Is anyone else teetotal?

[Celery]

Has anyone else chosen not to drink, other than recovering alcoholics?

I'm just wondering really, because I do feel a bit of a freak.

I used to drink quite a lot as a teenager, and it gradually got less and less. I settled down and had a family fairly early ( first child at 25 ) and went from social drinking, to just drinking occasionally at mealtimes. But I haven't been out drinking for many many years, and I haven't even had a drink at home or in a restaurant for a year or so. It's just kind of fizzled out.

So now I think I might as well just call myself a teetotal, I'm happy to never drink alcohol again.

Anyone else? Just wondering what your reasons are really.

I suppose I do have a specific reason in that my mother is a very ill alcoholic and has been for many many years. When I have been drunk in the past, I just see myself being like she is, and that is not someone I want to be. But mostly, I just don't particulary like it.

[belgo]

I've never been much of a drinker (apart from in my teenage years), but have always enjoyed the odd glass of wine. Just the one glass, once a week or fortnight.

But over the last few years something strange seems to be happening when I drink alcohol - I seem to have developed an allergy to it! I'm not allergic to anything else.

With just one sip of wine I turn bright red/purple and feel very very hot, and it takes about 30 minutes to go away. It's very embarrasing, and I've recently decided it's not worth the odd glass of wine. My mother also never drinks alcohol for I suspect the same reason.

So that's me - teetotal (probably). I also plan on mentioning this 'allergy' to my GP at some point.

[belgo]

Because I'm not drinking, I've recently had two people ask me if I'm pregnant, which has been upsetting because i've recently miscarried.

[Celery]

That is what I was doing, up until last year - just having a very occasional glass of wine once a week or so. The last few times, I seemed to have a hangover - just from one glass - really odd.

Weird reaction for you. I wonder if it was just that particular drink, or alcohol in general?

At the moment, not drinking is easy. I have 3 small children and never go out. If and when I start going out where other people are drinking, it might feel stranger. But I can't see myself ever drinking again.

[smeeinit]

i wouldnt class myself as tee total but i do very very rarely drink, i just dont like alcohol and dont see the point in drinking it unless to get totally hammered! which i done frequently a few years ago.
the last bit of alcohol i had was a small glass of champagne at my dads 60th in march and teh next will proberly be at my sisters 40th in december!
i just dont like alcohol!

[lizziemun]

I would say that i am and always have been teetotal. I am nearly 38 and i have never been drunk, even as a teenager i would have the occasional drink. I have probaly not had a drink for about 4 years.

I just do not like the taste of alcohol so i don't bother.

As far as i'm aware no one in my family have probelms with alchol, i just come from a family who didn't drink on a regular basis. So whether it just because i see or taste it as i grow up that i didn't develop a taste for it i don't know.

[MrsWeasley]

I used to drink n regularly but have only drank more than 2 glasses once in the last 15 years. I felt I shouldnt when DC were little in case i didnt hear them at night or I was pregnant and just never got back into it.

I do have several bottles of wine in the fridge as I sometimes think "I'll have a glass of wine tonight" but then forget

[chalat]

Folk just seem to assume everyone drinks and must have a strong reason if they don't - I have never drunk much, ever, didn't like the smoky atmosphere or the noise in pubs so only had alcohol in other social situations like weddings or meals out. Then I was on medication which meant I couldn't drink at all, but that wasn't a problem. After that time we were out with friends, who were aware that now I was off the meds I could drink and insisted on getting me one. It was horrible, I hated it and haven't wanted to touch a drop of the stuff since.

When asked if I want a drink these days, I just say that I have an alcohol intolerance since my surgery. Hate it when people try to badger me into having a drink

Having seen the effect alcohol has on some people close to me though, I wonder if there are any redeeming features amongst the headaches and heartaches resulting from over indulgence.

Sorry to read your post about your recent miscarrige and being upset by others' comments, Belgo. It is hurtful, though not intended to be.

[Marne]

I only drink about twice a year

I can be happy without alchol

[fillyjonk]

aw belgo...god that must be hard

I don't really drink, for last 5 years have been continously pg or bf but aside from that, alcohol seems to have a really bad effect on me-almost like an allergic reaction.

I probably used to drink quite a lot too much when a lot younger , though more in a student way than anything else . But I also have a lot of relatives with alcohol problems. I don't feel the need for it in my life really, though I do like the taste of wine and so forth.

[kitsandbits]

I dont drink, I did a bit in my early teens (well 13/14 ) but got with my DP at 15 and neither of us drink,

A few months ago my sister started to come round on a Friday night and I would drink , and that lasted gfor about 4 weeks - but have stpped again totally.

I really dont enjoy it at all, just makes me feel like shit the next day.

[ericaisbananawoman]

I don't drink because of religion (Mormon!). I don't find it hard (apart from being v.v. bored with conversations about who got the drunkest last night!).

