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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:
thisagain · 18/01/2017 19:40

I drink alcohol a few times a year at most. I'm also currently doing slimming world when all the talk is how much they can/can't drinK and how much they miss their wine every night. I really cannot imagine wanting to drink wine every night. But if someone took away Diet Coke, I would really miss it.

GraceGrape · 18/01/2017 19:42

tram's post epitomises the problematic reliance on alcohol that exists in the UK. I cant think of any other countries that I have visited or lived in where going out and not drinking is considered "odd". I drink occasionally, but not much. I have never been evangelical about it. The odd thing is that some people genuinely seem bothered by those that don't drink. I can't personally see how it affects them, but it suggests that they are not fully comfortable with their own relationship with alcohol.

Maz2444466 · 18/01/2017 19:43

I prefer to drink with DH only and only a few drinks occasionally. Drinking puts me on edge for the most part and doc I don't like to drink in company as can feel nervey although my friends say I'm laidback and a laugh when I drink but I don't feel it! Also I absolutely hate hangovers, it's just not worth it for me.

wannabestressfree · 18/01/2017 19:47

I used to drink quite heavily and I am ashamed of it actually. My boys were little and I made some questionable choices. I also have crohns like barbarian and have now lost most of my bowel and have a bag. I also have a tumour that's mahoosive and am on enough meds to sink a battleship.
I really think I wasted enough money and time on getting drunk and feel like the proper 'me' now and a better mum.

EllieMentry · 18/01/2017 19:48

I very rarely drink and on the occasions that I do, I have a very small amount. I couldn't drink a whole (small) glass of wine, for instance. I stop enjoying the taste very quickly and I don't like the sensation alcohol gives me.

I don't like soft drinks, either, so it's coffee or water for me. I'm past caring what other people think/say about it, but generally people don't seem to comment.

I find tramstray's comments upthread very strange. Why would I want to try a load of different alcoholic drinks to find one I like? And even if I did, I don't like the effects of alcohol so I still wouldn't drink much of it. Is that really so 'odd'?

TrionicLettuce · 18/01/2017 19:50

I'm like you cherry, I've not made a conscious decision to be teetotal but I just don't drink very often at all. In fact I think the last alcoholic drink I had might have been Xmas 2015. DH is the same, although he had a small glass of bucks fizz on Xmas morning last year.

Both of us do quite like some alcoholic drinks but these days we're much more likely to prefer soft drinks.

Ruhrpott · 18/01/2017 19:50

I don't drink and never have. I can't stand the smell of alcohol. My husband drinks occasionally and my daughters are the same as me and don't like it.

I was also brought up in a pub so maybe that has something to do with it

GinIsIn · 18/01/2017 19:53

I do drink. Well, I'm 9 months pregnant so not lately, but generally speaking I like a drink. Don't find it remotely odd if other people choose not to do so - why would I, it's their choice! However, I do take issue with people YES DM I MEAN YOU who go all evangelical on you if you so much as dare order a small glass of wine with a meal, so I suppose it goes both ways....

SpringBail · 18/01/2017 19:58

I very rarely drink, the last drink I had was a few sips of an alcopop in December 2015 but I do find occasionally people try to pressure me into drinking so I just tell them I can't due to my kidney disease as it tends to give me an infection and I don't like the feeling alcohol gives you.
Ideally whether you want to drink or not should be accepted and not have judgement passed upon you.

FishlessCake · 18/01/2017 20:05

I haven't had a drink in over 10 years (I'm 31) I can honestly say all I drink is tap water.

Carnabyqueen · 18/01/2017 20:13

I came to the conclusion that I was drinking to much, too often and for the wrong reasons. I have made a bit of an arse out of myself socially so decided on 1st January to stop. It's early days but already I feel loads better, more awake, more energy and I'm sleeping better. I may or may not drink at some point in the future but for now I'm happy not too. Am dreading being questioned on why I'm not drinking. I have something of a reputation for being a "party girl!"

daquee101 · 18/01/2017 20:16

22 and don't drink. Don't see the need, find it very worrying how much it's doled out on here as a crutch for "stress,long Day, reward for getting kids to bed" etc. Definitely a problem exacerbated by the middle classes.

MrsHathaway · 18/01/2017 20:16

I drank quite a lot as a student - cocktail nights where you have one for every colour of the rainbow, for example. A couple of years afterwards I tried going teetotal to see if I could, and managed eighteen months without really noticing.

So when I gave up to ttc it wasn't a hardship at all, and I didn't miss it when I was then ttc and/or bf without a break for the next seven or eight years.

There are some alcoholic drinks which I know are really tasty - dark rum with diet coke, for example, or g&t. But in both cases it's the spices I like, and I'm waiting patiently for someone to make a cordial with the same flavours that isn't 40% ABV.

