An odd gift for someone cutting down on booze.

[malificent7]

My friends know I am not drinking much these days so why did 3 of them get me booze for my birthday?

Because you've been a big drinker in the past. These gifts are a problem if you are committed to cutting down. Give them away or, if you are going to be too tempted by their presence, I would pour them down the sink. And reaffirm to your friends and family that you don't drink any more.

Couldn't think of anything else to buy you, maybe?

'Cutting down' doesn't usually mean not drinking at all, so possibly they didn't see it as inappropriate for that reason.

They don’t seem like particularly thoughtful gifts, but somebody saying they are “cutting down” might not necessarily make anyone think it is a bad present. They maybe thought to get you something especially nice for when you are having a drink.

Thoughtlessness

It’s an easy gift and they might think you drink on special occasions?

Easy gift, no thought needed, or just forgot you’re not drinking so much.

Cutting down doesn't mean giving up drinking altogether so surely that is still an acceptable gift? Unless there is more to it that you have shared with them and they are being thoughtless but that would depend on what the circumstances were.

Thing is i have lots of hobbies/ other food drink intetests etc.

Would it be OK if it was just one?
It's a coincidence. Or it's a sign you really need to cut drinking.
But, as others have said, it's easier to buy booze. I'd consider them lazy gifts.

Because they think you might want something nice when you do have a drink?

And they probably didn't ask each other. Just assume you like booze.

You've enjoyed alcohol gifts in the past.

You were a big drinker until recently.

They'd already bought it when you told them you were cutting back.

They had it in the cupboard leftover from Christmas and they didn't want to go out and buy something else, or couldn't afford to.

They don't believe you're going to drink less, maybe you've said it before and failed.

Do they drink a lot themselves? People can get oddly upset when you cut your drinking. As if you're judging THEM. If they're boozers, it might be a passive aggressive attempt to keep you in the fold. Conscious or unconscious, on their part.

Or they thought that, if you're going to drink less, it should be something really nice.

Or they forgot to get you a present so went to the supermarket on the way to your house and gift ideas were limited.

Or they're big drinkers so don't want you to stop drinking.

Who still buys their friends presents as adults? I certainly would expect my friends to be grateful if I bought them something. Send a thank you note and regift if you don’t want.

This happens to me and yes it's weird. You cut down on something because you want less of it in your life and people then give it to you as a birthday present. I guess just thoughtless, it's an easy present - but the lack of thought definitely detracts from the gift!

If you can't resist drinking from those bottles then that's a bigger issue where you could consider quitting entirely. If you can, then you put the booze in the cupboard and get it out when wanted or regift it. It's a lazy present, maybe also a sign that you should all stop wasting effort getting presents for each other.

Because you haven't stopped drinking I guess. You may be cutting down (whatever that may mean) but when you socialise with them are you still drinking?

It’s an auto present isn’t it.

No one pays any attention to the details of other people’s lives.

Either that or 3 separate friends are trying to railroad you into being a big boozer. Seems unlikely tho.

Just a coincidence they all did.

I got pregnant just before a Christmas (hadn't told anyone yet as it was very early on in the pregnancy) and that year everyone had got me fancy gins, liqueurs and craft beers! They had to sit in a cupboard and I'm only very slowly getting through them still now.

Just regift them

It's probably stuff they've had sitting in the back of a cupboard somewhere that they've regifted themselves.

I have a male relative who doesn't drink at all and it annoys the fuck out of me that all gift ideas aimed for males are booze related.

I hardly drink these days and asked for bottles of baileys for birthday.

If they have you bottles of cheap vodka then it's probably a weird gift but stuff like Baileys is more presentish.

Because "cutting down" is pretty meaningless. Many of us should be "cutting down"! If you'd made it explicit that you felt you were heading towards alcoholism/had a problem/ were trying to conceive etc etc then perhaps they would've got the message loud and clear.
You don't have to drink it and can re-gift it if you don't feel safe having it in the house.

It's not a particularly thoughtful gift but on the flip side (unless you have issues with alcohol) it's just a safe neutral gift. Stick it in the cupboard and regift when appropriate.

Buying alcohol as a gift is easy but if they know you are cutting back then it is thoughtless.