advice for teenager off to college and who is embarrased because he doesn't drink

[gingeroots]

I know this might sound strange but I'd appreciate any words of wisdom .

DS has never had a thriving social life ( not because he doesn't want one ) and tends to be a bit awkward socially .
He doesn't drink but doesn't seem to have the confidence to accept this or be happy about it .
He seems to think it's a social handicap and an impediment to socialising .

I'm not sure how he's going to handle this at college - he clearly doesn't feel it's ok to just tell people he doesn't like the taste .
He seems anxious to find an alcoholic drink that he finds palatable and I'm worried that with that motive and "help" from others he might end up paralytic on some dreadful vodka and fruit based cocktail ( or similar )that someone's suggested .
Can't think that being away from home , no "drinking" experience and trying to prove himself is not going to be ideal .

If you think I'm bonkers - please tell me nicely ....

100 rooms is quite small - but hopefully even in that number he'll find a group who aren't focussed on alcohol!

There can't be many of us encouraging them to have an alcoholic drink gingeroots!

18yr old dd off to uni soon and only drinks a little, not really liking alcohol- at her 18th 12 of them managed 1 bottle cava type drink, 1 bottle White wine and a single little stubby beer between them- out of a big pack. All the pink lemonade and cola went though!! I reckon that was a small glass of wine each lol

However the loud chatter, giggling and general fun had was completely marvellous!

You dont need alcohol or drugs to have a great time. If you don't drink then drink soft drinks.

Personally if I'm driving I drink a pint of lime and soda ( totally the cheapest pub drink out too) or angustura bitters and tonic - not sweet but tasty.

I didn't drink at all throughout my undergrad, and as good as nothing as a postgrad. Like someone above said, the trick is not to refuse to go out, rather than not to drink. 'No thanks, I don't drink' was always a perfectly acceptable answer to an offer of a drink from my social group, as was 'diet coke please' to a question of what I'd like if it was someone else's round. Occasionally you'd get someone going 'aw come on, why not', but that ended when one of my best mates - who drinks like a fish himself - pointed out that 'Why should Naoko drink, unlike you lot she's perfectly capable of having a good time without it'.... shut up the 'aw, just one, don't be boring!' crowd for good that one!

He'll be fine. If he's worried about being left out or not fitting in if he doesn't drink, that's not something I've ever experienced. 100 rooms is a very small campus, but in any group of 100 people, there will be other likeminded individuals.

I didn't drink at all through uni- just didn't like the feeling of being tipsy, or the taste of any form of booze. Although most people rightly recognised that it wasn't any of their business and it didn't affect them in any way, I got the odd eejit annoyingly trying to suggest I have a Malibu and pineapple and sort of work my way up to a more respectable tipple. Oh, and some bint from the hockey team actually turned on her heel and walked away from me when I explained why I wasn't joining in the post-match drinking games, as if to make it clear that she had nothing further to say to a teetotaller. But sod em, they weren't my friends.

You save a fortune not drinking. I really wish I still didn't like the feeling of being tipsy, or the taste of any form of booze.