How to start trying alcohol safely? What drink should I start with?

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I grew up in a household where for many reasons, nobody drank alcohol. I have also never drunk alcohol. I would like to try it, but I have no idea where to start. I'm a bit afraid to try something and end up really drunk. I live alone so don't have anyone to try it with whenever I do. What would you recommend? What percentage is a low alcohol content? I went to the alcohol aisle today (which is a big achievement for me as I always avoid it) and saw "low alcohol" and "alcohol free" options which were 0.5%. I might start with those but would like to build up to something with slightly more alcohol content as I read that 0.5% is similar to the alcohol content naturally in orange juice!

Usually I like apple juice, orange juice, berry smoothies, passionfruit mocktails. I like fruity drinks. Any ideas?

If you are over 25 and made it so far without trying alcohol, why would you start now?

I’m surprised alcohol is not regarded as an antisocial activity on a par with smoking, based on what we know in terms of it causing cancer and a host of other very serious health problems. Not to mention how it alters behaviour in a negative way for a lot of people.
I mean try something light and clean, a good quality organic white wine. But I don’t know why you’d bother.

Kopparberg or a similar fruit cider (old mout etc) - they’re usually only 4.5% and you don’t have to drink the whole bottle.

White wine spritzer? Small glass of wine, topped up with ice and fizzy water, or lemonade if you like it sweeter. Or lager shandy, half lager, half lemonade?

Try equal parts of Buckfast tonic wine, White Lightning cider, and Night Nurse.

Let us know how you get on.....

Just posting as curious to find out the reason for you wanting to start! Very unMumsnet!

Wines and beer is usually an acquired taste so I would definitely pick a fruity cider as your gateway drug. Although personally I also like the alcohol free versions

Why do you want to start drinking? You're not missing anything!

Don't start with wine, it's very strong for a first drink. Start with half a pint of beer or a spirit with large mixer.

But I still stay don't start at all!

What a weird question OP. How old are you?

I'm 57 and I've never tried oysters, or snails, or frog's legs, or gammon, or tripe, or durian fruit, or liver, or ginger tea, or cocaine, or weed, or Red Bull, or golf, or martial arts, or any number of things.

If I wanted to, I'd just have one. Why do you feel the need to try it now?

Assuming you're not 14, have half a lager shandy or a white wine spritzer or a pre-mixed cocktail in a can if you really want to, but honestly, I don't know why you'd bother if you've got through life so far without it.

Don’t do it.

Why? What's the point if you're drinking alone?

Honestly, I wouldn’t even bother, and I say that as someone who loves a glass of wine or gin and tonic in the evening but recognises that it will only make my life shorter.

Alcohol is a horribly bad habit with no health upsides whatsoever. If someone was on here asking for cigarettes for beginners everyone would be appalled!

I’m a recovering alcoholic, 4 years sober, and if I could give one piece of advice to my younger self it would be to never even try that first taste of alcohol, all those years ago. It would have saved so much heartache. OP, sober life is fab, there are some people for whom alcohol brings nothing good to their lives and you don’t know if you are one of them until you find out the hard way.

I am 2 years sober after having a real problem with booze, so my view is I guess it depends why you want to start? Are you just curious? In which case I guess I kind of understand it ….

Maybe try something once a month or similar? Start off with a spritzer of something. Then next month try a beer, figure out what flavours you like.

But think about what motivates you to do this at this stage.

edited for typos

I would suggest something like a Radler, it a sort of shandy adjacent very low strength fruity beer. They are only 2 or 3%. Or Baileys.

OP, please ignore the previous posters who have suggested mixing your own spirits (eg vodka, gin) with a mixer - it could be really dangerous for you! Spirits are around 40%, which is 10 times stronger than most beers and ciders. So you have to be really careful with them and only have them in very small amounts - especially if you're not used to alcohol.
If you really want to try drinking, it would probably be better to have a small glass (no more than half a pint) of beer/lager or cider. Be careful to check the percentage on those, as some ciders are actually more like 7%, and it does make a difference!
As you can see, there is maths involved :-) Most of us made mistakes in our early days of drinking and ended up getting ill. One issue is that alcohol relaxes the part of your brain that assesses risk, plus it makes you feel nicely uninhibited, so your brain often tells you to drink more. Make sure you're with trusted friends!

🤣🤣🤣. I was telling my husband earlier that I seen frosty Jack's in cans 🤢🤮.

Agree with this. My mother couldn’t drink when I was a child due to medication but she is now an alcoholic and has been caught drink driving twice. I could forgive the first time but not twice. She’s totally deluded too and insists the police said it was a shame she got caught. I highly doubt that when they have to scrape the remains off the roads after accidents caused by drunk drivers.
I know I’m getting off topic but still don’t do it OP

Snakebite? Half cider half beer...you will be kitchen dancing to auld skool in no time 💃💃💃

I drink once in a blue moon and have never had any problems with it. If you told me I could never drink again, I'd be fine with that. However, I'd echo the comments of others who have said that if you've made it into adulthood without booze, you're better off carrying on that way.

It's not great, to be honest.

I'd suggest a light white wine. Pinot Grigio for example. Chill it in the fridge. Have one glass, sip it slowly with a meal or nibbles such as cheese and biscuits. Never knock it back quickly and never drink on an empty stomach.

Wine drinking is about enjoying the different flavours and how different wines go with different foods.

Start with a bottle of Pouilly-Fumé and then spend the afternoon sleeping it off.

Yet another one who’s curious as to why you want to drink alcohol, I think mostly because the effects are pretty much crappy that I don’t really understand the appeal myself and I say that as someone who, although largely alcohol free, does drink sometimes.

I was a bit alarmed at someone suggesting 1 part vodka to 2 parts orange juice though, that’s quite strong, especially so for someone who has never drunk alcohol before! But if you did want to just see how alcohol makes you feel and you like fruity drinks and already drink orange juice then one 25ml shot of vodka in a tall glass of orange juice (200mls or so?) with ice sipped slowly might be one to start with.
But I’d maybe go with a can of premade cocktail because it’s all portion controlled and if you don’t like it you just have a can of waste rather than a whole bottle of something.
However you’ve managed this far without it, I’d probably just not bother at all.
Alcohol effects me in that it gives me vicious hangovers these days so it’s easy to swerve and if I do drink it’s 2 at the absolute max, usually 1, and with plenty of water after. I don’t like the feeling of being drunk. I maybe drink once a month, 1 doesn’t leave me feeling poorly.

Dont start with spirits, jeez.....

Id go with flavoured ciders or like a Zindafel wine as they are quite sweet. I remember being a lambrini girl back in the day, now a staunch dry wine drinker.

Ciders you can just buy by the can and the wines, many come in a single glass servings until you decide on what you prefer and not waste money.

I was going to say the cocktail cans but they are spirit based so perhaps not.

I started with alco-pops like Hooch, Metz and Reef. At least they're controlled measures.

These days I mainly drink ciders (although more commonly 0% versions which taste close enough)

I've always been lightweight and since my 30s have been a sporadic drinker. Wine took a while to get used to, and a couple of glasses make me feel somewhat merry these days. I tend to save it for Christmas and special occasions.

Wwhy do you want to take up drinking? Is this a ‘real’ post.
Yes, drinking in moderation can be fun socially but we all know it’s very bad for you.

What a weird post, what's to be gained by drinking alcohol if you've been without it until now?