18 year old girl never drank before - what should be my choice of drink tomorrow?

[Northerngal123]

I’m an 18 year old girl who had a sheltered childhood. I was just really shy and didn’t have many friends at high school. The ones I did have didn’t drink (a lot were muslim and I’m an Asian girl), so I think I’m quite unusual in having this situation as it seems like most people my age have had years of experience drinking and know what they like already!

I always wanted to try alcohol and go to house parties back at high school but just never got the chance. It didn’t help for 2 years I had very bad mental health after GCSEs and didn’t want to be sociable. Now I’m about to go to Uni and thankfully am feeling better than ever. I met a really nice girl my age and she offered to go to a bar with me for my first drink. I have no idea what to order, I don’t really have a sweet tooth so am put off by really sugary cocktails. I do want to get tipsy but not really drunk, it’ll just be good to have some experience with drink before freshers in a good environment. My parents drink but have individual tastes like my dad likes strong beer and my mum used to drink tequila shots at my age she told me.

I was thinking maybe a gin and tonic, cider, mojito, vodka and orange….then drink some water and have another if I want one

I would love any suggestions for a good first time drink :) I love to be a connoisseur of whatever I eat and learn about it but am clueless about alcohol at the moment.

I'd start on something gentle. Shandy, cider, something like that. And don't mix!

I can't believe your parents have never offered you a glass of beer or wine at home before?! I've always though that it's better for teens to try their first alcohol at home, in a safe environment, rather than out somewhere.

It was vile and every mouthful made me actually gag but I slowly drank it, and drank it for month after

I drank so much strongbow cider and black as a student that even just the thought of blackcurrent cider makes me feel physically ill now. I don't even like strongbow cider. Never have. It was that or lager and lime which was even worse than the cider. I don't think we aware that anything other Fosters, Strongbow or MadDog 20/20 (which we convinced some poor old shopkeeper to sell to us despite us being clearly underaged) existed until we were 18/19.

The fruit and pear ciders are much nicer than Strongbow. Old Mout dark cherry is my favourite. Desparados are nice and refreshing too but might be a tad strong for a first timer.

Don't mix, and I'd steer clear of vodka, gin, shots to start with. Fruit cider, or peach shnaps with lemonade are nice fruity summery drinks that arnt too strong so shouldnt make you feel too poorly the next day.
Take your time with the drinks, as you probably would if you were just drinking a fizzy drink, don't down them.
What I used to do at 18/19 was once it got to about an hour or two before I knew I'd go home, I'd start to just drink water, or if I just simply felt drunk enough that I was having a good time but still in control.
Happy birthday, have fun and be safe x

port and lemonade is a nice refreshing long drink, I don’t drink but when I was younger this was my go to.

Malibu and lemonade

Just because you are 18 it's not compulsory to drink alcohol. You can enjoy yourself without it and you can remember your birthday with a clear head. (Says someone who didn't listen to my own advice on my 30th).

@SuperLoudPoppingAction

flippin heck you do like a watered down drink! Half a measure in a pint glass. Might as well not bother

Do you know if you like the taste of wine or beer? Most people don't at first so I wouldn't go ordering either, even mixed with lemonade/soda.
Pimms is a good shout.

Martini and lemonade. Not too strong but really delicious. Make sure you get the dry martini if you don't like sweet drinks (I'm the same).

Archers and lemonade is (was) a right of passage for an 18 year old girl! Archers is half the strength of most spirits so doesn’t get you as drunk but you can still have a couple.

Unfortunately I’ve never tried either! My extended family is Muslim but my parents are both atheists, they drink outside the house out of habit on dates and stuff but never in the house for some reason. So I never really had the odd sip of their drinks

Thanks I’ve heard of pimms and it seems like a real summery easy to drink drink

Ah I’ve seen that on the menu at all the bars we’re looking at going to, definitely looks appealing due to the fact it’s not as strong as most spirits as you say

i’ll have to decide since this thread has given me so much choice it’s very hard! 😅

Ds2 (25) has never had alcohol. It’s just not something he fancies. Neither has ds3 (16) although I’m sure that will change in the next couple of years. Ds1 is completely different and takes after his parents. 🥂

I started drinking at 21 with a snowball

Vodka and slimline tonic (the full bottle). You can't taste or smell the alcohol and it's not sweet and sickly. Couple of those and you will be nicely relaxed but not drunk.
Can you tell I really don't like alcohol, or being drunk, or hangovers .......?

Est something before you go out and stay with your friends.

I would stay away from shots and spirits and serious cocktails. white wine spritzer definitely good choice as well as fruity ciders like Kopperburg

Going against the grain I'd say a gin and tonic. Sip it. I dont find it bitter at all just really refreshing.

Can you go to the supermarket and buy one of those little cans of G&T to try. Chill it before drinking. Not expensive and saves you paying bar prices and not liking it.

Sip it slowly. Only have one.

I read somewhere that this generation drink way less than my parents generation and others, I don’t know why but it was an interesting read and seems true based on my friends and own experiences

Some people drink loads but others are more like oh let’s go get some nice food or go watch a movie….I just googled snowball my god it says it tastes like custard looks really nice 😁

mosaicscience.com/story/peak-booze

Why start ?
you don't need to drink alcohol to enjoy yourself.

@catandcoffee

it helps though 😜

I agree and never think I’ll be the sort of person who drinks every time I socialise, I’ve gotten this long without needing it!

But I am interested what it is like and feel like it’ll do no harm to try it once and see how it is, I think the way my mindset is if I get hyped up around new Uni mates and go clubbing and see them drinking lots and get tempted I may have a bad first experience drinking, whereas with this girl I’ve explained my whole situation to her and we know each other well, it will be a lot more chilled out and will satisfy my temptation to try it. I think it would be a shame to go my whole life without trying something other people enjoy that is not terrible in moderation, especially as I have no health issues or religious reasons against it

You don't have to drink OP. I went out with my cousins friends... months later it randomly came up that X doesn't drink. I was shocked that I didn't even notice!

Nobody is checking what's in your glass but if you do want to try. Archers and lemonade is a winner! Not very strong and has a ni e taste. Wine can be strong so I would avoid tbh..

When I was your age, my drink was a Moscow Mule. Although it's a cocktail, it only has one spirit - vodka with ginger beer and lime. It's refreshing and has a kick (from the ginger beer!).

For the love of God not tequila or snakebite (I got very ill on those when I was younger). Good idea to stay away from cocktails as they are expensive and deceptively strong. I never do wine or pints anymore due to bad experiences trying to keep up with other people back in the day. Now I'm older and wiser I usually just have gin mixed with lots of either tonic/ginger beer/elderflower cordial/rhubarb lemonade.

Definitely agree with PPs on the following: Eat something before drinking, don't mix types of alcohol, alternate each alcoholic drink with a soft drink, and try sipping a small can of ready mixed G and T at home first so you know how it affects you before a night out.

Also don't be worried about switching to soft drinks only even if others around you keep drinking alcohol. Even if you need to tell people your cola has rum in it just to avoid the social pressure to keep drinking.

And don't take up smoking when drunk! Not sure if teenagers still do this. It can make a hangover so much worse and start a really bad habit.