Stop pushing things on people.
 
I have not had alcohol in about 9 years now and everytime I tell someone I don't drink and they think its weird of think that I'm lesser then they are because of it.
FUCK THOSE people.

Seriously live your life the way you want and don't feel bad if you don't follow the "social norm" or something.
You have to life your life and if your happier by not drinking good on you awesome keep it up! :)
 
I'm a social drinker only, if I had it my way I'd never touch the stuff myself nor have I of my own volition. However alcohol is a good social lubricant at times and I can help me be more sociable in situations where my first instinct is to clam up. Which is basically anytime I go to a party or have to meet a bunch of people I don't know lol

If people are giving you shit for not drinking, just shrug them off, there's nothing wrong or strange about it. Do what makes you comfortable & is within your own boundaries. I've got several friends who smoke weed, while I don't. Whenever they light up and I happen to be around them they don't give me shit for not joining in (not that I haven't considered once or twice lol) - we just have a mutual understanding.
 
I decreased my drinking from a few times a week to every few months or so. My friends that drink the most seem to get uncomfortable with it. They offer and I decline and the responses range from offering multiple times throughout the night to "OMG you're not drinking? Ever!?".

After doing it for so long, it is awkward being sober around drunk people. Alcohol had historically greased the wheels for me socially so there's sometimes a point in the night where I feel anxious. When that point hits I usually go around the corner, smoke a joint and head back to the hangout. If weed were legal and cheap I could give up alcohol entirely.
 
See, the "it doesn't taste good" argument is the number one thing that will get people harassing you about it.
True. It's amazing how dumb and stubborn people get about that...

The varieties of flavors are limitless, and masking alcohol's harshness is easy to do. If you don't want to drink, most people will get it, but if it's because of flavor it's a harder thing to swallow. If someone really likes alcohol it's akin to telling a professional cook the only food you like is fast food hamburgers. No one cares, it's just weird.
I can almost guarantee I could put something alcoholic in front of you that if you did a blind taste test you wouldn't know had alcohol in it. Low amounts of alcohol, like 3%-4%, and strong flavors and you'd likely not even be able to tell. For reference, your standard beer is 4-6%. The problem is that people who say "you won't even taste it" hand you a mixed drink that's like 30% alcohol and act surprised when you do taste it, and it's silly. Most ciders or other beverages in the malt category that are lower alcohol and strong flavor would probably not even be noticeable.
...Yeah. Like that.

-_-

Yeah I'm with you here. I'd never harass someone for not drinking, for any reason, but this argument doesn't stick with me because (as you stated) there is a huge, near-endless variety of incredible drinks to enjoy
And as I keep saying to people like you, I tried tons of different types of drinks (beers, wines, champagnes, ciders, porto (that one was the worst thing ever), various cocktails and mixed drinks, etc etc.) and every single time I hated the taste.

Why it's so hard to believe that some people simply do not like the taste is beyond me.


I also hate all yogurts, no matter the flavour, no matter the type (yes even all the totally-not-yogurt-tasting frozen yogurt ones you'll-love-it-I-swear types!). Leave people's tastes alone.
 
I don't drink and rarely I get questioned about it. If I'm going out I just say I don't want to drink everything.

But I also I'm not the "going out to bars" type of person so that helps I guess. Anyway, never had any trouble because of that.
 
I'm 25 and never had or drank alcohol or beer etc in my life. I stopped drinking soda too

I only drink water

I went to a sports bar with my friends for a beer pong tournament to be moral support

My friend's girlfriend sat next to me and said to me "you don't feel weird for not drinking, and hanging out with drunkies." I said "no I'm just cool hanging out with my friends...."

but

I actually hate alcohol/beer/whatever to be honest with you guys. The whole concept of getting drunk or buzzed is bewildering to me to be honest but I don't disparage anyone for doing so, as long as you don't put anyone in danger with yer foolishness though

don't get me started on hard drugs and cigarettes lol (weed is fine I guess I don't smoke obviously, but if I hated weed as much I hate everything else I would have no friends lol)
 
I drink once a year mostly and sometimes maybe more like 2-3 if I'm with a friend. Otherwise it's only at New Years Eve I drink.

Also:

Not drinking alcohol = social outcast

Why would anyone spend time with someone who is sober and not drunk? What is fun in that?

