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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if anyone else doesn't drink alcohol?

101 replies

cherrycrumblecustard · 18/01/2017 18:09

I never consciously thought "I am teetotal" but I've realised I am. I think the last drink I had was a vodka and lemonade in spring 2015 and that was just because someone bought it for me. Before that was Christmas 2014 maybe?

I don't like the taste much and it's expensive.

But I am doing SW, and everyone keeps going on about alcohol!

OP posts:
P1nkP0ppy · 18/01/2017 18:12

I drink alcohol so rarely I can't remember the last time! No particular reason, we have plenty of wine and spirits in the house, and I have to chuck the bottles of mixers out because they're out of date Hmm

cathf · 18/01/2017 18:13

I don't drink, never have. My last drink was a sip for a toast at my sister's wedding in 1994.
I come from a long line of publicans and my parents are quite heavy social drinkers, but I can't stand the taste.
I used to work in a heavy-drinking profession and was quite a novelty at social events.

bookwormnerd · 18/01/2017 18:16

I dont drink alcohol, dont like it, im a total light weight. I do get people being weird over it for some stupid reason. Like pp had to chuck a load of alcohol out given other day as was out of date and dh doesnt drink often

Chimchar · 18/01/2017 18:17

I don't drink. Used to, but since having kids and being pregnant and bf etc, I just can't handle being pissed, or the hangover!

It really doesn't bother me at all. I actually don't like how I feel when I drink now.

I will VERY occasionally have a dribble of some weak alcopop if I fancy it, but probably less than 5 times a year!

Mangomohito · 18/01/2017 18:17

I don't, would never occur to me to buy alcohol.

trinity0097 · 18/01/2017 18:19

I don't drink, haven't done since I was about 23, when a boy threatened to do some awful sexual stuff to me as a NQT!

LillyBugg · 18/01/2017 18:19

I don't. I'm pregnant now but wouldn't normally drink anyway. I often feel sick after one so I don't tend to bother. Can't remember when I last had a drink.

treaclesoda · 18/01/2017 18:19

I know loads of people who don't drink alcohol, probably about a quarter of all the people I know, maybe a third. I must admit I'm always baffled when I see people in mumsnet say that they feel they have to make excuses not to drink, or they feel that people judge them for not drinking. Most people really don't care if someone else drinks or not.

IateallthePies654 · 18/01/2017 18:20

I don't, just don't like the taste or the effects.

treaclesoda · 18/01/2017 18:21

Although I do love a wee drink myself...

BillyButtfuck · 18/01/2017 18:23

I drink very rarely. I used to a lot before I got pregnant but since the birth I've maybe have 2/3 drinks in about 10 months and when I do they are very very weak or a few sips of some bubbly. Not fussed by it and find drunk people around me really annoying now DP.

GizmoFrisby · 18/01/2017 18:23

I don't drink. Saying that maybe once a year I will but other than that can't stand it. I used to be a big drinker before having kids but now I barely give it a thought.

tramstray · 18/01/2017 18:24

It's fine not to drink alcohol but it does tend to single one out as slightly "odd" - if that doesn't bother you, then don't worry about it.

I think that people think it is "odd" is that often the person who doesn't drink is somewhat "evangelical" about it. They imply that they are "good" because they don't drink; by extension the rest of us must therefore be "bad".

Usually someone who doesn't drink has a "good" reason - they are ill or are dependent on alcohol. When someone doesn't drink at all with no obvious justification, it leads to questions (usually just in people's heads!) as to what other "unusual" life choices the person is making.

I don't think "not liking the taste" can count as a "good" reason really - there are so many varieties of alcoholic beverage out there that surely you can't have tried them all? It would be a bit like refusing to eat dairy products. Fine if you're intolerant of them, fine if you're on a fad diet - but just refusing to eat anything derived from dairy products because you had some rubbish Edam once will lead to the same "odd" looks as refusing all alcohol will.

Like I said at the start, there is nothing wrong with being seen as being "odd" provided you yourself are happy with your choices.

Cheers! Wine

FlyingElbows · 18/01/2017 18:24

I don't, can't remember the last time I did and it would never be more than a weak spritzer anyway. I did getting pissed when I was a teenager and tbh I think it's a bit tragic when people in their late thirties, forties etc drink like teens. Nothing classy about a shit faced mummy fb post! Mn has a strange attitude to alcohol and it's surprising just how much some people consume while thinking it's completely normal.

Original poster
cherrycrumblecustard · 18/01/2017 18:27

Not really tram I don't like the taste of any of them, they all taste like, well, alcohol!

OP posts:
MsAwesomeDragon · 18/01/2017 18:28

I had one glass of bubbly at Christmas, can't remember before that, probably a couple of years ago.
I don't particularly like drinking, never have really although I did drink socially when I was younger. I've been drunk once in my life and did not like it at all, so have stuck to one or two since then. Haven't drunk regularly since I was pg with dd1 18 years ago!

jcne · 18/01/2017 18:30

I don't. i've never been a drinker. it can be a very lonely place.

KayTee87 · 18/01/2017 18:30

Op you don't need a good reason to not drink, it's ok that you don't want to. I don't drink that much anymore and know a few people that don't drink at all.
I think a lot of people are cutting down on drinking now a days.

ChairinSage · 18/01/2017 18:31

I rarely drink. I wouldn't consider myself teetotal as I'll have an occasional small lager with a curry (about once a month, I guess?). I never drink at business functions and I don't understand "wine o'clock"... I think it stems from being a bit of a control freak and having a very low threshold for being drunk!

treaclesoda · 18/01/2017 18:32

I wouldn't even use the 'excuse' of not liking the taste. You don't need an excuse. It's perfectly valid to say 'no, I'm not having a drink because I don't want to'.

SaorAlbaGuBrath · 18/01/2017 18:33

I'm not teetotal as such, I'll have the odd glass of red wine at a "do" but other than that I don't bother. Mostly because it plays merry hell with my IBS so just isn't worth it.

preparedtobeshotdown · 18/01/2017 18:34

Why do people think it is 'odd'. I don't drink. Never have and never been questioned on it. No one has found it weird or odd. I think it's just paranoia on the non drinkers half. Why does it matter if you drink lemonade or oj instead of wine...?

Blossomdeary · 18/01/2017 18:34

Me too - I have not drunk alcohol for about 20 years. I do not miss it. I never feel the need to justify it and have never been asked to.

CommunionHelp · 18/01/2017 18:34

Millions of people don't drink alcohol. The amount of people around you who don't drink it will depend on where you live, etc.

It's only one tiny part of someone's life, not a defining characteristic, as far as I'm concerned.

crabbied · 18/01/2017 18:38

I've noticed at weight watchers everyone is talking about alcohol alll the time. Particularly prosecco. Similarly at the exercise class I do.
I rarely drink and given how many calories are in alcohol I wonder how I've ended up at ww!

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