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Original poster

Tell me about the people in your life that dont drink alcohol

131 replies

Netcurtainnelly · 15/12/2025 16:15

Fed up of hearing about all.the drinking posts on here.

Let's hear if for the people who dont drink or dont drink much and dont want to be pissed up all the time or live with drunks and all the hell that brings.

Myself and Mr NC Nelly.

Drink alcohol rarely.
Like Tea, coffee, latte, cappuccino, soft drinks and orange juice.

Orange juice/lemonade
Lime and Lemon.😁

Never needed alcohol to enjoy ourselves.

OP posts:
MargoLivebetter · 15/12/2025 16:31

I used to back in the day but other than a very occasional glass of bubbly to toast something, I don't anymore.

I'm mid 50s and just can't handle the after effects of even one glass these days. I used to love a big night out with lots of drinks, but the thought fills me with horror these days.

I steadily cut back after I had children through my 30s and 40s and it really is next to nothing these days.

GainsvilleRockCity · 15/12/2025 16:32

Me and Mr RockCity aren't big drinkers. We keep alcohol in the house and might have one once in a blue moon. Prefer hot drinks and a nice cold can of coke but if I do fancy something grown up, its a Guiness Zero over anything. What I thought was my last hangover is now 11 and I've not really drank since being pregnant with them.

A lot of my family go for no/lo alcohol options. My mum and sisters prefer no-secco and my dad prefers alcohol free beers.

Beerlzebub · 15/12/2025 16:33

I drink plenty. But I always find it odd how some drinkers seem to take it personally if someone around them isn't drinking 😆

smallsilvercloud · 15/12/2025 16:33

Myself I have NAFLD so don’t want to make it worse by drinking, also as I’ve got older, just don’t fancy it. Must admit I’ve avoided Christmas work do’s as I’m worried colleagues will think I’m being awkward.

Fibrous · 15/12/2025 16:38

I gave up when I turned 40 (six years ago) and my skin has been so grateful for it ever since. I used to have super dry and irritated skin and now it's never rashy and I only have to moisturise once a day.

My older sister is ten years sober this year. She said she lost most of her friends when she gave up drinking. My friends didn't give a shit! A lot of them have stopped drinking themselves these days as they don't want to waste their weekends with a hangover.

ChannelLightVessel · 15/12/2025 16:39

DM (82) has been teetotal her whole life, a legacy of her non-Conformist childhood. I always think of her and her family when people claim they can’t possibly imagine a party, wedding etc without alcohol. I miss the New Year’s Day family parties of my childhood (after the midnight church service).
Personally, I have always drunk very little, which is a good thing since I discovered about 12 months ago I have a BRCA2 gene mutation increasing my risk of breast cancer.

Damnloginpopup · 15/12/2025 16:43

I had a dry Christmas last year as I got so hammered the week before I really didn't want a drink. Christmas was fine but not quite the same. Worst thing was I couldn't settle on what to drink. Nothing hit the right spot - don't like tea, don't drink too many coffees, soft drinks too sweet, can't drink much water...

This year I'm going to go easier on our night out, fuck another dry Christmas.

Hesma · 15/12/2025 16:43

I drink very occasionally but live a good cuppa and my downfall is Diet Coke

EwwSprouts · 15/12/2025 16:44

I rarely drink. I had a glass of Prosecco at a Christmas do last week and I think the last drink before that was a Pimms in the summer. I don't like the taste of most of it. I always drove when younger and was totally on board with don't drink and drive. My preferences when out are apple juice, cloudy lemonade and elderflower cordials. At home it's black tea. DH will have one or two beers at home at the weekend. Adult DC doesn't drink at home but will have a heavy night out maybe once a month. He drinks cider and cocktails!

SusanChurchouse · 15/12/2025 16:44

ChannelLightVessel · 15/12/2025 16:39

DM (82) has been teetotal her whole life, a legacy of her non-Conformist childhood. I always think of her and her family when people claim they can’t possibly imagine a party, wedding etc without alcohol. I miss the New Year’s Day family parties of my childhood (after the midnight church service).
Personally, I have always drunk very little, which is a good thing since I discovered about 12 months ago I have a BRCA2 gene mutation increasing my risk of breast cancer.

Yup. I reckon my drinking during my 20s and 30s contributed significantly to my getting cancer in my 40s.

When you quit booze you become hyper aware of how normalised alcohol is in our culture. It’s the only drug you have to justify not taking. Maybe with the exception of caffeine.

ETA that even in my boozy childhood household Christmas wasn’t really a heavy drinking event. That was Hogmanay.

3678194b · 15/12/2025 16:47

Very rarely do I drink a glass of champagne or prosecco. I would say I'm over 99% teetotal. One of my siblings and my best friend are also teetotal.

I was at a Christmas get together the other night and only me was drinking Diet Coke. Everyone else, including those driving, at least had a drink. I would never, ever even have one if driving, I don't agree with it. That in comparison to meeting up with siblings and their partners and it's soft drinks all round.