That is what most people think of those who don't drink
 
Social paradigm. Drinking alcohol is the norm, anyone who deviates from any norm is considered an anomaly.

To get even weirder; caffeĂŻne, nicotine and alcohol are the only acceptable narcotics in western society.
 
Whatever you do, don't sit down and estimate just how much money you've pissed away in the form of alcohol over the years.
 
I very much enjoy being tipsy from time to time. Making a big deal or an absolute stance about drinking alcohol sounds baffling to me but maybe I'm just old.
 
To get even weirder; caffeĂŻne, nicotine and alcohol are the only acceptable narcotics in western society.

Nicotine not as much anymore, there was a big crusade against smokers in recent years here and they were banned behind the wall (separate rooms or outside most of the time) in most of the clubs, bars, restaurants and have to stay there, if they want to smoke.
 
It really depends on the kind of people you spend your time with.

I very rarely drink, and it never was a Big Thing.
 
Drinking is unfortunately so ingrained in our culture, it's easy for even smarter people to fall in lazy thought patterns...

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.
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!
I very much enjoy being tipsy from time to time. Making a big deal or an absolute stance about drinking alcohol sounds baffling to me but maybe I'm just old.
..like these.

Almost everyone has things they're just not interested in trying. I have never tried smoking and never will, no matter how harmless it would be to try it once or do it a couple of times per year. I have never tried weed and never will. I have never tried heroine and never will (even though it'd be harmless too if you did it once or once a year). I just don't have any interest whatsoever to try them out.

Most likely both of you have things like that too, and that's fine. You really don't need any specific reason to not try them out. It's not inherently bad to question if there's some deeper reason behind that unwillingness, but considering how pervasive it is for people not drinking alcohol to get those questions, you probably should think twice if you really need to try to dig those reasons out.
 
I drink occasionally, like once a month. Whenever I do, I feel like I'm acting and that I'm not being my true self. I just do it to fit in and mainly do it to look cool to girls or self-medicate when having trouble with girls lol same with cigarettes.

However having said that, I like the taste and the effect, though the effect always makes me uncomfortable in addition to feeling chilled out.
 
Whatever you do, don't sit down and estimate just how much money you've pissed away in the form of alcohol over the years.

That's the same with anything though. Provided you're not spending like, a crazy amount every week, that money would likely have gone to some other "wasteful" outlet. Like candy, or heroin.
 
It's like if you and a couple of friends are about to play paintball, and one guy comes in a tuxedo.

Doesn't mean he's not going to be fun, but it sure seems like it.
 
As with many things in our society I couldn't care less what people do and do not.
Why it's anyone else's business I don't know.

Drink all you want or don't drink at all, up to you and all the justification you need.
 
As an Australian, it's hard to make friends when most people only want to go out and get drunk and go clubbing.

I've met a few people where it seems to be turning into a great friendship, but once I say "No thanks" to going out drinking, they forget about me.

It's an infuriating social norm here. You're basically an outcast if you don't drink.

I'll be honest... People who don't drink kinda creep me out. Like people who don't like dogs.

How is it "creepy" in any way? It's just a choice. Utterly ridiculous views here.
 
Yeah I know this is very strange. My friends really drink a lot and usually I do too (most of the time even too much). But lately I started to just skipp the drinking on some evenings and everytime they give me a strange look and keep on asking why I don't want to drink.
Sometimes I just don't want to be hung over the next day, spend too much money on alcohol and also try to keep my diet so get over with it.
 
Why is it easier for vegans to say they dont eat meat and not get questioned anymore while we don't get the same treatment for not drinking alcohol? :(
Like if a person say "Oh sorry I'm vegetarian".
"Whaaaaat? Why, do you hate the taste of meat or something? Do you have an allergy? Here try this meat, I guarantee it will taste different from other meat you have eaten." - This doesn't happen.

Maybe we need to come together and come out with an agenda that says drinking is bad because of these statistics etc etc
 
It's not a big thing.

Either you are self conscious and thinking you aren't fitting it or you are simply hanging around judgemental people.

I've gone years without drinking and also have drunk with friends and both experiences were identical.

No judgements, no 'you don't fit in', no nothing.
 
Friends and parents have been telling me for years that it's an acquired taste and that sooner or later I'll end up enjoying at least wine or beer, but I'm close to 26 and still haven't came across any alcoholic drink that tastes good. Not that I've actually made the effort to try out many different varieties, but I'm more than fine with just soft drinks.
 
