Non-alcoholic drink at business dinner

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just don't order something juvenile (shirley temple, mock pina colada) if you want to come across as somewhat sophisticated. If you don't care about that, nobody else will. The one thing you don't want to do is comment or discuss your choice of drink. Just drink what you want. I have a colleague who is obviously a recovering alcoholic, although he has never admitted to it. It's annoying only because he feels the need to "explain" every.single.time you're out with him on and on how he just doesn't like the taste of alcohol, never developed a taste for it, blah blah blah. (Noboyd believes this, he's a former military officer and in his 50s in an industry that drinks a lot). He also always asks if there is any alcohol in food because "he just can't stand the taste". GMAFB.


TL;DR Nobody cares if you don't discuss it, just drink what you want.

I’ve never developed a taste for alcohol. I do like food cooked in alcohol because the heat mellows it. (My dad has similar tastes and will tell you he doesn’t like food with alcohol, but he doesn’t understand how heat can affect the taste. He quite enjoyed zoodles with jarred vodka sauce, but that’s because he couldn’t recognize the alcohol. It’s really not an alcohol question, it’s a food literacy question - he also doesn’t like food cooked with onions, but if he doesn’t know they’re there he raves about it).

Once every year or two I may drink about 1/2 glass of wine if somebody else (husband, in-laws, etc., has a bottle open). Even rarer, I may have an interest in drinking a cocktail, probably about once every five years or so, but DH usually ends up finishing them. I don’t think that classifies me as an alcoholic, recovering or otherwise, by any stretch of the imagination. Some people genuinely do not like the taste. While the military probably does have a strong drinking culture, I don’t think it’s a requirement. Similarly, unless his career is in the alcoholic beverage industry (vintner, brewer, distiller, professional wine-taster, bartender, etc.), they probably don’t have a fondness for alcohol as a job requirement, however prevalent drinking may he in his industry.

When I’m with others who are drinking, I don’t think I go on and on, but if the subject comes up, I’ll usually explain that I don’t like the taste. I’m not making a moral judgement about whatever the others may drink, I just have a different personal preference. It never occurred to me that by trying to clarify that others might jump to the wrong conclusion like pp.

Incidentally, I never developed a taste for sodas, and I’ve only started enjoying coffee the last few years (I’m 50 yo), when I discovered the delights of adding caramel or chocolate to it. (Actually, DH has commented that while most people add flavored creamer to their coffee, I tend to add coffer to my flavored creamer). I have no idea what PP would assume from these preferences

What do I like to drink? In a social situation where others are drinking, I’ll probably order an iced-tea, but that’s not what I really enjoy. I have a huge sweet tooth, and given my choice, I’d opt for something like a chocolate milkshake with extra sprinkles, a caramel frappe, a strawberry banana yogurt smoothie, fresh-squeezed lemonade, a hot chocolate with whipped cream, hot mulled cider, a mango lassi, or chai tea. While I’m not addicted to alcohol, I’m definitely addicted to sugar.

[Anonymous]

I had to go to a wedding in Vegas while I was newly pregnant. No one knew yet. I would slip over to the bartender and ask them to make me a drink that looked like a cocktail. They took it on as creative challenge. A good bartender will have fresh ingredients and add ins that are delicious too. Many places have a excellent Mocktail list in place already. You could call ahead to know what to order.

[Anonymous]

Club soda and lime or lemon. Or order a cocktail and don't drink it.

[Anonymous]

Say you’re doing dry January.

[Anonymous]

When I was pregnant and didn't want anyone to know, I would tell the bartender I would like ice water made to look like a martini on the rocks - and wink while I asked. Never a problem and I would tip well.

You just have to remember to sip it slowly! Gin and water look the same.

Or you could do the same with a "vodka soda" - which would just be soda water if you want bubbles.

It's all about the glass and the garnish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:can someone explain to me the problem with just not drinking?

As someone who doesn’t drink, there often is a lot of pressure to drink in certain social settings or be labelled some kind of a killjoy.mr here was a thread on here not long ago that clearly showed this in Mommy Wine Culture circles.

Alcohol is the only drug you have to explain NOT using.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just don't order something juvenile (shirley temple, mock pina colada) if you want to come across as somewhat sophisticated. If you don't care about that, nobody else will. The one thing you don't want to do is comment or discuss your choice of drink. Just drink what you want. I have a colleague who is obviously a recovering alcoholic, although he has never admitted to it. It's annoying only because he feels the need to "explain" every.single.time you're out with him on and on how he just doesn't like the taste of alcohol, never developed a taste for it, blah blah blah. (Noboyd believes this, he's a former military officer and in his 50s in an industry that drinks a lot). He also always asks if there is any alcohol in food because "he just can't stand the taste". GMAFB.


TL;DR Nobody cares if you don't discuss it, just drink what you want.

But you DO care. You assume he’s recovering, when really, he may just not like the taste. It’s the judgment of the “recovering alcoholic” thing that has him over explaining.

[Anonymous]

Virgin Moscow mule (ginger beer and lime)
Tonic with lime (can’t tell there isn’t gin in there)
Club soda with bitters
Many places have AF beer now, and it tastes and looks just like regular beer.

[Anonymous]

My pregnancy drink was always club soda with a splash of cranberry and twist of lime.

[Anonymous]

Shot of tequila Chevy Chase style

https://youtu.be/yhPBHuGhVIM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:can someone explain to me the problem with just not drinking?

There is none. I’m 45 and have never drank alcohol. It’s only a problem to people who know they drink too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, please help me with a non-alcoholic drink order for an upcoming business dinner. Eveeryone else will be drinking. I know it sounds lame to not want to appear to be the only non drinker but for anxiety-sake, what do I order that might look like a real drink. Not iced tea or sprite or something obvious. Sorry to be lame. Thanks.

If you want to seem like a grownup, just don't order alcohol and stop using "lame."

[Anonymous]

Just drink a Diet Coke or regular if that’s what you like and be done with it. Nobody cares that much. This isn’t Mad Men.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don't order something juvenile (shirley temple, mock pina colada) if you want to come across as somewhat sophisticated. If you don't care about that, nobody else will. The one thing you don't want to do is comment or discuss your choice of drink. Just drink what you want. I have a colleague who is obviously a recovering alcoholic, although he has never admitted to it. It's annoying only because he feels the need to "explain" every.single.time you're out with him on and on how he just doesn't like the taste of alcohol, never developed a taste for it, blah blah blah. (Noboyd believes this, he's a former military officer and in his 50s in an industry that drinks a lot). He also always asks if there is any alcohol in food because "he just can't stand the taste". GMAFB.


TL;DR Nobody cares if you don't discuss it, just drink what you want.

But you DO care. You assume he’s recovering, when really, he may just not like the taste. It’s the judgment of the “recovering alcoholic” thing that has him over explaining.

You missed that poster’s point. Nobody really cares. Just drink what you want and shut up about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:can someone explain to me the problem with just not drinking?

There is none. I’m 45 and have never drank alcohol. It’s only a problem to people who know they drink too much.

Sometimes there are people who are weirdly insistent that other people drink; sometimes non-drinkers are tiresome because they feel the need to talk about the fact that they don't drink. Normal people don't make a big deal out of it either way.