To think you’re viewed as boring if you don’t drink it only drink a little?

[Ihatemyroad]

Based in UK I think that’s relevant.

Mums evening out from school (primary) and all other mums arrived by taxi or husbands dropped them off so they could get ‘on it’.

It was a meal in a pub.

I’m not a big drinker anyway and can’t do hangovers especially with little ones who still get up during the night.

I was first to leave and think I was viewed as boring because everyone else seemed on a mission to drink the gin dry!

Anyone else felt uncomfortable in a situation like this because they literally have one drink and stop. I don’t think I’ll be on the invite list for next time.

Agree, but I find watching other people get drunk quite boring too.

I used to but now I dont care. I just have conversation with the other sober people.

Not really. I went out with a group of school mums recently too and no one cared at all how much anyone drank as long as they were fun! A few were clearly getting stuck in, some were just having one or two, two weren't drinking at all. Two of the "not drinking much" ones were among the last to leave. We all had a good time :)

I've been called 'boring' by people when I've chosen not to drink before even though they know too much alcohol can cause major issues for me. 🤷‍♀️

I don’t care what other people drink but yes I do think there is a culture of people wanting you to drink with them to get involved.

I used to go along with it but now my willpower is much stronger and I know that if I have 2 alcoholic drinks and lots of soft drinks I’ll still have a great sociable time and feel great the next day!

Stay true to yourself OP and be yourself and if they don’t like you then their now the friends for you!

Then they’re not*

I hardly ever drink and never do so in public if I am not with someone I trust who will be remaining sober - I don't tell people that last part I just tell them I don't like drinking much but no-one seems to have had an issue with it that I have noticed, maybe I am oblivious. Some of my friends are Muslim and don't drink so when we are out I'm not alone.

I don't view people as boring if they don't want the drink. I do like a drink though. I would never drink and drive, even after 1, so I would always get a lift or taxi if I was planning to have a few.

Some people take it as a form of disapproval from the non/low drinker, a personal affront, an unfavourable comment unspoken.
You see it on here too, with teetotallers/non/low drinkers being sneered at as pearl clutchers etc.

I don't give a single fuck what people think about me, and they are perfectly entitled to think I'm boring. What they think of me isn't my concern.

This is how you should feel, too, otherwise you give these inconsequential people far too much power in your life.

I’ve literally stopped caring what other mums think. Pregnant mums, Muslim mums, Methodist mums, recovering addicts, people on a health kick/diet, people with responsibilities meaning a hangover next day isn’t acceptable - I know loads of people teetotal temporarily or permanently for many reasons.

So I’ve said Yanbu because personally I don’t think people are innately boring if they are sober.

I drink socially but don't get drunk. I'm far from boring☻️ Its not a popular opinion but I think people drink so much to make up for the lack of personality maybe? Why can't they 'let loose' without the booze?!

I don't find that. I go out with different groups and some people drink, some don't, some drink a little, some a lot. Nobody cares at all, it's not even commented on unless its relevant.
IT's generally seen as a good thing if there are a few drivers to give lifts to the others!

Brilliant answer from @Aquamarine1029 . Also, 'boring' depends on your perspective. A person who finds it boring being around people who are getting drunk might not be bored having an interesting conversation with a sober person. A person who is bored by sober conversation might not be bored being around people who are getting drunk!

I think it’s your friends. This hasn’t happened to me since I was at university.

When my dad gave up drinking, his best friend of 20 years said he was now boring and cut contact!

Yes but I don't care. I am boring and I like it.

Some people think people who don't drink are boring but why would I care what they think?

I'm a recovering alcoholic although I've been sober for years and this is definitely how I feel when I go out with acquaintances. I shouldn't have to tell everyone I meet my private business but I am definitely judged regularly for not having a glass of pimms at the fete or a glass of wine at a party.

I only voted yabu because lots of people have opinions I disagree with, but those are their opinions, not ones I have to hold simply because they do. My mum and partner don't drink. My partner, no one would call him boring, he's the life and soul of any party/gathering and poeple seek him out for fun times. I, on the other hand, can fail to know my limits when out. As a result I rarely engage in those activities and people kindly let me know that I'm missed or that they wish I would join in, but I know, it would be fun to a point then I'll miss that point, so I don't. My mum has been identified upon entering a meal type occassion at people's homes "everyone, dudsville'smum is here, she doesn't drink!", which is a super odd thing to do and I think reflects their discomfort at beig around someone who doesn't drink. The lesson of the story is to let others get on with the story of their own lives and choose to do things that you enjoy!

This

I feel self conscious about how little I drink. I'm small and light, only drink socially, and as I've got older, I have the capacity of a gnat. I've no wish to be dizzy or sick so have no more than 3 drinks plus lots of water.
I do however, still love activities that go hand in hand with drinking. Bars and clubs, gigs and festivals, and enjoy being with people who will be uninhibited, dancing and generally having fun. Which tends to be drinkers.
I often feel that new people in particular might be judging me a bit, expecting me to be boring. Certainly people look askance when I order water and try to talk me into a 'proper' drink.

Nope ! I couldn’t care less if people said anything thou ! I love watching drunk people make tits of themselves thou 😂

I don’t find this, and the friend groups I go out most with range from people who could drink me under the table to teetotallers — I have periods where I don’t drink for months at a time, and then do. I don’t notice a difference in those nights out, and I don’t get hangovers. I went to a gig recently with a big group who were drinking a lot and one person who is teetotal for medical reasons, and everyone was delighted he came, and delighted to get a lift back to a party where he stayed till 3 am.

In the circumstances you describe, it sounds as if you were in fact mildly disapproving from the outset, from your description of the other women as arriving in taxis or being dropped off by other people so they could ‘get on it’ — of course they weren’t going to be driving themselves, regardless of how much they were intending to drink! Drink-driving is deservedly illegal.

You also sound as if you (understandably) had one eye on the clock if you were first to leave and have babies or children who still wake in the night so weren’t on ‘relaxed night off’ mode, so maybe, in the context of this particular night out, less in the swing of things, then other people who have older children or don’t get hangovers.

I don't drink much anymore, generally 1 drink and then lemonade etc, and am friends with people who mostly drink a lot and a couple sober people. but there is a difference between someone not drinking much and still being chatty and social and fun.
And someone not drinking, judging the people who are, looking sour quiet before leaving early.

Not saying thats how you were acting but it isn't always the non drinking that is why a person seems boring