to be fed up because people can't accept I don't want to drink that much!

[Rennie23]

OK, tonight we're going out to some friends for a meal. Most of our friends drink plenty of wine/ alcohol. However I get the most horrible hangovers and have learnt there is no way I can function the next day unless I keep it to one glass of wine, which I'm quite happy with.
I usually drive which gives me a good excuse to say no more, but I'm getting fed up with being pressurised to drink more if we walk somewhere. It's comments like ' she can't take her drink' Haha, 'surely one more won't hurt'.
I sometimes feel it would be easier to say I'm teetotal.
It's not just with friends, it's family too. I usually have a good time when I go out and don't really need alcohol.
Anyone else feel the same /got any good replies, rather than me having to laugh the comments off every time? It just makes me feel like a child sometimes having to make excuses!

Being teetotal doesn't make it easier - twats will still badger you! I've been teetotal nearly 8 years and I've had a fair few prats say things like "just one won't hurt" or "it's a special occasion, so you MUST!".

I don't socialise with the prats any more. Luckily, I have found plenty of people who couldn't give two hoots whether I drink or not. I suggest you do the same.

I just say no and don't get badgered about it. I think people correctly guess that if I say no I mean no.

If you really don't won't people bothering you you can tell them your a recovering alcoholic .

I've found discussing my cystitis after alcohol (including talking about the smell and describing the strange toilet habits that go with it) soon shuts up anyone who queries why I don't drink. In fact, I haven't been offered alcohol in a long time since I gave that description

I'm afraid this is a problem with your friends. My dh can't drink more than a small glass of wine/pint sand doesn't have any problems. I think you need to take them aside and explain why it's hurtful. Or reassess the friendship.

I went teetotal when out with 'friends' for several years from 19-22 for this very reason. It's always just one more and it's a pain in the backside just getting mithered. Or they'd "forget" and order another alcoholic one and then try and make me feel obliged to drink it.

It took me that long to realise it was a problem with the friends. If the friends are like that in other aspects then seriously consider if they are friends. If you can't say "Look, I feel like absolute cack if I have more than 1 so i'm not having anymore" then, imo, they aren't good friends.

Family I'd just laugh and say "Hell no, I don't want to be that drunk rellie, I'll leave that to someone else...."

Over the last 5+ years I've gradually transitioned to less and less drinking, as I was finding that even 2-3 drinks made me feel rotten the next day. Mostly it's been ok (I have a few other friends who don't drink/drink very little), but there's a few who act like I'm an alien sent from the planet Misery-Arse purely to judge them.

It's inexplicable to me that NOT getting drunk is socially unacceptable for so many people.

I probably have a glass of wine twice a year, most friends who have known me for a while dont push it because they know I grew up with an alcoholic mum so I dont drink to make sure I cant use it as a crutch or drink everyday.
If anyone does bring it up I just change the subject immediately

"No means no" Try it, it worked for me but when it didn't I just gave a stare like I was fed up til they shut up about it. Problem is it gives them something to talk about all in agreement they need to get bored of it. You could say "this really is boring" in a deadpan tone.

I don't drink, though I used to. I do find when I go out with certain friends they do pressure me to drink. They are nice friends, bit younger than me and throw back cocktails like there's no tomorrow. I do feel pushed to join in, but one drink is my limit now, Ive no physical tolerance for alcohol anymore and can feel a bit tipsy after half a shandy! I've taken to drinking slimline tonic, people assume it's G&T and leave me alone. My sister cant drink at all, due to taking medication for psoratic arthritis, and she gets a lot of the "one wont hurt" comments.

I'm a one or two max, and sometimes nil, drinks person. I also had issues with this because I couldn't understand why people made those remarks. I've had drinks bought for me that I haven't wanted either. All I can say is, if anyone accused me of not being fun I'd say "I'm fun all the time, I don't need to get hammered to be fun" with a friendly wink. If people say "she can't handle her drink" I'd be tempted to throw one at them to show them my handling skills....!

The thing I used to hate was "you must be a cheap date". I'd say "not after all the other bills" again with a wink and a smile. But jeez, it's annoying. I am not much of a one for socialising now, I only deal with people who know me really well so it's okay.

I don't drink for many reasons. I stopped bothering to explain myself years ago. If people bug me I walk away and I NEVER take drinks from anyone I don't trust to respect that.

It does get easier but can take ages with the wrong crowd of people. Luckily the friends I have now are mostly the same so that makes life much easier.

I stopped drinking when the hangovers stopped being funny - and if you'd known me in my 20's, 30's and 40's you'd have been in awe of my capacity to drink, stay up all night and then do a 12 hour shift the next day. And then the hangovers became 2 day events, 3 day events and I just found it a little less amusing.
People do try to pressure you to drink but I find the death stare and an explanation that alcohol causes me to projectile vomit stops them sharp enough!

You could try a jokey "I read somewhere that pestering other people to drink more is a sign of having drink issues". Indeed you could post any entertaing theory you like on here, then say "I read somewhere... "

Seriously though its a sign of our culture's dysfunctional relationship with alcohol, at the very least. Sadly your friends and family do sound a bit nobbish to be going on and on. Can you try a small eyeroll maybe, next time? They bloody well deserve it.