Generally people either respect me for being able to resist the peer pressure, or think I am a strange religious person! I personally think it makes my body much healthier and my personality more serene! [serene face].

(Don't tend to post much but thought I'd pipe up because I think being teetotal is a relly GOOD thing all round!)

[DumbledoresGirl]

I don't think I count here but I am teetotal because I simply hate the taste of alcohol and always have. I have probably consumed about half a bottle of wine in my entire life (not counting alcohol in food which is yummy!)

I am an oddity I know, but I have always been like this so it doesn't really bother me. I suppose the ability to drink a glass of wine at a social event would be an asset, but that is it.

[ThursdayNext]

Belgo, I know a few Chinese people who have a similar reaction to that. I thought it was something to do with lacking a particular enzyme that breaks down alcohol.
I might be talking utter rubbish though.
Will Google it later, going out now as sun is shining, hurrah!

[belgo]

Celery - I also get an almost immediate hangover from your one glass of wine.

I used to get the red reaction form drinking port (which I love), then from red wines, now it's all wines and champagnes.

On my last trip to England I went out with a few friends who were intent on getting themselves drunk and me as well. They thought I was being a right spoilsport by not drinking.

In Belgium however, I have never felt under any pressure to drink.

[filthymindedvixen]

I do like alcohol. And I do sometimes get tiddly. But often in social situations, I would rather have a nice cup of tea. My RL nickname is shandypants .

[belgo]

erica - not only is being teetotal healthy, but it also saves on the calories. I would much rather have a choclate mousse.

[TheArmadillo]

I rarely drink as I have a similar reaction to belgo.

I get very hot and get an almost immediate headache.

I used to drink a lot in my teens, but I rarely drink now at all.

My parents don't drink alot, but still socialised in pubs etc so I've never felt funny about going out and only drinking non-alcoholic drinks.

It's never really been a descision I've made outright, but just something I've slipped into. Also I drive and dp doesn't so I couldn't drink at most social events anyway as I ahve to drive home.

Non-alcoholic drinks are usually tiny and expensive though and that really winds me up.

[belgo]

armadillo - so it's not just me then. I wonder if it is something to do with enzymes?

[Niecie]

I have never drunk as I can't stand the taste of alcohol. It just makes me shudder.

I managed to get through university without ever getting drunk and unless somebody spikes a drink I don't suppose I ever will now.

I had a boss once, who by her own admission was verging on alcoholic who used to say that I should just force myself to drink so I could have a good time but I have never seen the point. Who would want to drink so much that they lose control and act like a complete pillock.

That said, I seem to be able to do that all by myself. Not drinking doesn't stop me having fun at parties and some have even been known to comment that they wouldn't have believed that I haven't had a drink or two!

[TheArmadillo]

my mum gets it as well, which is why she rarely drinks anything and has never been drunk. I find usually it means I drink more to get over the pain if I drink at all.

I think it's easier for me because I was brought up in an atmosphere that said it was completely normal not to drink in a pub or at a social event where others were and still have a good time.

Saying that I went on holiday with dp's family and had 1 or 2 drinks every night, which is probably more than my alcohol intake for the previous few years!

I think people can sometimes find it wierd if you have no strong reason for not drinking (diet, religion etc) and just don't fancy it.

I have never developed a taste for wine. I quite like a good ale, but 1/2 pint is enough and I rarely if ever have it.

Dp drinks a pint or so every night, I find it wierd that you would want to do that as it's something I've never done, but I suppose a lot of people do.

I wish this lack of alcohol left me thin though I'd hate to think how big I'd be if I did drink a lot.

[ThursdayNext]

Do you reckon this is it?
Alcohol flush reaction
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_flush_reaction

[belgo]

thursday - maybe it is that. It's very embarrasing because people assume that I have drunk a lot more then just one sip.

It must be hereditary.

[ThursdayNext]

Wierd you didn't get it when you were younger, though. It would make sense for it to be hereditary, but why develop it later? I dunno.
Chinese people I know with this don't really drink as they find it embarassing too.

[Nymphadora]

I very rarely drink. My xh was/is an alcoholic and for years I couldn't cope with even the smell of alcohol.I also am very concious about how easy addiction canhappen.I don't see the point of drinking on my own and didn't used to go out very much to drink either. Since I have been with my bf I have drunk a couple of times but it only tend to be one glass of wine and soda and it only takes 2 for me to be drunk anyway,

[sparklygothkat]

I rarely drink, properably 2-3 bottles of alco-pop a year. So not total-teetotal, but near enough. I did get hammered last year for the first time in about 10 years and TBH I feel terrible for about 2 days afterwards. Dh loves it because I can always drive and he can drink. I hate the taste of beer, and wine.
I can go out on for an evening and 1 drink will last me all night. All my friends are drinkers, but they don't see me as weird, they know I don't like alcohol that much.