Negativity for not drinking a alcohol beverage

[SyrusTheVirus]

I've fully given up alcohol about 4 months ago and it's been awesome for me.. I've reaped so many benefits.. lost loads of body fat, ,my acne has cleared up on my face and my wrinkles and redness have gone away.. (I'm 36).. I've managed to break though plateau in the gym and put on so much more muscle than before.

I was never an alchy, but a binge drinker.. i'd go out 2 or 3 times a week and just binge drink on beer, i could never just have one or two..

I sometimes pop back into wetherspoons in the afternoon and have a coffee, but yesterday i decided to drink some of their non-alcoholic beers which are surprisingly nice!

I've been met with some bittiness and offness from some people.. yesterday a friend/acquaintance was desperate to buy me a tequila shot.. i said no but then i got a barrage of "go on" "go on" "go on" . She also examined the bottle of the beer i was drinking and put her nose up at it and said i might as well stay at home or drink the free soda water on offer behind the bar... 😂

I must say this country, this society has a real issue with alcohol

go on have a shot... just one ..

go on have one, i'm paying...

They’re worried that you make them look bad and like they can’t go without alcohol. Which is probably correct. They probably don’t want that mirror held up to them in case they have to confront it. You’re either going to have to learn to totally ignore it or find new friends I imagine.

I am trying to give up alcohol too. Not because I drink huge amounts but most fridays, a half to a full bottle of wine. Same on a Saturday. If I go out with friends I keep going… maybe 3-4 times a year.

So I have decided as I seem to black out the evening more and more (which I have paid a lot for) and feel anxious and rubbish I would pretty much stop.

Most my friends think I am not being serious, “just whilst taking tablets is it?”, but not at Christmas? not your birthday? you can have some?

It makes me feel rubbish and boring when actually it’s made me so much better.

I hear you!

I had similar experiences many years ago. I stopped drinking when I was diagnosed with epilepsy. My medication made me feel drunk after one glass of wine and it just wasn’t worth it. Even yet if I go to a bottomless brunch or other event and some people don’t know me there’s always someone who puts a drink down in front of me. I have absolutely no issue with anyone drinking. A few weeks ago I had someone go on and on and on “oh here I’ve poured you a glass of wine”, “you're really weird not liking wine” etc. I take it for so long then normally say “why does my choices of what I drink affect you so much?” That normally makes anyone back off. Some people are odd when you don’t drink alcohol, it’s their issue not yours.

I think the correct phrase is 'I'm taking some time off will let you know when I'm next up for a big boozy one though' shuts them up in the moment and they don't feel the need to interrogate as much as they think you'll rejoin them one day. If they don't accept It then eventually you'll phase these people out, or at least phase out evenings out with them

i like the fruity ciders, but thats about it, i did the challenge of having one each of the wiskys brands, i didnt last long before i was sozzled, since then its fruity ciders as and when or a cuppa tea in a pub