Why is it easier for vegans to say they dont eat meat and not get questioned anymore while we don't get the same treatment for not drinking alcohol? :(
Like if a person say "Oh sorry I'm vegetarian".
"Whaaaaat? Why, do you hate the taste of meat or something? Do you have an allergy? Here try this meat, I guarantee it will taste different from other meat you have eaten." - This doesn't happen.

Maybe we need to come together and come out with an agenda that says drinking is bad because of these statistics etc etc

No! You don't want to be those guys. Some vegans or vegetarians can be so incredible annoying. I rather start drinking.
 
Why is it easier for vegans to say they dont eat meat and not get questioned anymore while we don't get the same treatment for not drinking alcohol? :(
Like if a person say "Oh sorry I'm vegetarian".
"Whaaaaat? Why, do you hate the taste of meat or something? Do you have an allergy? Here try this meat, I guarantee it will taste different from other meat you have eaten." - This doesn't happen.

Maybe we need to come together and come out with an agenda that says drinking is bad because of these statistics etc etc

Because vegans don't really miss out on the rush of being drunk.

If I'm up to going out and having a blast, and a couple of my friends come with sweat pants and say "Yeah I'll grab maybe one beer", I'll feel very disappointed over the expectactions being dashed.

I've abstained from going out and drinking many times, and don't have anything against the people I know that don't drink, some of them have given me the best parties of my life, but the stereotype is "Well guess it's time to be an adult and not have a crazy time".

I've experienced the opposite once as well. I invited two friends over to watch some movies and eat dinner. Then they come with two bottles of vodka, sprite and limes. They tell me they want to get fucked up, which I did not feel like doing. I asked them to go home after the dinner, at which point they went to a party instead. Was better for both of us.
 
I think as long as you're not self-righteous about your non drinking most people won't give you shit. Well, most mature people at least.
I think the reason this is even a thing is because a lot of the places we commonly associate with drinking are absolute shit without it. Yeah a friendly get-together or a bbq or something's will still be fun sober, but going to a bar/club without putting some kind of drug in your system is fucking abysmal. So it's a case of why even put yourself in that situation if you're not getting fucked up.
 
Why is it easier for vegans to say they dont eat meat and not get questioned anymore while we don't get the same treatment for not drinking alcohol? :(
Like if a person say "Oh sorry I'm vegetarian".
"Whaaaaat? Why, do you hate the taste of meat or something? Do you have an allergy? Here try this meat, I guarantee it will taste different from other meat you have eaten." - This doesn't happen.

Maybe we need to come together and come out with an agenda that says drinking is bad because of these statistics etc etc
Vegans and vegetarians (which are different things) do get a lot of bad treatment. Meat eaters have a tendency to joke about vegs who are always so pushy, but really, you see so much of very similar or worse behavior from meat eaters.

It is a bit different though. It's not like they explicitly say "it's not a big thing, just eat it, you'll like it", but it's more implicit with constant barrage of how meat is the king and bacon is awesome.

It's not a big thing.

Either you are self conscious and thinking you aren't fitting it or you are simply hanging around judgemental people.

I've gone years without drinking and also have drunk with friends and both experiences were identical.

No judgements, no 'you don't fit in', no nothing.
Or you know, some people have very different experiences.

You're like women who haven't experienced catcalling and say that others don't experience it or are just hanging around bad neighbourhoods.

Good that you haven't experiences it though. Just don't diminish experiences of other people.
 
See, the "it doesn't taste good" argument is the number one thing that will get people harassing you about it. The varieties of flavors are limitless, and masking alcohol's harshness is easy to do. If you don't want to drink, most people will get it, but if it's because of flavor it's a harder thing to swallow. If someone really likes alcohol it's akin to telling a professional cook the only food you like is fast food hamburgers. No one cares, it's just weird.

I can't stand the taste and smell of coffee, so I don't drink any sort of coffee drinks. I've tasted some coffee-flavored candies and chocolate too. They all taste absolutely disgusting. Not liking some specific taste should be a reasonable enough reason to not eat/drink it.

It's the same with alcohol. You can't get rid of the taste of alcohol no matter what kind of a drink you make. Even in the mildest possible alcohol drink I can taste its awful taste.


