So, who doesn't drink?

[Anonymous]

DH and I are not drinkers. I may have a drink or three about 3-5 times per year. However, ALL of my friends drink. So I am curious how many people out there DON'T drink. Also, in addition to this question, if you don't drink, did you grow up in a house where your parents abstained from it? Why do you think you don't drink? I personally don't care for the taste enough to do it regularly. I like some white wines, but that is about it. Also, I get tipsy super quick and I have to much responsibility to drink. I can't function well with alcohol in my system...though I know some people who can...I am not one of them.

Thanks in advance! I just like to know I am not the only dry person around here! It can feel so odd to be the only one not drinking...however, it can be quite entertaining when everyone else is drunk!

[Anonymous]

I don't drink, saw a lot of friends get messed up, some died, some became drunks, some are perfectly fine, I have in the past but just don't.

I like the reaction I get when people ask and I say oh it was a result of when I killed a family in a car wreck when I was drunk, their reaction is priceless then I just say because I don’t want to. I usually follow it up by saying “Let me ask you a question now, and ask them something as stupid as the question they asked me like when was the last time they had sex? They usually get the message that they shouldn’t pry into people’s reasons for doing things. Sometimes I don’t tell them that the car wreck was a joke just to watch them squirm more.

[Anonymous]

I am on my way to becoming a teetotaller. In the last year or so, I've been getting severe headaches every time I drink, even just one. I'm not happy about cutting out alcohol.

You might be interested to know that in areas where non-drinking religions are prominent (Bible Belt), abuse of prescription drugs is a MUCH bigger problem than elsewhere. There is a portion of the population that just needs to medicate, and if they can't drink, they'll find something else to ease whatever emotional pain.

[Anonymous]

I don't, really, anymore. Maybe a beer or a gin & tonic occasionally, but I don't really enjoy anything more than that. I get drunk much more quickly these days and having a hangover with an 18-month-old is miserable. And I am no longer very much amused by a room full of drunk people; they're just boring and obnoxious, mostly.

That said, I also grew up in a house with a really screwy relationship to alcohol. My mother's parents were both alcoholics and she never, ever drank when I was growing up. Never. We never had any alcohol on hand - no liquor cabinet, no wine, nothing. My father almost never drank, either, but I'm not quite sure why. There were a couple of years while/after my parents were divorcing where my brother, sister, and I were all over 21 and the whole family (extended family included) kind of went through a party phase, but that stopped and my mom will still only have a drink once in a while.

My sister is much like me, though her kids are older and more self-sufficient so she does have the occasional 3-or 4- drink night. My brother may well be an alcoholic; he was hospitalized earlier this year for severe health problems at least partially caused by his drinking. He quit completely for a while but is definitely drinking again.

And I have problems figuring out what's too much for someone to drink, given all of the above. Sometimes I think my husband drinks too much, but he's probably well within the range of normal/not a problem.

Obviously, alcohol is a tricky, complicated thing for me.

[Anonymous]

Don't drink--maybe one glass of wine once a month. I'm a total lightweight and will feel faint after two glasses.

Mother abstained, father drank too much, IMO.

[Anonymous]

It's really no one's business, just a personal decision. Though, it can be strange/awkward (as I've experienced many times) when those around me order their dinner wine or whatever drink it is, say at a business gathering, and I opt for a juice/iced tea/whatever non-alcoholic drink I might choose. My parents didn't abstain from alcohol, but it really was a rare thing to have a drink (e.g., a taste of it at some type of social/celebration situation). I may take a sip here or there on such occasions, and this is rare, but I never crave nor have any interest in alcohol.

[Anonymous]

I don't drink. I have, at most, one or two drinks a year. I drank some in college, got drunk a few times, but it never really appealed to me, so since then, I just haven't bothered.

Growing up, my dad had a beer a week, parents drank a tiny bit on vacation and stuff. They let us sip beer and wine in the house. It was never a big deal, they kept alcohol around but to my knowledge, never drank it. In fact, one year they went away (I was in college, but home for the summer). I had friends over, and they drank and finished a few of the bottles in the pantry. Parents came home and noticed and basically said 'oh good, it didn't go to waste.'

