Why don't people drink?
Now, a lot of you will see this thread and be like ' You don't need to drink to have fun ', ' Do I need to make an idiot out of myself to be liked?. ' The answer to both of those questions is no. But most of us know, drinking sure as hell adds a lot more fun to the game. I know a fair few people who don't drink, and fail to give a reason for it - if it was for religion or health problems I'd understand. Otherwise I don't understand it!
Ok fine, don't drink excessively because that can cause health problems. However, a messy night once a week or once every few weeks and a nice drink here and there is fine! I'm genuinely interested why people do hesitate to drink or don't at all, even at the age of 19 whilst at university! Drinking is a part of your teenage years and beyond whether you like it or not, it's fun! Personally I love drinking, its nice to relax and forget about your troubles for a night an just have a good time. Who doesn't want that? It's also an amazing way to socialise an develop friendships, relationships and what not.
This thread will annoy so many of you haha, but its the risk I'm willing to take to understand the answer to my question!
Ok fine, don't drink excessively because that can cause health problems. However, a messy night once a week or once every few weeks and a nice drink here and there is fine! I'm genuinely interested why people do hesitate to drink or don't at all, even at the age of 19 whilst at university! Drinking is a part of your teenage years and beyond whether you like it or not, it's fun! Personally I love drinking, its nice to relax and forget about your troubles for a night an just have a good time. Who doesn't want that? It's also an amazing way to socialise an develop friendships, relationships and what not.
This thread will annoy so many of you haha, but its the risk I'm willing to take to understand the answer to my question!
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Original post by krussel
Now, a lot of you will see this thread and be like ' You don't need to drink to have fun
Could be to do with family problems i.e a parent is a violent drunk etc so they are put off. Simply maybe they don't like the feeling of not being in control. There are many different reasons, just personal preference.
Personally I like a drink every now and then, but no where near as much as some of my friends. I find that even after one drink, I can feel incredibly ill, and considering I used to drink a lot in my teens I don't think its because I'm not used to it. So I choose not to drink too often because I would rather not feel so ill. Also I have pretty bad anxiety and alcohol just makes it 10 times worse.
Original post by cat_in_the_hat
Personally I like a drink every now and then, but no where near as much as some of my friends. I find that even after one drink, I can feel incredibly ill, and considering I used to drink a lot in my teens I don't think its because I'm not used to it. So I choose not to drink too often because I would rather not feel so ill. Also I have pretty bad anxiety and alcohol just makes it 10 times worse.
Fair enough, I find that some forms of alcohol does make me ill, however finding the right drink is key I find. No good drinking say vodka if it makes you feel ill, although drinking jagermeister may be another story..
A number of reasons. For one I think alcohol is far more detrimental to a person's health than most realise. Two, I've known some people with alcoholic relatives and it's put them in some truly horrible situations. Three, I don't like the lack of control over my actions, and the feeling afterward of hungover and hazy memories. And four, i don't like the taste of most alcohloic drinks.
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.
(edited 11 years ago)
some may not like the taste of alcohol, or may come from a strict background, so have different morals (not that drinking is immoral) or think that it is 'bad', others may have a stiff upper lip or have pre-set ideas about alcohol or drunkeness without trying it. some may not enjoy being drunk, and others may know an alcoholc so avoid the stuff.
Original post by krussel
Fair enough, I find that some forms of alcohol does make me ill, however finding the right drink is key I find. No good drinking say vodka if it makes you feel ill, although drinking jagermeister may be another story..
True, some are worse than others, and there are drinks that I love, but they still make me ill
Original post by Waitingname
A number of reasons. For one I think alcohol is far more detrimental to a person's health than most realise. Two, I've known some people with alcoholic relatives and it's put them in some truly horrible situations. Three, I don't like the lack of control over my actions, and the feeling afterward of hungover and hazy memories. And four, i don't like the taste of most alcohloic drinks.
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.
Original post by brunettegirl92
some may not like the taste of alcohol, or may come from a strict background, so have different morals (not that drinking is immoral) or think that it is 'bad', others may have a stiff upper lip or have pre-set ideas about alcohol or drunkeness without trying it. some may not enjoy being drunk, and others may know an alcoholc so avoid the stuff.
Yeah true, personally I couldn't respect someones opinion if they had never tried it.
Original post by Matthew94
That's one of the reasons for me.
I don't want to get plastered then do something I'll regret.
I don't want to get plastered then do something I'll regret.
I know people like that, but I think again it depends on your personality. Me personally, I do things that are funny and nothing that is absolutely out of the ordinary, maybe do things I wouldn't sober but only due to increased confidence. I think that some things I wouldn't do sober because it's not in my personality, therefore I still wouldn't I drunk. Instead I've noticed the things I do drunk, I'd actually like to do sober but obviously thats easier said than done haha.