I'm usually driving anyway. I don't understand the allure of drinking at home, or feel I need to if out having a meal either. If I was told you'd never be able to have that odd glass of champagne ever again, it would certainly be no loss.

I do know people who have had stomach issues and ulcers etc caused by alcohol.

mumandmumber · 15/12/2025 16:47

I do drink but age is definitely slowing me down in that respect.
I have lots of people in my life who dont drink though. Some just never been drinkers and lots who have given up in the last few years. It’s becoming much more prevalent and the norm to have at least a few non drinkers at most dinner parties. I always get soft drinks in to accommodate non drinkers whether they are usual non drinkers or incase anyone is having a night or period off.

Teenagerantruns · 15/12/2025 16:51

My DW, brain injury cant drink, my son in law, recovering alcoholic, my best friend hates the taste of alochol. Plenty of other people that only have a glass once or twice a year, l love a drink...

JLou08 · 15/12/2025 16:52

I rarely drink. I don't enjoy the taste, I'd rather a cup of tea or hot chocolate. I don't like the feeling, again, I'd prefer a cup of tea or hot chocolate to relax with. I hate the hangover the next day. I don't like not being in control and risking doing something stupid. Taxis are expensive, I'd rather stay sober and drive than drink and get a taxi.
I do have social anxiety and got drunk to manage it when I was younger. The more nervous I was the more I would drink and the worse I'd feel the next day. If I didn't have social anxiety I don't think I would have ever taken to drinking.

BauhausOfEliott · 15/12/2025 16:52

Tell me about the people in your life that dont drink alcohol

Tell you what about them, exactly? What is there to say other than 'yes, my friend/relative doesn't drink'?

I know a few people who don't (or only very rarely) drink alcohol but there's nothing about this that makes them more interesting than anybody else.

gogomomo2 · 15/12/2025 16:53

My mum doesn’t drink, doesn’t like the taste, personal choice

CandyCaneKisses · 15/12/2025 16:53

I don’t drink alcohol and neither does anybody in my family, siblings or parents etc. We were never brought up around it so none of us have ever been bothered by it.

OopOop · 15/12/2025 16:53

BauhausOfEliott · 15/12/2025 16:52

Tell me about the people in your life that dont drink alcohol

Tell you what about them, exactly? What is there to say other than 'yes, my friend/relative doesn't drink'?

I know a few people who don't (or only very rarely) drink alcohol but there's nothing about this that makes them more interesting than anybody else.

I know, my mum doesn’t drink but I can’t think what the OP would like to know about her! Mid 60, works part time, likes watercolour painting and walking her dog…

MarbleDrive · 15/12/2025 16:54

I’m trying to think of someone I know that doesn’t drink and I realise I don’t know anyone. Our grown up kids drink very little, like so many 20 somethings.

DaisyChain505 · 15/12/2025 16:54

Me!

I used to drink casually just like most people however I was sick of the cycle of going on nights out with friends, losing control of how much I drank, having parts of the night missing from my memory and waking up with anxiety and an empty bank account!

I can’t think of any negatives that have come from stopping drinking alcohol, only positives.

Alcohol is literally a poison to our bodies and is the only drug that is glorified and normalised in every day life. If a drug was invented tomorrow that gave us the same effects alcohol did, acting the way we do drunk, memory loss etc it would be banned, not sold in every shop.

hazelowens · 15/12/2025 16:55

My other half doesn't drink he gave up alcohol in 1987 as he was in the navy and had ripped the a* off it getting hammered every night. I rarely drink now as I don't enjoy it.

3678194b · 15/12/2025 16:56

One of my siblings hasn't touched a drop of alcohol for just over a year now. While I can't go that far, as I said I'm about 99% teetotal, I'm so proud of her for sticking at it and she has lots to celebrate in doing this.

BejewelledCat · 15/12/2025 16:57

I'm teetotal, as are both of my daughters, 1 son-in-law, my best mate and several other friends. We don't need alcohol to enjoy ourselves.

Bookaholic73 · 15/12/2025 16:58

7 months sober here 🎉🎉 I don’t mind people drinking around me, but I’m so proud to be sober after trying for so many years.

LaneCaneCandy · 15/12/2025 16:58

Dh gave up alcohol about 7 years ago due to medication at the time but now just drinks Guinness 0.0%. I drink Peroni 0% and occasionally Freixenet which is an alcohol free prosecco. Alcohol free Kopparberg strawberry and lime cider, I drink it in a wine glass as I have beautiful wine glasses.

Regular drinks wise we have a bean to cup coffee machine, we drink different teas, water because we like it. I have a soda stream so drink carbonated water and Dh drinks sugar free cordial and we drink Pepsi Max with a slice of lemon from the freezer, prepared ahead and in a tub ready for my glass. Pressed apple juice, apple with ginger, any Scholer drink.

My eldest son drinks occasionally, my youngest son who is 20 and at uni doesn't drink and has never even tried it. I know lots of people who get to 50 and feel so rough after just one glass of wine, it is like their body doesn't agree with it anymore.