Anyone else tired of having to explain to people why you’re not drinking?

[kingdangermouse1]

I’m about to go out for my friends birthday with a group of friends which will be really fun. Starting in the pub to play pool/darts, then bowling, then food, then a night out.

I’ve recently decided to limit my alcohol intake, mainly because I’m tired of spending my money on it, and would rather spend it on other things, but also good for health too.

So today I’ve decided to drive, I’ll have fun at pub/bowling/food and then I’ll probably go home instead of the night out. I also live a bit further out, so I don’t want to go out and then spend loads of money on a taxi on my own.

I just know there’ll be comments though, my friends are all excited to get drunk tonight and to be fair they’re a little younger than me too so it’s all good. But I just know the questions and jokey comments like “oh go onnnn” etc will come. I know they don’t really care but guaranteed every single person will ask why I’m not drinking.

I’m still going to the majority of the day and will have just as much fun, but I’m having to mentally prepare myself and feel like I have to think of an excuse why I’m not drinking. Tempted to say I’m on antibiotics.

Anyone else tired of this too?

Not in the slightest

because my friends and family:

• are adults;

loads of them are cutting down too; and everyone knows the benefits of cutting down / out so odd not to think a good thing

How old are they OP?

If asked explain you're driving and you don't see the need to get a taxi home just because want you to drink alcohol....neither do you want to get banned or kill anyone through being intoxicated.

I very rarely drink, just don't like the taste of alcohol.
But I used to smoke and whenever non smoking people used to go on at me to drink I'd invite them to have a cigarette with me while I was having a drink with them.
Surprisingly most were happy to buy me a soft drink.

Maybe you have the wrong group of friends if their main focus is whether or not you are consuming alcohol.

My friends wouldn't be the slightest interested.

Mine would be happy and supportive for me

Yes, I'm a bloke who's always drank but decided when the scales said "oof get off fatty" to cut down on food and drink intake. So many people have asked why I'm not drinking I been telling them I'm up the duff

Driving is the perfect excuse - I use it all the time. Saving money is also a really good reason not to drink. But tbh it annoys me that anyone has to justify not drinking and shows their immaturity.

The people I hang out with don’t even mention it or ask. If it comes up I just say I don’t drink and that’s it, they don’t ask further. I don’t mind telling them that I don’t drink because of medicine I’m on (true). Also I just CBA with the effect it has on me and the money it takes. But basically - I don’t get fed up as my friends are nice and respectful and dgaf who drinks or not.

Eg I was out in central london last night and no one mentioned anything about who was or was not drinking or what they were drinking.

People don't tend to notice or care that I don't drink much. If anyone did ask me why I am not drinking alcohol, I'd probably just say the truth, which is that I feel better when I don't drink.

I never comment on anyone else's drinking and expect them to return the favour.

It really pisses me off that anyone ever feels they have to justify not wanting an alcoholic drink. If you turned down a cup of tea, you wouldn’t expect the offerer to keep on about it - “ Go on, one won’t hurt” etc, so why with booze?

Maybe you’re teetotal, maybe a recovering alcoholic, pregnant, on meds, or maybe you JUST DON’T BLOODY WANT IT!!! That is possible!!!! Sorry, really winds me up as I very rarely drink as I can take it or leave it and I hate when I get “aaah, go on”. Hugely annoyed me when I was heavily pregnant and I got lots of stupid comments like “The baby’s cooked now, it won’t do any harm.”