Seriously, is drinking a must in society when you reach a certain age? A few of my closest friends respect the fact that I don't drink at all. However, some people seem surprised at the fact that I've never had a drink. The only thing closest to me having a drink was taking sips when I was a little kid, but I was curious, I never had a drink after that. Anyway, I'm turning 21 in a couple of days. I have received questions of me going to the bar and such. I said no, because I don't drink. Some feedback I've received in the past kind of struck me like "You might say that now, but you'll want to." and I say "I doubt that.". Also, some friends of mine say that I could buy drinks for them, but I say "Yes, I'll only buy them for YOU, but I won't drink." and they say "What? You're boring.". Can't people just respect non-drinkers? I simply don't drink because I choose not to. I may have drink in the future, but I don't see it happening, because I don't intend to.
2007-08-15 13:56:13 · 11 answers · asked by Emanuel E 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I agree with what most of you are saying. It isn't just me that this happened to. My brother-in-law received some grief from some of my relatives in the past because he doesn't drink. This was when him and my sister were still dating. He did have a shot or two on the wedding day. With me, it wasn't just friends of mine who did this. Some other people I know were the ones who asked me about the bar for my 21st birthday. It seems like it's supposed to be like that for most people who turn 21. Not me though. However, a lot of my relatives respect the idea that I don't drink. I am not locking doors on this and throwing the key away, but I am keeping them shut enough that I stick by instincts. If I am at a party, I know I would even decline at taking part in drinking games like "Beer Pong" and such.
2007-08-15 17:34:59 · update #1
It's good to see that there are non-drinkers out there who have the same views as I do.
2007-08-17 21:05:26 · update #2
Being a non-drinker is perfectly fine, so long as you're not a sanctimonious, holier-than-thou tool about it.
My husband is a child of an alcoholic. He'll have a beer a couple of times a year, but otherwise, doesn't want to even tempt fate. Since he doesn't make people bad about drinking, AND he is happy to be the designated driver, his rep as a teetotaler doesn't hurt him in the slightest.
Me, I get sick pretty easily from alcohol, and I turn bright red. Most of the time, a Diet Coke or a club soda with lime is my drink of choice. I've found that if you have a drink in your hand, most people won't even question what it is -- they just assume that you're drinking, and they'll never know it's non-alcoholic unless you tell them.
Your dipsh*t friends who hassle you about drinking WILL grow out of it. The novelty will wear off, and more and more of them will be able to have a good time without needing to be smashed.
2007-08-15 15:09:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's a social rule. It's an idea that you should be like other people or fit in. People want to be able to identify with other people and say they are the same or similar to them and drinking is one of the things most people enjoy. People have an idea that drinking alcohol makes them loosen up and also gives them an excuse to act sillier or do things they wouldn't otherwise do. So the boring thing comes from this...
I don't think there is anyway to get past this idea, but that doesn't mean you should allow people to force you to do something you don't like. If you get people forcing you to drink, just order something like a lemon lime and bitters, it looks alcoholic and gives you something in your hand.
2007-08-15 15:34:36 · answer #2 · answered by Bella 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, non-drinkers are not boring. As for the "You might say that now, but you'll want to," whoever told you that obviously has no respect for your choice not to drink. Not drinking is perfectly fine. People who don't drink are actually a lot healthier and live longer than people who do. Remind your drinking friends of this.
2007-08-17 20:27:02 · answer #3 · answered by Bookworm 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It worries me that you even have to write about this. I hope it doesnt mean that you feel threatened by them in some way. You are to be commended for taking care of your body. Who cares what they say. Sure alcohol makes people talk and joke more , becoming more uninhibited but it also is toxic to the body and impairs functioning of body and mind. It is symptomatic of many humans that anyone different is bad. In other words if you were a Muslim and they were all Catholics they would do the same thing to you. So perhaps its not about the alcohol, but simply about your friends inablity to be tolerant. You might want to search out some new friends!
2007-08-15 17:23:47 · answer #4 · answered by barthebear 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually once they turn 21 themselves a lot of the thrills of drinking will disappear.
A lot of this is just the age you're at now. As you get older the people around you will realize that there is fun to be had without being blitzed first.
2007-08-15 16:14:47 · answer #5 · answered by LX V 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't drink that much, only on special ocasions, and I egt the same comments. I think some people who can't control their drinking can't fathom the idea of someone having fun without it because they themselves depend on alcohol fr a good night. And of course they justify it by saying those things. Just keep up the good work in rejectnig alcohol. They will understand sooner or later.
2007-08-15 14:10:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
next time someone tells you your boring for not drinking...buy a 6 six pack and break all the bottles in front of them. I'm a non-drinker as well. i just turned 21 about a month ago, and i got all this 'friends' asking me to buy them beer. I don't because one, its illegal and two because I dont drink.
2007-08-15 14:46:52 · answer #7 · answered by adioposer63 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to drink a lot, then I grew up and had a family and don't drink at all. I am not a boring person. Alcohol just gives people a reason to act ridiculous and not take responsibility for it. I like to have fun when it is ME having fun, not a drunken buffoon.
2007-08-15 14:07:51 · answer #8 · answered by coutterhill 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
buddy, confident, it incredibly is permissible. Jesus Himself drank wine. He replaced into found as a remember of actuality to love wine, yet He replaced into wrongly accused of being a winebibber (overindulgent -- Luke 7:34). the 1st actual miracle He accomplished replaced into on the marriage in Cana of Galilee, the place He grew to become a huge quantity of water into wine, and it replaced into found to be very stable (John 2:a million-11). The Apostle Paul pronounced Timothy to apply slightly wine for his abdomen (I Tim. 5:23). although, one must be recommended that as with the different stable element, using alcohol could properly be grew to become into something incorrect or undesirable. Drunkenness is forbidden interior the Bible. it is not actual that Jesus did no longer drink wine. it is likewise no longer actual that He used grape juice rather. The Bible provides different training at using alcohol, yet you may seem those up your self. stable success.
2016-10-15 11:50:04 · answer #9 · answered by mayben 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i respect non drinkers.
there is nothing wrong with it.
i'm glad you have friends that don't pressure you to fit in to the bar scene by consuming alcohol. you can have fun w/o drinking.
whaa to ppl that say you have to drink to have fun
2007-08-15 14:05:13 · answer #10 · answered by nataliexoxo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