Tell me about the people in your life that dont drink alcohol

DM (82) has been teetotal her whole life, a legacy of her non-Conformist childhood. I always think of her and her family when people claim they can’t possibly imagine a party, wedding etc without alcohol. I miss the New Year’s Day family parties of my childhood (after the midnight church service).
Personally, I have always drunk very little, which is a good thing since I discovered about 12 months ago I have a BRCA2 gene mutation increasing my risk of breast cancer.

I gave up when I turned 40 (six years ago) and my skin has been so grateful for it ever since. I used to have super dry and irritated skin and now it's never rashy and I only have to moisturise once a day.

My older sister is ten years sober this year. She said she lost most of her friends when she gave up drinking. My friends didn't give a shit! A lot of them have stopped drinking themselves these days as they don't want to waste their weekends with a hangover.

Myself I have NAFLD so don’t want to make it worse by drinking, also as I’ve got older, just don’t fancy it. Must admit I’ve avoided Christmas work do’s as I’m worried colleagues will think I’m being awkward.

I drink plenty. But I always find it odd how some drinkers seem to take it personally if someone around them isn't drinking 😆

Me and Mr RockCity aren't big drinkers. We keep alcohol in the house and might have one once in a blue moon. Prefer hot drinks and a nice cold can of coke but if I do fancy something grown up, its a Guiness Zero over anything. What I thought was my last hangover is now 11 and I've not really drank since being pregnant with them.

A lot of my family go for no/lo alcohol options. My mum and sisters prefer no-secco and my dad prefers alcohol free beers.

I used to back in the day but other than a very occasional glass of bubbly to toast something, I don't anymore.

I'm mid 50s and just can't handle the after effects of even one glass these days. I used to love a big night out with lots of drinks, but the thought fills me with horror these days.

I steadily cut back after I had children through my 30s and 40s and it really is next to nothing these days.

I rarely drink apart from the odd glass of Baileys at Christmas. DH is a recovering alcoholic and has been sober for over 30 years.

Adult DC rarely drink but will have wine or beer when they have a meal with us but often as not, they’ll have something non alcoholic.

I hate feeling drunk and can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been a bit drunk in 60 odd years. Never been completely smashed and never done drugs.

I’m extremely sociable and happy in myself.

I’ve got no interest in alcohol due to the cancer risk. I drink a lot of good quality coffee & sparkling water. I lost a lot of weight when I stopped drinking & feel much healthier.

I might have a small glass of wine when out for dinner the odd glass of Prosecco

can happily not drink and often prefer to have a coffee or tea (my favourite drink by far)

in my 20’s I went through a phase of not drinking and always had to explain myself 🙄 or was assumed for religious reasons. I just didn’t want to drink I think it’s accepted more now

I hardly drink, I've got an alcoholic brother and have met too many "ooh it's wine-o'clock" bores that put me off for life.

I have had my share of drunken nights out and woken up with gaps in my memory or regrets or a banging headache and don't miss any of that.

I'll occasionally have a cider or two on a night out or in a beer garden in the summer and enjoy the gentle buzz but never get drunk any more and am equally happy to have soft drinks.

I hardly drink. I had a G&T at my father's funeral in May and a couple of drinks at a wedding before that. The rest of the year nothing, not even on holiday. Having a relaxing Christmas and I'm planning on drinking a little if I feel like it. It's my work Christmas Party on Friday and I probably won't drink.

My husband has never touched alcohol ever in his life. He has a big bubbly personality, isn’t shy and speaks with a loud voice so it’s a good thing he doesn’t drink tbh!

I can go months without and only drink specific drinks I enjoy but not regularly. Dh would have the odd pint but finds more than one is too much liquid so has one maybe once a month then goes into Pepsi. I find the whole “can’t have fun without a drink” thing really bizarre because I have lots of fun but often will go out with friends but be on call for work so need to be sober. It’s not an issue (although I learned on here today it is).

Very very rarely. Maybe once every 2/3 months? So not exactly teetotal but as good as

I've never been bothered about it. I now can't drink due to medical conditions. My partner doesn't drink either.

I don’t. I’m with my children on my own a lot of the time so I need to be sober. I was never a big drinker and don’t ever miss it. I mainly drink coffee and tap water ( courtesy of Thames Water, not sure if it’s good for me but I like the taste!)

I’m not teetotal and do occasionally drink. But increasing I avoid anything social which revolves around alcohol.

Loads of us my age (early 50s) are increasingly rejecting booze. I grew up in a society awash with it: it coloured every aspect of my life and had such a negative effect on me. So much wasted time and money, such a demotivating factor. I’m lucky that I haven’t had any real ill effects from heavy drinking as a young person but masses of friends have. At least three close friends have had cancer and are convinced drinking played a major role in this.

Alcohol slows me down, gives me headaches and anxiety, makes me stupid.

I will still drink from time to time but I now actively avoid heavy drinking environments and drink far less. And feel far better for it.

My husband doesn't drink any more. He used to drink quite a bit, we have always enjoyed alcohol socially, but he felt as we approached 50 that it did him more harm than good so decided to stop. It's fine. He's happy, so I'm happy.

I'm love a good quality alcohol now and again to savour but don't really like the buzz anymore.

Prefer food calories to liquid calories!

Ok, what do you want to know about them?

I drink very occasionally but I am definitely not interested in piss ups. At all.
I very much enjoy the taste of beer and gin so I switched to non-alcoholic versions when going out. There is absolutely nothing worse than wasting weekends on hangovers. Plus, it means I can drive home after a night out.

I'm not rigid though. If someone were to offer me a glass of nice champagne, I'd happily oblige.

My dad doesn't drink and neither do I. Dad gave up for health reasons, I can't drink due to my medication and don't really miss it.

He likes good coffee, ginger beer and sparkling water. I go for coffee, diet coke, appletiser and fancy mocktails or lemonades.

Must say I was surprised to see the thread on a poster’s annoyance at having to host one non-drinker!

I’m a wine enthusiast and spend weeks sourcing exciting things specially for this season - but it’s very much quality over quantity and I’m not sure I’ve ever been drunk since the 1980s. The only thing I care about more is an uninterrupted supply of recently roasted coffee beans …

And anyway, surely everyone now is cognisant of the dangers of alcohol and would naturally provide a good selection of non-alcohol drinks if they’re hosting a party or Christmas gathering? The newspapers are full of recommendations for interesting new options, many of which are luxurious and more expensive than their alcoholic equivalents.

FIL, in recovery the last 35 years. My two sisters, one never drinks, the other one might have an alco pop twice a year. I didn't drink alcohol until I was 34 and only ever drink the lightest beer.

All my friends, family members drink ( a lot).

I might drink once or twice a year, my husband will have one drink now and again but I have only seen him drunk once.

I don’t like the taste of alcohol and I don’t like how loud and annoying I get after drinking so just stopped.