To just not drink alcohol, for no reason other than I don't want to?

[calmandhappyy]

Growing up, my parents never drank alcohol. Not for any reason, they just didn't. As a result, I grew up not really being around alcohol much. When I was a teenager and at university I did try alcohol when friends offered it, but didn't like it or particularly dislike it, just felt indifferent to it.

Now I'm in my late 20s I've started being more assertive with saying I don't drink alcohol, and often people are curious why but I never have an answer - it's not for religious reasons, health reasons or a bad reaction to alcohol I just don't think of it as part of my life and am just not bothered by it. If there's a champagne toast or something I'll happily oblige. But equally, if I'm at a bar I'll happily sit there with a soft drink, but I feel embarrassed when asked why I don't drink, as I don't really have a reason...

It's come up a lot at work, as we have 'happy hour' in the office once a week and they have alcohol. There are frequent drinks out in bars after work and on work trips. Our work Christmas party there's an open bar and people get absolutely drunk even though it takes place 9-5 in our work day, and I can't get out of going as it's mandated/during work hours (I'm already dreading it). Christmas gifts are open bottles of wine/champagne. I hate being around drunk people, they freak me out a bit as I had one bad experience when younger (I was at a friend's house for a sleepover and the parent in charge got really drunk and stumbled into the room we were in in the middle of the night, threw up and then passed out).

Does anyone else relate to not drinking alcohol, but not for any particular reason other than you're just kind of indifferent to it?

Plenty of folks do and I suspect you know this. This forum is full of them. I think maybe try to get to grips why you still struggle so Lucy to just ascertain yourself, generally most folks and their drinking isn’t the prime focus for everyone else like you. So are you sure it’s the case?

I am.52 and have never been drink. I would rather eat the calories than drink them. A previous partner used to.like thebodd glass of wine or port and didnt like to.have any alone. Initially I would have a thimble full but soon stopped. When.i vehemently say I don't drink I have to qualify this by clarifying that I am.notvan ex alcoholic 🙄if you don't want yo drink din. I never dud at uni either. Couldn't be bothered.

I don’t drink either but it doesn’t stop people ‘go on have on don’t be boring’ .. if they offer me a cigarette and say I don’t smoke they don’t keep offering me one

Im the opposite - I’m in recovery. It’s nobodies business but if you can style it out, look them straight in the eye, smile and tell people you developed a terrible problem during lockdown so now you don’t drink - they’ll be too embarrassed to ask again.

Dont make excuses gor choosing not to drunk. It your choice.. in my youth people would say dont be boring but this soon changed to me not needing a drink.to. enjoy.myself.

I'm always having to explain to people that o don't "not drink", but I often don't drink, which isn't quite the same thing.
I do like a g&t from time to time, but I can take it or leave it Wally, and most of the time I leave it

I hardly ever drink for no real reason, I just don't like alcohol enough to be bothered with it, I don't much like soft drinks either. Some times I think we could have a drink this evening, as I have some in the cupboard, but when it comes to it I would rather have a cup of coffee.

You do you OP.
If someone pesters you, look them straight in the eye and roll your eyes heavenward. See what they say after that.
I didn’t drink til I was 22. I drink far too much now. Wish it were the other way around.
Ignore for he knobs trying to get you to be like them

I’m exactly the same. I don’t drink because I don’t particularly enjoy it.

I would rather have a soft drink/sparkling water. Like you, if there was a champagne toast or a toast at a wedding I might have a tiny glass to be polite but it would never be my first choice.

I’ve never understood why it seems to bother people so much. I have never once commented on someone else having a drink so why people feel the need to badger me about my choices, sometimes even calling me ‘boring’, ‘rude’ or ‘anti-social’, for not drinking is beyond me. Some people seem to take it as a personal insult and I just don’t understand.

I relate to you so much. I’m just completely indifferent to drinking alcohol. I’ll never be the type of person who enjoys a glass of wine with dinner for example.

I have just come back from a holiday where the hotel felt really boozy. All of the mocktails on the hotel menu had very child like names such as Micky mouse or Cinderella, it felt embarrassing asking for one.

