Why don't people drink?

I think it is also something to do with cultural background and even genetics.
Europeans tend to drink more. Russians stereotyped as being the most alcoholics , but I think that english,german,irish (saxo-germanic) drink no less than russians do. Yes its beer but the ammount of beer consumed in a single night out is just insane.

I do like beer and vodka(pure, as russians drink it), but 4 pints of beer and I am drunk add a few shots of vodka and I am wasted.
There was a Japanese guy, that we took for a night out who just arrived to UK. He was wasted after a 2nd pint of beer, as he wasnt used to drink alcohol at all.

you are joking right?

Of course its your choice to drink or not to drink.
But this I dont understand too, I dont drink often. Although, I like a good party once in a while.
There should be time to relax too and socialise with your peers. Uni is not just a place to study, but to get friends/connections of some sort.

I do think people can have genuine reasons. I know people have been affected by it through family/alcoholics. Some say they hate the way it changes people. Some can't see the point in wasting so much money. Some hate the taste etc...

However, I know a lot of judgmental people who are influenced by how badly people behave on the news etc, and see it as a rowdy and rough thing that makes people annoying/loud. These people are also usually influenced a lot by conservative parents who want to protect them. And so, they never want to get drunk for themselves, they think people lose a lot of dignity and respect.
But I do think they are made to feel scared of drink, and they don't understand that when drank responsibly, it can be fun/ relaxing.

Knowing alcoholics is fair enough I guess, however I think people have something within their personality that makes them likely to be an alcoholic. Therefore if they do, its kind of inevitable that they will become one, if that makes any sense. If you don't want to be an alcoholic, I don't think you'll ever become one. Not that anyone wants to be one, but those who are/were probably weren't aware of becoming one.

Clearly, haha.



That is my point, but I didn't realise this was such a sensitive topic for those who don't drink. I have my own preferences about other things too, and I like to justify them so people can understand different viewpoints. I don't see it as a big deal beforehand, I assumed people would feel at ease explaining their preferences because its nice to discuss. Obviously not..

Right then, I've taken like a year out of TSR and just come back and had to post a reply here...

I've never drunk in my life. I have just finished my final year (of 4 years) at uni and still never drunk. Several reasons:

1) It's ridiculously expensive... (I'm one who has just spent 30p on toothpaste) I can go out on a night out with £10 and come back with change yet my friends would go out with £50 and not remember how they spent it. What a waste of £50 lets be honest.

2) Why would you want to make yourself ill (And paying all that money to do it) the headache, the dizziness, the memory loss, the injuries, the lost mobile phone, whatever else comes with a hangover. oh btw, its called dehydration so erm...drink some water. ( I have also felt the headaches and fuzziness in the morning but obviously can't class it as a hangover you would say)

3) If you can't remember it, how can you possibly say it was a good night. Anything could have happened, thank-fully you have some (just as drunk) trusty friends to keep you out of trouble.

4) It tastes horrible. Vodka tastes like bleach! (This was an accident when I had a lemonade in my hand and holding a friends Vodka and lemonade in the other while they went to the toilet...it quickly ended up being spat on the floor). I've smelt a lot of drinks over the years and trained my nose into which are which and yes, ill be honest, theres some nice ones out there. But for my own morals, I will just not drink it.

5) I don't like the feeling of being out of control.

6) I will stand by my morals and what I honestly believe in.

7) FACT!!!! Being drunk is to the most part, psychological!!!! I have been asked countless times "Are you drunk?" from people who know I am completely tee total. well the answer is clearly no ofc. It is about the environment/atmosphere and the great friends you are with and your mood to have a good time/ let of some steam as you may say. I have seen people go from completely wasted in the club to fairly sober on the walk home/ after the early morning Asda visit/ when talking to people outside/ a situation arises like something silly as "wheres my phone", "where has so and so got to", "we need to wait for whoever".


And before you all start judging me... I AM CERTAINLY NOT!! ANTISOCIAL. In both my second years I was out twice a week, and mostly every week in my final year (gotta love free entry for being in my sports team). And I'd have the greatest time time ever! but ofc, you drinkers wont believe me. I'd also be that trusty friend who gotta everyone home at night (I refused to take a taxi when I had a car and free car park). I would never discourage anyone from drunking, I'd actually encourage it. I was never pressured into drinking it and I do not feel like I have missed out on any of my uni experience. Because guess what guys? If they're actually your friends and human beings then theyre not going force you. Just ask for reasons and say fair enough.


I am living proof that you don't need to be drunk to have a good time, if you want a good time then you will. If you go in thinking, I am not drunk enough for this then you are not going to have a good time.

Hope this has answered your question

I drink occasionally but have never been drunk. The reason is I get really bloated so after 2 or 3 drinks dont want anymore I usually force it down me to try and fit in. I also get a bit unbalanced/dizzy but my mood doesnt really change I dont like the feeling so at this point I stop. People say im the worst drinker in the world but I dont know how to enjoy it.

Of course its your choice to drink or not to drink.
But this I dont understand too, I dont drink often. Although, I like a good party once in a while.
There should be time to relax too and socialise with your peers. Uni is not just a place to study, but to get friends/connections of some sort.

I agree with you, that alcoholism comes with excessive personality traits making someone just as liable to other addictions. But I don't want to feel as though I'm setting an example for anyone else, because I disagree with the alcohol culture in general. Alcohol contributes far less to crime and vandalism in other European countries, where there the 'lad' culture tied up in drinking is less glamourised. In many countries other than Britain, drinking is something done to celebrate an event, not something events are invented to do.

Not really. People might not want to drink because it doesn't go well with a medication they're taking, for example, in which case why should they be obliged to say so?
If someone's a vegetarian do you think they'd have to justify their preferences? Do you feel you'd have to justify not wanting to eat a particular food at a particular time, or would you just say "I just don't fancy it"?

The only reason I don't really like explaining why I din't drink to people in clubs, is because I don't have one simple reason and it's hard to explain. I have lots of reasons and it's kind of long to explain and then people think I must have some other reason like religion or maybe I had a bad experience with alcohol or I had an alcoholic parent or something. And I don't want to make a big deal out of me not drinking because I don't want it to be what defines me.

I'm 23, graduated from Uni a year ago and have still never been drunk or had a hangover in my life.

I find it quite frustrating that drinking alcohol has somehow become this integral part of society, and not partaking is looked upon as odd. Even my boss throws me looks when I decline at nights out.

I've never liked the taste of it. I have tried a fair few, but even the simplest of alcopops are far too strong for me to enjoy. I wouldn't continue to eat something if I didn't like the taste of it.

I also don't like the thought of not being in control of my actions. My brother drinks more than enough, as do my parents. I am the odd one out in the family so it hasn't been an environmental influence on me. I just simply don't like the taste.

Most of all I rely on my car to get everywhere. My idea of a great night isn't paying a fortune to drink what is effectively poison, then paying for a taxi to drive me home when I have my own means!

It's nice to see so many fellow tee totallers here. Of everyone I know, only around 3 do not like alcohol!