Drinking and society

I do not drink and therefore I end up not going to any parties, social gatherings etc at university, because it usually involves alcohol. I know I can still go and not drink, but that would be strange (maybe?)

I'm also not outgoing, i'm rather quiet, so that also helps in me not going. so overall I feel that those events are not for me.

So for the drinking part, what do you think when someone says they do not drink? anyone here the same?

Any comments welcome

Reply 1

bob_54321

is there anyway you could drive and then use that as your excuse? i hate it when i drive because i cant drink but you could surely use it the other way round, lol.

people shouldnt really care whether you drink or not though tbh, say ur on antibiotics or something so you can't. or just say you dont drink, most honest approach really.

Reply 2

sticky-kitten

if you go somewhere with friends, then no-one will honestly care whether you drink or not. i drink a little at house parties or family parties, but not at all when i'm out in town - i'm small, and get drunk very easily, and being out of control can be scary and embarrassing.

i think most people (especially if they're drunk) don't notice if someone else is or isn't drinking (unless you happen to be my bf's aunties :s), and if they do, they couldn't care less. unless you're 15 and on a park bench somewhere.

Reply 3

Anonymous #1

OP

yeah... I dont mind saying that i do not drink - it doesnt embarrass me in any way.
Just other ppl think everyone drinks, many do but not everyone

I just thought it would be weird going to parties etc and not drinking but I suppose its not that weird

Reply 4

beach surf babe

14

I go to parties and don't drink. I much prefer to spend the night dancing! I wouldn't say its weird as such to not drink at a party.

It can be a bit of nightmare when later on people are getting a bit lairy and annoying but why should you change what you want to do just because of other people?

Reply 5

Ella_belle

1

I used to be completely teetotal, because of health issues, now I only drink a very small amount. Because I usually don't feel like going into my entire medical history when I'm out, I just tell people that I don't drink. A lot of people (especially my friends) find it quite amusing, but it's never been a problem. I know a lot of people who never drink, for religious reasons or just because they don't want to. Don't let it stop you going out - it's sometimes fun to be the sober one who remembers what everyone else did last night...

Reply 6

abelard

i am always a bit dubious of people who do not drink

Reply 7

supercat

2

I don't drink for several reasons. I still go to parties! I do normally come home a little earlier than other people but that's mainly because I get tired easily and also because of a history of agoraphobia (I don't like being in a crowded place for too long, especially with drunkards!). I don't particularly enjoy being around raving drunk people, but I put up with it to an extent. It also means you can laugh at people (and make up things they might have done :wink:

). I've only ever had about one person make me feel weird for not drinking, but I don't like them anyway! Most people are a bit surprised but understanding, and my friends are totally cool with it (although I suspect they think I'm a bit odd).

Reply 8

championhopper

i personally find it odd but only in the sense that i can't imagine myself not drinking

i think people who don't drink are actually quite cool and have a lot of respect especially if they are having as much fun as me while they are sober. i say still go to parties if you want to and just drink coke/lemonade/oj/whatever and most people won't notice or even care

coincidentally why don't you drink? is it out of personal choice? or for health/religious reasons?

edit; i suppose religious reasons would actually come under personal choice, but you get my gist

Reply 9

The Green Manalishi

1

I go to some parties (not many at all) or concerts and don't drink or smoke anything. I just have soft-drinks. I suppose many people know i'm muslim so they expect it and don't push it but i do tell people and openly reject alcohol as my conscious decision.
One can still go out, have fun and enjoy without being on a substance or something...

I generally prefer a quiet night and a good chat with a small group of friends instead of a large dancing party though.

Reply 10

louise28k

1

Anonymous

yeah... I dont mind saying that i do not drink - it doesnt embarrass me in any way.
Just other ppl think everyone drinks, many do but not everyone

I just thought it would be weird going to parties etc and not drinking but I suppose its not that weird

surely by posting anon then you do mind saying that you do not drink??

Reply 11

Genna

I can't drink much for health reasons and if I do its a small glass of wine or a small g&t, but it never bothers anyone around me and formeost doesn't bother me. Just because you don't drink doesn't mean you have to miss out on clubbing or nights out. When you are having loads fo fun with your mates no-one will notice anyway.

Reply 12

serious narb

11

I thought about this before, especialy with the uni culture that it must be very difficult to have much social interaction if you dont drink, maybe it's a bit sad but it seems the main way people bond is through drink.

Maybe you should go to Gigs or join some societies or something, probably a much better way of meeting people and interacting with them.

Reply 13

puppy

Valium is your friend- all the good effects of alcohol and none of the bad.

I don't think it's weird not drinking- i often go out at Uni and don't drink, especially if I have to play sport the next day. At home I have to drive everywhere so I never drink. I find I get tired and bored quicker than people who are drinking but if you're with your mates it shouldn't change your evening all that much.

Reply 14

Mark S

17

I get sick and tired of people telling me that it doesnt take alcohol to have a good time. Well A) it can make it better, because you feel better, more confident and more happy and B) People drink with friends as a social thing and believe it or not, but some people enjoy the taste!

From a personal point of view, a party or a night out arent the same with some booze.

Reply 15

mermania

16

supercat

I've only ever had about one person make me feel weird for not drinking, but I don't like them anyway!

At the beginning of uni I used to get bothered about it quite frequently, to the point where one night someone I didn't particularly like tried to 'force' me to drink by holding a glass of vodka+coke up to my mouth saying "go on, go on". Eventually he thought it'd be hilarious to try and pour it down my throat when I went to speak, so I said "fine, I'll drink it", took the glass from him and poured its entire contents over his head. Never been bothered by him since.

Anyways, going to parties and not drinking isn't "weird" as such, it's just not very easy to enjoy yourself because in my experience parties are the domain of drunk people and what drunk people find fun tends to be quite different to what a sober person will, plus speaking to drunk people while sober is cringeworthy.

Reply 16

lskdgjsj

10

To answer the original question, it's generally the case that all my friends drink to some degree (that is to say, not all of them are raging alcoholics), and I find that if a person doesn't drink he's probably not my sort of person. Not, you understand, because my life is one long bacchanal, but because people who choose consciously not to drink have an entirely different set of values and interests to me; drinking is not the basis of that difference, but it is indicative.

Reply 17

Hana_87

16

Markus Angelsdaughter

I get sick and tired of people telling me that it doesnt take alcohol to have a good time. Well A) it can make it better, because you feel better, more confident and more happy and B) People drink with friends as a social thing and believe it or not, but some people enjoy the taste!

From a personal point of view, a party or a night out arent the same with some booze.

Sorry, i completely disagree! I went out last night, didn't drink and was the only one who didn't, and had a fantastic time!

I am one of those people who doesn't become all cocky and confident when i've had a drink, i'm like that sober :biggrin:

Some of my friends say that they need to have a drink to dance, i can dance without any alcohol, even better infact :biggrin:

I love going out and staying sober, i can remember everything, talk to people without slurring and just generally making a fool out of myself, and the best bit: NO HANGOVER :biggrin:

So to anyone who feels they are a 'freak' for not drinking, RUBBISH!

Reply 18

Mark S

17

Dont get me wrong i can have a great time when i havnt had a drop, as can anyone im sure. But for me i get confidence that i probably wouldnt have when im sobre/dry, i generally feel good. You gotta find an equilibrium though, too much drink you get drunk and wanna go sleep, 3-4 pints and im doing good.

Reply 19

In Love

you dont need alcohol to have fun and enjoy ur time

Drinking and society

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