My parents drank very little - and both now in their 60s drink nothing at all.

DH used to drink moderately but now maybe 0-5 units in a quiet week (bottle of beer or wee dram once or twice a week) and maybe another 10 for a big night out.

PIL think nothing of starting a second bottle of wine every night between them, but they don't think they drink much. I think their glasses are too big/too full and it will catch up with them.

StandardNameHere · 18/01/2017 20:24

Non drinker here!
Not for any major reason- just prefer the taste of soft drinks and can't think of anything worse than a hangover.
I also love being able to drive home after a night out instead of hanging round for a taxi!

oldlaundbooth · 18/01/2017 20:30

Im not teetotal but I certainly can manage without a drink. Didn't drink during pregnancy and I missed coffee more than alcohol! Had a glass of wine the first week after birth and really wasn't fussed about it at all. I don't like the taste, it's expensive and bad formyiur health. I get awful hangovers, too.

Don't get me started on social pressure surrounding drinking/not drinking, it drives me crazy.

DeleteOrDecay · 18/01/2017 20:33

I'm not teetotal but I drink very rarely. Last time I had a drink was around April/May last year. Mostly the thought of a hang over the next day puts me off but recently the thought of having a few drinks one evening has been tempting. It's like every now and then I like/need to let loose then I'm good for another few monthsGrin

ThisisDyear · 18/01/2017 20:34

Tram how very strange, that you would think anyone who doesn't drink alcohol just need to try more beverages to find the one they like. Utterly bizarre!

I don't drink or rather very rarely. It's not a conscious decision, I just don't like the taste of alcoholic drinks. I had a small glass of Champagne last yr on wedding anniversary, before that I think I had a bit of wine in the summer and that it. This ur I haven't tasted any alcohol yet.

I don't miss it nor think about it. I don't think 'I'm good and they are bad', what a ridiculous assertion! I don't think anything at all about people who drink. I do think people who drink to the point of getting drunk on a daily basis are living a dangerous life though. But I think most people will agree with that.

When I go out with colleagues I just have a juice or sparkling water. I don't like most fizzy drinks either but that's something I Consciously decided to avoid about 5 yrs ago for health reasons. DH drinks alcohol but is a social drinker and rarely visits pubs. We have a nice collection of alcoholic drinks at home that we keep to entertain when we have guests.

I don't make a big drama about my non drinking of alcohol, infact it's usually the alcohol drinkers that go on and on about it, wanting to know why. It's just a non issue.

AllPizzasGreatAndSmall · 18/01/2017 20:35

Tramstay you seem to have an 'odd' viewpoint.

It comes across as if you resent people for not trying hard enough to drink alcohol.
I can understand if someone says they don't like fruit you might suggest they should try lots of different ones as there may be one they like, because it would be beneficial to them, but not alcohol.

MrsDOnofrio · 18/01/2017 20:37

Lifelong teetotaller. I have had some very aggressive reactions. Been accused of being an alcoholic, had people trying to slip alcohol into my soft drinks, people trying to fight me because I don't drink Confused, tell me I'll like it if I get used to it, assumptions made about my religious status.

I'm a student HCP and in a recent piece of group work I had a colleague get very argumentative about my non-drinking. Kept arguing that I must do but just wanted to hide it. Idiot!

NicknameUsed · 18/01/2017 20:38

"However, I do take issue with people YES DM I MEAN YOU who go all evangelical on you if you so much as dare order a small glass of wine with a meal, so I suppose it goes both ways."

This ^^. I am lucky that no-one comments if I am not drinking. We live in a rural area where taxis aren't that easy to get and are expensive so if we go out I drive, and therefore don't drink. I have a friend who never drinks, but I don't judge her for not drinking, as I expect people not to judge if I want an occasional glass of wine or G & T.

However, I really dislike the assumptions from some non drinkers that all people who enjoy alcohol want to get drunk. I hate getting drunk, but I really enjoy the taste of wine or a G & T, but after a couple I have had enough. By all means don't drink, but don't get sanctimonious with people who do.

Nquartz · 18/01/2017 20:39

I can't remember the last time I was drunk (at least 6 years) couldn't face a hangover with DD & just not bothered enough to drink at home. Occasionally enjoy a glass of wine with a meal out, don't miss it at all.

DeleteOrDecay · 18/01/2017 20:41

I also disagree with Trams post. If someone doesn't want to drink for what ever reason then that's okay and doesn't make them odd in the slightest.

PrivatePike · 18/01/2017 20:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CurbsideProphet · 18/01/2017 20:48

I don't drink, as I have epilepsy and it's best not to. I'm not evangelical about it and it's barely mentioned. No one I know is bothered that I don't drink. No one thinks I'm odd and I don't fit in. What a strange suggestion Hmm

PrivatePike · 18/01/2017 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.