Which reminds me that one thing I think is still a taboo is being "a picky eater/drinker."
Why it's a bad thing if someone doesn't like some certain tastes? Some of the bad tastes can make you feel nauseous for several hours. I see no reason forcing anything like that down our throats. It should be man's right to not drink or eat something even if the reason is just "I don't like the taste."
 
It's not a big thing. People may get surprised at first but they doenst give a fuck about what you drink.

So you shouldnt give a fuck about the fucks the others give.

Yeah, it sucks. You basically can't be social unless you drink. So people like us, who don't like to drink, are screwed.

Well, you need some self-steem and self-confidence to be social. And I'm sure those who drink alcochol have over 300% more self-steem that those who drinks only water.

Beacuse they started to drink, and got what they were looking for, more acceptance, then they have more self-steem.
And you wont get any self-steem if you dont get recognized for your efforts.
 
I'm like designated driver 90% of the time. So don't drink much. That said, when I'm not designated driver I'll drink quite a bit. When you have friends who don't drive it kinda goes down to that.
 
some people just like being dicks and can't get over some minor detail making the assumption that you're not having fun if you don't drink, as if they even notice after a few drinks, everyone I know fortunately don't give a shit, and I know people who don't drink in the group so it's not a problem for me, although I'm a drinker, it's nice to have people in the group who are sober anyway.
 
I've found that most people that mix me a drink and say "You can't even taste the alcohol in it" are wrong. I can't think of a time where I couldn't taste at least hints of alcohol. Or, perhaps, I can always tell there's something in the drink that is not to my liking. I legitimately believe that my taste buds are different than most people's. I also find the taste of coffee to be too bitter and don't drink that either (which is sometimes equally as amazing to people as not liking alcohol).

Oh thank god, I'm not alone in this. I'm the exact same way.

I can't stand the taste and smell of coffee, so I don't drink any sort of coffee drinks. I've tasted some coffee-flavored candies and chocolate too. They all taste absolutely disgusting. Not liking some specific taste should be a reasonable enough reason to not eat/drink it.

It's the same with alcohol. You can't get rid of the taste of alcohol no matter what kind of a drink you make. Even in the mildest possible alcohol drink I can taste its awful taste.

BROTHER
 
I was a casual drinker but gave up alcohol completely in 2006.

I occasionally get non alcoholic beers when I have a BBQ, because I like the way it compliments the food I eat. I always get friends or family say what's the point in a non alcoholic beer.......uh, because I like the taste without getting drunk!

Just amazes me how much of an issue people make of it.
 
I'm vegan, and I do my best to avoid bringing it up for similar reasons.

Most of the time when I have to mention it (visiting new friends for food, enquiring at a restaurant, etc...) people range from politely curious to disinterested.

Sometimes I find people anticipate/assume I'm going to preach, and try to preempt it by asking barbed questions which ironically fuel the discussion they claim to be so tired of.

I have a few Muslim friends who don't drink, and I've seen them get some pretty heartbreaking responses from people when they reveal both.

Anything that doesn't conform to the norm is going to come up against resistance at times, especially if you're in a situation where it makes you weird.
 
Drinking is like smoking, the sooner you realize it does nothing good for you the better.

Except alcohol can be a fun social lubricant, and smoking can calm nerves and actually suppress symptoms of certain diseases.

Of course, there are better (read: less harmful) ways to achieve these things. And while I agree smoking is pretty stupid, alcohol in moderation is fine.
 
Do whatever the fuck you want. Anyone telling you that you should drink or do this or don't do that can eat a dick.

I drink and smoke but never judge people for their habits or vices. Let people do what they wanna do.

People are too quick to get into others business. Ignore them and be happy doing whatever you do
 
I had a bud who was like "I don't drink", "why?", "well I haven't this far, I'm just gonna go with it". Really it's just to continue to break your own record for not doing something? Bah, lame.

Perfectly good reason, like any other reason anyone can come up with. Why drinking alcohol is something everyone should try at least once? There are tons of things people haven't ever done, and it's all ok. Why is this any different?


Lots of people have this "you should try everything at least once" attitude. But they don't realize that whenever they try something, they lose the chance to try the opposite.

Maybe the next time someone asks why I don't drink I should say:
"My motto is to try everything at least once in my life. Currently I'm trying to live my life without alcohol."
:)
 
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