I also never did drugs. Not even smoked pot. Had plenty of opportunities, but it just never interested me, although I was FASCINATED by watching friends who got high/stoned/really messed up.

[Anonymous]

When I was younger I drank and then was sick and couldn't have any kind of alcoholic beverage for two years. I saw how people act when drunk and I have never touched alcoholic beverages since. Also, I have naver taken an illegal drug and don't ever plan on doing so.

[Anonymous]

So you teetotalers, how do you relax? I run alot, but sometimes a glass or two of wine provides relaxation that exercise, yoga or even sex just don't. Don't flame me - I don't drink at all during the week, and not to excess on the weekends, I'm just curious.

[Anonymous]

Didn't drink in high school, rarely had a drink in college, and still don't drink today. My DH doesn't drink either. Never had an interest and don't really like the taste.

My dad drank a little beer, mom never drank, but it wasn't a big deal either. Don't see the need for the extra calories and headaches (literally).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't drink, saw a lot of friends get messed up, some died, some became drunks, some are perfectly fine, I have in the past but just don't.

I like the reaction I get when people ask and I say oh it was a result of when I killed a family in a car wreck when I was drunk, their reaction is priceless then I just say because I don’t want to. I usually follow it up by saying “Let me ask you a question now, and ask them something as stupid as the question they asked me like when was the last time they had sex? They usually get the message that they shouldn’t pry into people’s reasons for doing things. Sometimes I don’t tell them that the car wreck was a joke just to watch them squirm more.

Wow, you must be a lot of fun to be around. Assuming that everyone who has a drink in a social setting is going to 1), drink to the point of intoxication, and 2) irresponsibly put themselves behind the wheel of a car.

I have met many people who don't drink and agree that it is rude to question someone's decision and that the mere statement of 'i don't drink' should be left alone. However, it has come up in conversation with close friends and I would be extremely offended if their response was like yours, because in that circumstance, we are usually getting to know each other better. Only a nasty interrogation deserves a nasty response. But not in the context of a normal, civil conversation.

[Anonymous]

I don't drink often and don't find it awkward to be around my drinking friends. I just don't drink and that is that, no one says anythign to me, its not like we are teenagers here.

Basically, I don't drink because it makes me tired. I don't want to be exhausted when we have guests over or if I'm out having a good time. I also get horrible hangovers, and that sucks, so its not worth it.

As far as my parents go, they were moderate drinkers. Wine sometimes with dinner, it was not really a focus one way or the other...not banned, but not encouraged either-a neutral subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you teetotalers, how do you relax? I run alot, but sometimes a glass or two of wine provides relaxation that exercise, yoga or even sex just don't. Don't flame me - I don't drink at all during the week, and not to excess on the weekends, I'm just curious.

1302 here - I do other things to relax. Exercise is one, but also spending a quiet evening w/DH, quilting, spa treatments, backrub from DH, reading to name a few.

[Anonymous]

I rarely have a drink, but not for any reason in particular. I like a glass of wine with a meal but rarely order one, opting for iced tea. I guess we don't go out often without the kids and I don't like to have alcohol in front of them. If we're out with friends, DH usually has a drink or two and I drive. And we're not ones to have alcohol on our own at home... I guess I lack opportunity .

[Anonymous]

I drink, but have not been drunk or had too much in years.

Can't remember the last time I've had more than 2 glasses of white wine (pretty much all I drink). And I mean an acual glass - 5 ounces, not what restaurants serve (closer to 8 ounces).

Typically I stop at one glass of wine. Sometimes in the summer I have a light beer or a frozen margarita if we are eating Mexican.

I knew pretty early on drinking would not be a problem for me. I drank a bit in high school and more in college, but was never on the level of many of my friends (my friends being the average run of the mill college drinkers, it's not like a hung out in a group of hard core partiers). My parents drank in moderation, but I was raised by a health nut mom and I inherited that gene from her. So drinking was a fun diversion but I never wanted it to interfere with my sleep, studying, running obsession, etc. and I hated how drinking led to late night eating so I always kept it in check.