Original post by Soph(:
Yeah I agree with you it's just a bit of fun on the weekends
Exactly, its good to escape the ordinary, who likes ordinary anyways!?
I used to not drink and it wasn't until my third year at uni that I started drinking, which may seem a bit strange.
Anyway I never had any clear reasons as to why I didn't drink, but have sort of grown to assume the following reasons when I think back to it.
1) My family have never been big drinkers, my dad might occasionally have a pint if we were to go to a pub for lunch and they might drink a glass of wine if we were out for a meal but they never really drunk at home, maybe once or twice a month.
2) My brother had his own opinions of drinking and couldn't stand the idea of alcohol and has never drunk and I think I sort of looked up to him and so didn't want to either.
3) I was never with a group of friends at school who would drink from a young age regularly or go out and get drunk so didn't have the peer pressure and stuff for underage drinking.
4) Therefore when I became old enough to drink I never had so didn't know what to order if I did want a drink and didn't want to look stupid so found it easier just not to drink and stick to what I know.
5) Also I hated the idea of people getting out of their mind and absolutely wasted and couldn't understand anyone would choose to do that and decided if I ever did drink that I would do it in moderation and at meals, however I couldn't stand the smell of the wine or martini or beer that my parents drank and assumed it tasted like it smelt so I wouldn't like it.
I then kept this up all through my first two years at uni and hardly went out, though this was due to not getting on with my flat in first year, so not having people to go with, and living at home in second, making any drinking / going out difficult as I drove.
Finally lived out for my third year and was out at a social and it turned out the people I'd usually be with weren't out so I ended up drinking to make myself more comfortable in the situation. However for some reason I didn't start lightly, got myself heavily drunk that night so much that I have no memory of half the night or how I got home. You'd have thought that would have put me off but I actually felt so much more comfortable and less self concious as I used to feel if I went out that I have carried on, and probably now go out and get drunk once a week usually, though might also go to the pub with friends, and have found drinks that I like and like the taste of and am now one of these people I used to detest who go out with or without the aim to but end up wasted and I enjoy all of it, well apart from some of the stories I'm told after but as I can't remember it affects them more than me.
Anyway I never had any clear reasons as to why I didn't drink, but have sort of grown to assume the following reasons when I think back to it.
1) My family have never been big drinkers, my dad might occasionally have a pint if we were to go to a pub for lunch and they might drink a glass of wine if we were out for a meal but they never really drunk at home, maybe once or twice a month.
2) My brother had his own opinions of drinking and couldn't stand the idea of alcohol and has never drunk and I think I sort of looked up to him and so didn't want to either.
3) I was never with a group of friends at school who would drink from a young age regularly or go out and get drunk so didn't have the peer pressure and stuff for underage drinking.
4) Therefore when I became old enough to drink I never had so didn't know what to order if I did want a drink and didn't want to look stupid so found it easier just not to drink and stick to what I know.
5) Also I hated the idea of people getting out of their mind and absolutely wasted and couldn't understand anyone would choose to do that and decided if I ever did drink that I would do it in moderation and at meals, however I couldn't stand the smell of the wine or martini or beer that my parents drank and assumed it tasted like it smelt so I wouldn't like it.
I then kept this up all through my first two years at uni and hardly went out, though this was due to not getting on with my flat in first year, so not having people to go with, and living at home in second, making any drinking / going out difficult as I drove.
Finally lived out for my third year and was out at a social and it turned out the people I'd usually be with weren't out so I ended up drinking to make myself more comfortable in the situation. However for some reason I didn't start lightly, got myself heavily drunk that night so much that I have no memory of half the night or how I got home. You'd have thought that would have put me off but I actually felt so much more comfortable and less self concious as I used to feel if I went out that I have carried on, and probably now go out and get drunk once a week usually, though might also go to the pub with friends, and have found drinks that I like and like the taste of and am now one of these people I used to detest who go out with or without the aim to but end up wasted and I enjoy all of it, well apart from some of the stories I'm told after but as I can't remember it affects them more than me.
Original post by LoveIt
I used to not drink and it wasn't until my third year at uni that I started drinking, which may seem a bit strange.
Anyway I never had any clear reasons as to why I didn't drink, but have sort of grown to assume the following reasons when I think back to it.
1) My family have never been big drinkers, my dad might occasionally have a pint if we were to go to a pub for lunch and they might drink a glass of wine if we were out for a meal but they never really drunk at home, maybe once or twice a month.
2) My brother had his own opinions of drinking and couldn't stand the idea of alcohol and has never drunk and I think I sort of looked up to him and so didn't want to either.
3) I was never with a group of friends at school who would drink from a young age regularly or go out and get drunk so didn't have the peer pressure and stuff for underage drinking.
