I don't drink and I'm sick of being asked why!

[Userno63673673636]

Because there is no specific reason, there are a few factors - not liking the taste, the cost, the social aspect - I'm pretty unsociable and just because I have to kids with sen and don't get chance to go out much anyway. I have drank a little in the past and I don't really like feeling drunk!

I have no issues with other people having a couple but very drunk people as it's triggering reminding me of past experiences but most people I know do know their limits.

It is very rare that I go out. The rare occasion I do I just don't drink. I feel that people think it's weird or unusual when it's so normal for me? My dh doesn't drink either!

today was a kid Halloween party in a pub that Dd wanted to go to, I couldn't drink anyway as it was 5 miles away from home and I was driving.

i have had people question why I don't drink to, for instance they think I've had a previous drink problem which is not the case. I've even had a doctor look puzzled when I've replied I don't drink at all.

am I really that boring? Maybe I am! 🤷‍♀️

we don't have drink in the house either, we don't drink it and we rarely have visitors, a while ago we did have family other during the day who were shocked when they asked for a drink and I didn't have anything!

anyone else? Not sure what the point of my post is but some people just don't seem to get a non drinking life?

I agree. People don’t seem able to believe that you can be out for a meal, or any occasion, without alcohol. I don’t like being nagged to have a drink. I generally like the taste of some drinks, but not the effect and I’m happy with a soft drink , or, if I’m lucky, a mocktail.

I agree with you.
Because some people drink to excess, and those that don't will often associate a social occasion with moderate alcohol consumption, some people find it unusual to see someone not drinking alcohol.

Most people I've found will ask if there's a particular reason and then accept it and move on. That doesn't bother me. I hate it when I'm out with people who make a big deal out of it though.

I’m 46 and has never drank alcohol as I never wanted to. I find a lot of people find it more of a problem than I do. Each to their own ☺️

I know what you mean, people don't seem to understand it! I'm not teetotal, just very rarely drink (I've only drunk alcohol once this year). I'm not against it or anything, just don't really see the point of it.

I don’t drink either and it’s bizarre that some people feel they can’t enjoy their evening unless they have forced me to drink alcohol, which is not going to happen!

When I was you I sometimes made an excuse such as being on antibiotics for a tooth abscess but now I’m old I find looking directly at the person who is trying force alcohol on me and asking me why I don’t want to, and saying to them, “It’s not any of your bloody business is it?”

I drink alcohol and really enjoy it, but often choose not to drink when I'm out. I don't think I've ever had grief over it. Anyone who acts oddly or interrogates you over why you don't drink is massively projecting their own stuff. Lots of people have a complex relationship with alcohol and are uneasy around anyone or anything who brings that into focus. Please rest assured that it's definitely them, not you

I don't drink anymore and actually did have a drink problem, I don't find anyone really asks me why though. The people that have I just tell the truth and thats conversation closed, they usually look a bit sheepish! My DP barely drinks anymore too, we have a bottle of gin gathering dust somewhere and occasionally some beers in the fridge. I just behave as if it is totally normal because for us it is. It must be a right pain having people questioning you on it.

Everyone I know who doesn't drink makes such a massive deal of constantly telling me about it.
I don't mind if people drink alcohol or not but the non drinkers I know drone on and on about it.

I don’t drink much alcohol these days, I’ve made a conscious effort to cut right back for various reasons, however some people just can’t accept that I don’t want to.
Some people take it as a personal slight against then, like I’m judging them for drinking, when I’m reality I couldn’t care less if they drink or not, it’s genuinely done for me and my own reasons!

I don't make a big deal of it - well apart from making a post on mumsnet 👀😅 and it is very rare I go go out but the odd occasion pops up, weddings and even a funeral, I tend to just get a soft drink, sit down and get on with it without saying a thing unless anyone asks!

My own family drink a lot and don't know their limits, I think this is a factor for me as I've seen a lot of bad things due to excessive alcohol!

another factor for me not drinking is living in the middle of nowhere, I refuse to pay a taxi so I'm often driving anyway.

I don’t drink it either - I maybe have a glass or two of something at Christmas but that’s it, I can’t be arsed with hangovers, would rather spend my money on other things and don’t really like the cancer risk. I’m overweight and don’t need any of the extra calories either!

I drink but I hate getting drunk. I completely understand you don’t need to drink when out. But I know what you mean because it’s not normal in the UK to not drink. I wish that’s more normalised and getting totally pissed is not.

I've had that with doctors before. I never know what to answer when they ask how much I drink! I might have a can of cider in summer once a year, I might not. If I go out I drink a LOT but that's incredibly rare. So I can go years without a drink
This year I've had one can of toffee apple cider as I wanted to try it and that's it

I don't drink and people constantly make fun of me for it, that is until we're on a night out and they all want a lift home! 😡

Both sides of my family don't really drink so I can take or leave alcohol. If I say that to DH family, especially mil they find it really odd. If I decide to give up for January or something I can sense the suspicious looks to see if they think I'm pregnant

Why ask anyone anything? Maybe trying to making conversation? Some people are curious? It is weird so many people ask you though.

I get this all the time as well OP I just te them I'm an alcoholic and refuse to discuss it any further. That shuts them up.
I'm not an alcoholic.

I just smile mysteriously and say "It's better that way."

I was drinking every day until six months ago. It's been life changing.

I agree and it seems to be a cultural issue here that it is considered the norm. Even worse I’ve known people who do have drink problems find it really difficult and being told you’re boring or no fun and not being invited to stuff.

The population of the UK has been brainwashed to think it normal.. glamourised in ads and television. But it's literally the no1 cause for most diseases. And hell, you're the abnormal one? (I don't drink either, hats off to you)

I very rarely drink and I know some people find that really strange but I don't really care. I, in turn, don't understand why they think it's so special ¯\(ツ)/¯

If they look at me funny for not drinking, I just ignore that, I'm not bothered.
But then I'm used to people not understanding me 😊

I've had doctors, ask me the question again as I think that I must've misunderstood it when I say nothing.

I've also got friends who repeatedly say "let's go out and have a large glass of gin" or "you'll be looking forward to a glass of wine at the end of the day" even though I haven't done any alcohol for five years. I don't eat refined sugar either and the pressure to eat cake is very similar. I don't know what it's about. It makes me feel as though I am the rude one when I repeatedly say I don't drink or I don't eat cake even though I say it perfectly politely. I have health reasons that people know about, but they still seem to ignore for some reason.

I will drink at lunchtime, never at night. It's great I can drive and leave whenever I want no waiting for taxis which are scarce here anyway . It ruins my sleep pattern.

I'm mid 30s, gave up drinking over a decade ago. I don't go to pubs, I really dislike drunk people because my sibling was an alcoholic for years and I found their behaviour very difficult and now drunk people trigger me greatly. I don't tell people this though, I just say that I don't drink any more and pubs just aren't my thing . I'm irish and people here especially have a weird relationship with drink.

Yes OP I 100% agree. I am in Scotland and it sometimes feels like alcohol is such a way of life here that you are a pariah if you don't drink. I only ever mention that I don't drink if someone specifically asks and if they ask why (well I say if but they always bloody ask) I just say I don't want to (don't say you don't like the taste as some people try to make it their personal mission to find one you do like the taste of).

I used to drink in my younger days but a combination of emetophobia, working in bars and seeing the states people get into along with seeing family members ruin their lives through alcoholism made me stop.

I don't care who drinks or who doesn't or how much they drink or why people might not drink, if someone tells me they don't eat broccoli for instance I don't really care why so i don't get why people care whether others drink alcohol or not.