I hate having to justify why I don’t want a drink, especially because I feel like I don’t have a reason not to (ie no precious alcohol issues, pregnant etc).

I haven't had a drink for 20 years. I've had a few people assumed I had issues. I didn't. I just started having hangovers which made me wish for swift death. So I stopped.

I just say 'it doesn't agree with me' and leave it at that. If they press, I just shrug and say 'I'm just not that fussed about drinking, why does that bother you?'

When I've had health checks, I have health care professional double check when I say I consumed 0 units a week.

I very, very rarely drink if I'm out (and if I'm at home 1 bottle of wine will last 3 days). My stock answer to all the Mrs Doyle types (ah go on just 1, go on, go on go on), is "no thanks I'm driving later". Works every time.

I like a drink or two. I'll occasionally have a big night out. Generally, though, I just don't bother because I can't be arsed.

Can you book Christmas party day off?

I honestly don’t think people really give a stuff whether you drink or not, are you really worried what people think about it?

IME people at work are all “come on, you know you want a glass” but if you keep saying you don’t drink/don’t like alcohol they very quickly move onto the next thing.

if you don’t fancy being around a load of drunkards at the Christmas do, just nip to the loo and discretely go home.

Nobody cares if you drink or not OP. I mean that in a nice way!

I wish I had that problem! In my sober stints I just say I am trying to lose weight etc I would never say to someone they're boring etc for not drinking. One friend said oh but you got to enjoy life I said you can enjoy it without alcohol! I wish I didn't like the taste of wine.

I have never once commented on someone else having a drink so why people feel the need to badger me about my choices, sometimes even calling me ‘boring’, ‘rude’ or ‘anti-social’, for not drinking is beyond me. Some people seem to take it as a personal insult and I just don’t understand

this.

I’m with you o/p, I just don’t see the need. I have a better time without alcohol, and am perfectly happy with my Diet Coke.

it’s only when you don’t drink you see how entrenched alcohol is in our society. Drinks at home to relax, drinks when out to loosen up, drinks at work to be sociable, alcohol as gifts.. I got so many bottles of wine and champagne after my child was born. Some people seem to think I’d suffered a great hardship not drinking for 9 months, and I’d be keen to get back on it asap.

i actually quite like one drink on occasion, but that’s almost worse. If I “am driving”, or “not drinking” people will eventually accept it, but have one and it goes on all night about why only one, have another, it’s not as if you don’t drink…. It’s easier to just not.

Used to drink, probably too much. Sober now 15 years, don't miss it in the slightest, no craving for it. Just stopped out of the blue one day. I would rather die than go through a hangover. Life is just better for me with no booze.

Turn the question around and ask them why they drink.

I'm indifferent to alcohol, and happily tell people that. I have to be in the right mood to want a drink, generally I'd rather keep a clear head and drink soft drinks. It's kinder on my wallet too!

I don’t drink. I have non-alcoholic gin at home as I like the taste. I don’t like to feel tipsy so I just don’t drink. My mother was a drinker, a very big drinker, it put me right off. Half a glass of wine is enough to affect me, so I simply don’t.
If I feel pushed to drink, I either say ‘no thank you’ a bit more forcefully, or I go home.
Its interesting that had I been an alcoholic, people wouldn’t dream of forcing drink on me, but because I am not, it’s ok to try and do so. People are odd.

"I don't drink" is what people I know who don't drink say.

I drank all the regular amounts as a student, and then social drinking in 30s.

I have basically given up now for unconnected health reasons (eczema).

I choose blackcurrant and soda in pubs.

Don't like the taste, don't like the effect on me, & in the past, I didn't like it's effect on people close to me. I can't BEAR being near drunks now.
So I really don't care what people think, I'm not going to drink to please anyone.

I'm not really sure why you're embarrassed by the question. I simply say it's because I don't like it 🤷‍♀️

However, I did notice in my late teens and twenties I came under far more pressure to drink alcohol than I ever did to take drugs. If my choosing to not drink makes you feel uncomfortable then I'm afraid it's a you problem, not me.

In my experience people care very much and when drinking alcohol (excessively) don't like being around a non-drinker.