To think that non drinkers are often hard work..

good ‘mocktails’ - frankly when buying rounds I’ve refused to pay through the roof prices for a bit of fruit juice in a fancy glass when a ‘real’ drink costs the same amount

So because your drink has alcohol it should cost more and she's not allowed to have a drink she likes?

I think a lot of people who drink socially have a dry spell and find that they have more energy, have lost some weight, feel brighter, skin is clearer etc. So maybe that’s what’s pushing her on?

YABU. Nothing she is doing is making your life the slightest bit harder. It doesn’t affect you at all. You’re unreasonable to object to buying her a mocktail if you would happily pay for an alcoholic drink. You’re unreasonable to criticise her for a holier than thou attitude when your own attitude towards her choice is so sneering. You don’t know the reasons for her decision and it’s not your place to judge the validity of them.

You sound like a supportive friend

I don't drink but I don't go on about it. I just drink sparkling water or something like that, I don't spend a fortune on mocktails.

She seems to be enjoying the attention and novelty. You chose her as a friend OP.

You sound like hard work tbh

YABVU to refuse to buy her a drink just because it's non alcoholic if it costs the same as one you would have no issue buying

I find people who have your attitude to non drinkers have a very unhealthy attitude towards alcohol and need to re-evaluate their relationship with it before it becomes a problem.

You are either a troll or ABVU, shame on you if that's the case!

Is she possibly on a weight loss drug? They can stop you wanting any alcohol at all.

"good ‘mocktails’ - frankly when buying rounds I’ve refused to pay through the roof prices for a bit of fruit juice in a fancy glass when a ‘real’ drink costs the same amount"

Sorry but you've lost me here. So the mock tail is the same price as a cock tail and you don't have to drink it - so how is it affecting you at all or making things harder for you? Surely it's the same as if it was 2 cock Tails and you're drinking a cock tail no matter what your friend drinks.

I have never been a drinker and when I have tests done I am always told my liver is in excellent condition. Drinkers at times can be very boring. Each to their own .I will never have alcohol as an issue. I am happy.

From the attitude expressed in your post, I don’t believe for a moment that you only have “a cocktail/glass of wine or two”.

I often don't drink. Sometimes I'll have water and sometimes I'll have mocktails or a 0% version of something. Why the fuck shouldn't I?!

I've never felt I need to justify myself when I'm not drinking. But thankfully my friends are actually my friends and don't try to push their choices onto me, and vice versa.

You ask why shouldn't she just drink in moderation. She doesn't fucking want to does she!

I don't drink alcohol, my friends don't care, don't comment and always include me in the round.

If ever one of them called me hard work they wouldn't be a friend anymore.

You're being very judgemental as they choose not to drink alcohol and prefer the drinks they want.

What an odd attitude you have. Maybe you need to spend some time reflecting on why this bothers you so much.

If she is making a point of sounding superior then she is BU. But if she is just going about her normal life sans alcohol and you think anyone who doesn't drink is boring and weird then you are being massively unreasonable.
If you can't enjoy a social occasion without alcohol, or even without HER having alcohol then you are the problem.

And I would hazard a guess that if she has done sober October and kept up with it it is because it made her realise that she either feels better not drinking, or realised she was more dependent on it than you think and that that is not healthy.

As someone who doesn't drink, it's people with your attitude i find hard work. She's made a healthy decision, support her.

And yet you are the one that is on here making comments about it and kicking up a fuss about paying for her drink in rounds. Sounds like she is the one still making the effort to join in despite not drinking. Ultimately it's a healthy, positive decision. Who's to say that she may drink again one day but if she's decided that she doesn't want to drink for the forseeable, even if she didn't drink that much, maybe she is proud of kicking the habit. Just be pleased for her and enjoy your cocktail at the same time. Simple.

Not everyone enjoys alcohol and some people decide it’s not for them, it’s a non issue. I don’t drink and haven’t since I was 19ish, I simply don’t like alcohol or the way that it makes me feel. Your friend has decided it’s not for her and she wants to live an alcohol free life, that’s her choice and it’s not a hardship to find somewhere that does mocktails, you’re hardly supporting her calling her a “killjoy”.

You sound like a great friend.

If you truly believe you are a moderate drinker I suggest you do dry January and see how you feel about it. Better yet, start now.
Someone who is truly not dependent on alcohol could give it up for weeks on end without making an effort. Or no more effort than eg deciding not to eat chocolate for a month.

Well aren't you a charmer!