What does I don't "really" drink mean (to you)?

[Anonymous]

My brother says "I don't really drink" instead of "I don't drink". It holds off on any follow up questions about why he doesn't drink? Not that that would have happened in this interview, but he may just be used to answering like that.

This. I also say I don't really drink, when I don't drink at all - but do not want to answer anyone's intrusive questions about why. As for the PP who claims that people who drink also are subject to intrusive questioning, I have never witnessed that. It has always been people who drink interrogating the non-drinker.

[Anonymous]

You are overthinking it. It is a very normal way to convey that you don't drink. The really is just a verbal tick.

[Anonymous]

I don't really drink - I have 1-3 glasses of wine at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter family dinners. Once or twice a year I visit a great Mexican restaurant near me and I have 1-2 margaritas with my large meal.

That's it. I report the same to my primary care physician every year and she is well pleased.

[Anonymous]

I don't drink. I take communion, but that's it. It's not a moral conviction. I don't have any opinions on whether you should drink or not. I'm not alcoholic. I don't have a health issue. I never really liked the taste, and I just never started.

But if I say "I don't drink" people seem to assume I am pregnant, or alcoholic, or secretly judging them. So, I say things like "not today" or "I don't really drink often" or whatever.

[Anonymous]

"really" is an intensifier. It mean "much" or "a lot" or "intensively".

[Anonymous]

It means he doesn't want a drink. Period. Why the analysis?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are overthinking it. It is a very normal way to convey that you don't drink. The really is just a verbal tick.

"I don't drink" is absolute.

"I don't really drink" allows some Absolut.

[Anonymous]

I would say the same thing, OP.

To my ears, it means: "I can't handle alcohol but don't want to say that out loud in a nation of drinkers and in a culture where drinking makes the man".

I lack much of the enzyme necessary to metabolize alcohol, so I can sip a half-glass of wine and that's my limit, otherwise I get sleepy and don't feel well. My teens are the same. They have tasted alcohol at home, just to recognize the taste in case they are ever in a situation where they are given some without their knowledge.

So this seems like a perfectly normal thing to say, and nothing nefarious. Proximity to his teen while saying it is unimportant. His teen knows better than you what his alcohol tolerance is.

[Anonymous]

As you can see from most of the responses, by DCUM standards someone who 'doesn't really drink' is a raging alcoholic

[Anonymous]

I would say "I don't really drink" to mean that's not really what I am into, or I don't celebrate that way. I don't have anything against alcohol and I will drink a glass of wine or cider occassionally, but it woldn't be my first instinct to celebrate that way

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't drink. I take communion, but that's it. It's not a moral conviction. I don't have any opinions on whether you should drink or not. I'm not alcoholic. I don't have a health issue. I never really liked the taste, and I just never started.

But if I say "I don't drink" people seem to assume I am pregnant, or alcoholic, or secretly judging them. So, I say things like "not today" or "I don't really drink often" or whatever.

+ 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I said that recently at work to a couple of colleagues. If it matters, I'm 56 and they are 45 and about 37.

They were both really, really confused (maybe like OP? seems to be). First they thought they heard wrong, then they interrogated me to prove that I can't possibly be serious, then they just sat there silently with expressions that combined general discomfort with "Mind ... blown". Probably waiting for me to walk away so they could have the WTF??? convo.

FTR I'm like PPs - I'll have wine if I'm Italy or champagne on NYE or at a wedding. Or one bourbon rocks when on travel to Nashville. Definitely fewer than 10 drinks per year.

fwiw, I'm not in recovery and I used to LOVE getting plastered in my teens / 20s, no apologies and no regret

It’s not perplexing if you don’t drink or don’t drink much. It’s just interesting to phrase it in such a way is all. I don’t “really” drink could mean so many things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As you can see from most of the responses, by DCUM standards someone who 'doesn't really drink' is a raging alcoholic

lol. The rich guy is pretty thin, handsome, and clear eyed at nearly 60-yo if he’s a secret hard boozer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are overthinking it. It is a very normal way to convey that you don't drink. The really is just a verbal tick.

"I don't drink" is absolute.

"I don't really drink" allows some Absolut.

[Anonymous]

I don't really drink. If I'm in a social setting I receive a drink and then SLOWLY sip it as indiscreetly as possible. I NEVER drink solo or if at home with just DH or family. At restaurants with friends I get a mock tail (thank heavens this is a thing.) So basically I don't want to drink, but don't want to "never drink". Drinking isn't an addiction problem for me, I think that's key, it just doesn't suit me physically and is bad for my health.