We can't define it. For some it may mean "I will take a sip of champagne at a wedding toast" and for others it means "I drink but don't get drunk" and for others it means "I'm an alcoholic on the wagon but still awkward talking about drinking and this is how that came out of my mouth".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's something I would say if my 14 yo was with me too!

Really? Lying is more acceptable to you than responsibly and moderately imbibing?

Right? I grew up with a lot of wealthy classy families who drank on occasion. They didn’t hide their drinking from their teen children.

Anonymous wrote:I don't "really" drink means you are standing next to your 14 year old son who is listening to the answer.

You think a high school kid has never seen his dad drink, if he drinks?

I say that and what I mean is “I drink (very) rarely”. Like, some champagne at a wedding or a cocktail once in a blue moon. I was never a big drinker, and now that I’m in my late 40s my body basically can’t handle any alcohol, I feel like sh!t afterwards and it’s just not worth it.

I think it just means you rarely drink. I say "I don't really drink caffeine" because most days I have decaf, but every now and then if I'm super tired I'll get a regular coffee. I would probably say something similar if I only had occasional alcohol.

To me, "I don't really drink" means someone drinks on rare occasions--say a toast at midnight on New Year's Eve or at a wedding or a brandy with honey when they have a really bad cold.

So, they don't say "I don't drink" because someone will pop up to say "I saw him drink !!!" so he's a liar.

I saw that - I rarely drink - maybe a couple times a year I have a glass of wine or something. I don’t want to make a declarative statement, because it’s not that deep or unchangable. But people always make such a big deal about it, you can’t just take the Gatorade and not get funny looks, so you are often asked to say something.

I say I don't really drink and what that means to me is that I have a drink less than 5 times a year and thus wouldn't celebrate that way. I wouldn't say I don't drink because I'm not a teetotal-er.

FWIW, for a lot of people who don't drink, analysis is really intrusive. There are a lot of reasons people don't drink that are too private to talk about.

Every one in my immediate family would say that. Meaning they might have a margarita in Mexico or champagne during wedding toasts. But never multiples and never to get drunk.

Anonymous wrote:That's something I would say if my 14 yo was with me too!

Really? Lying is more acceptable to you than responsibly and moderately imbibing?

I don't "really" drink means you are standing next to your 14 year old son who is listening to the answer.

That's something I would say if my 14 yo was with me too!

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.

a lot of people in my neighborhood don't really drink and are above 60. It's usually about health, meds, or just staying fit after 60. They will occasionally have wine. But very rarely.

Over the weekend the wealthy heir to a pro sports franchise was interviewed after his family's baseball team made the playoffs. As the players were showering themselves with beer and champagne in the locker room, a reporter at 3:30 asks the 59 year old heir what he planned to drink to celebrate. While standing next to his 14 year old son, he says, "I don't really drink . . . so maybe a bottled water or Gatorade Zero (calorie)."

A Mormon or someone who does not drink ever would have said so, right? Made me wonder what I don't "really" drink means. Maybe a glass of wine once in a while? He looks pretty darn good for being nearly 60!