4) Therefore when I became old enough to drink I never had so didn't know what to order if I did want a drink and didn't want to look stupid so found it easier just not to drink and stick to what I know.
5) Also I hated the idea of people getting out of their mind and absolutely wasted and couldn't understand anyone would choose to do that and decided if I ever did drink that I would do it in moderation and at meals, however I couldn't stand the smell of the wine or martini or beer that my parents drank and assumed it tasted like it smelt so I wouldn't like it.
I then kept this up all through my first two years at uni and hardly went out, though this was due to not getting on with my flat in first year, so not having people to go with, and living at home in second, making any drinking / going out difficult as I drove.
Finally lived out for my third year and was out at a social and it turned out the people I'd usually be with weren't out so I ended up drinking to make myself more comfortable in the situation. However for some reason I didn't start lightly, got myself heavily drunk that night so much that I have no memory of half the night or how I got home. You'd have thought that would have put me off but I actually felt so much more comfortable and less self concious as I used to feel if I went out that I have carried on, and probably now go out and get drunk once a week usually, though might also go to the pub with friends, and have found drinks that I like and like the taste of and am now one of these people I used to detest who go out with or without the aim to but end up wasted and I enjoy all of it, well apart from some of the stories I'm told after but as I can't remember it affects them more than me.
Anyway I never had any clear reasons as to why I didn't drink, but have sort of grown to assume the following reasons when I think back to it.
1) My family have never been big drinkers, my dad might occasionally have a pint if we were to go to a pub for lunch and they might drink a glass of wine if we were out for a meal but they never really drunk at home, maybe once or twice a month.
2) My brother had his own opinions of drinking and couldn't stand the idea of alcohol and has never drunk and I think I sort of looked up to him and so didn't want to either.
3) I was never with a group of friends at school who would drink from a young age regularly or go out and get drunk so didn't have the peer pressure and stuff for underage drinking.
4) Therefore when I became old enough to drink I never had so didn't know what to order if I did want a drink and didn't want to look stupid so found it easier just not to drink and stick to what I know.
5) Also I hated the idea of people getting out of their mind and absolutely wasted and couldn't understand anyone would choose to do that and decided if I ever did drink that I would do it in moderation and at meals, however I couldn't stand the smell of the wine or martini or beer that my parents drank and assumed it tasted like it smelt so I wouldn't like it.
I then kept this up all through my first two years at uni and hardly went out, though this was due to not getting on with my flat in first year, so not having people to go with, and living at home in second, making any drinking / going out difficult as I drove.
Finally lived out for my third year and was out at a social and it turned out the people I'd usually be with weren't out so I ended up drinking to make myself more comfortable in the situation. However for some reason I didn't start lightly, got myself heavily drunk that night so much that I have no memory of half the night or how I got home. You'd have thought that would have put me off but I actually felt so much more comfortable and less self concious as I used to feel if I went out that I have carried on, and probably now go out and get drunk once a week usually, though might also go to the pub with friends, and have found drinks that I like and like the taste of and am now one of these people I used to detest who go out with or without the aim to but end up wasted and I enjoy all of it, well apart from some of the stories I'm told after but as I can't remember it affects them more than me.
Brilliant example! It just goes to show, you shouldn't judge alcohol before you've tried it. It can improve your social life so much, it is seen so much as a negative but if taken responsibly it can be such a positive.
I don't drink, sure I know you can have a drink and not get drunk or ill, but it doesn't appeal to me. I love to read, but not everyone does, we all like different things.
My parents don't drink a lot on a normal day but at parties my dad especially goes crazy. I didn't really grow up with habitual drinkers so it isn't something I do regularly maybe once every few weeks. I have been on nights out where I don't drink at all and nights out where I drink. I didn't see a difference in the amount of fun I had tbh they have all been fun. Sometimes the way people try to convince non drinkers to drink can be patronising. I remember in school I never drank at all and people used to gasp and think I was weird. It was annoying having to justify why I didn't. You said something about not understanding if it wasn't for health or religion, some people just don't drink just like not everyone eats chocolate but you wouldn't really ask someone why they don't eat chocolate. At the end of the day it is your choice, as long as you aren't hurting anyone, why should people feel bad for not drinking at all?
(edited 11 years ago)
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'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
Original post by chronic_fatigue
people used to gasp and think I was weird. It was annoying having to justify why I didn't.
Good on you for doing what you want and not succumbing to the pressure, however, in a night out situation and when ppl notice what you're drinking of course you are going to get asked why you don't drink. You should learn to expect it (As it is something that makes you different and theyre only being inquisitive) and embrace it. Most people I speak to respect it, just be completely honest and like you say, you still have fun and get involved so it shouldnt really be a problem. It's them with the problem if they don't accept it.
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