I say this because I sip a champagne maybe 2 or 3 times a year for a special occasion. I basically don’t drink alcohol and prefer not to. But I can’t say “I don’t drink” because every once in a while I have a few sips.

It means "I'm not a big drinker"

Anonymous wrote:

This was hilarious!

Anonymous wrote: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.

This is how I say it. I don't say, "I'm sober" or "I don't drink" because I do not need any pushback or drink counters in my circle. I don't have a sobriety date, but I rarely drink at this point in my life. Still if I do have a drink I do not want to to be scandalous as though I've made a grave error in life.

I don't really drink.

What this means is that I do drink on occasion but not very often and I don't automatically drink when alcohol is served. So yes as others have said I will have a drink on vacation or at a wedding. I also occasionally drink at home -- once every few months I'll have a beer or glass of wine to relax.

The reason I don't drink is that it generally makes me feel bad and less functional the next day even if I only have a little to drink. It also generally makes me tired. But I'm not opposed to it on principle and I even enjoy it. That's why there are circumstances where I will drink.

I also wouldn't drink in the setting in the OP because I avoid alcohol when I'm in a work setting especially if I'm in a position of authority. But that has more to do with keeping things professional and recognizing that over-familiarity with subordinates can make my job harder.

It means that they don't really drink. Surely you have something better to do than overanalyze this.

For me, it means I'm not opposed to drinking, and I do very occasionally have a drink. But most of the time, I don't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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 is what I say and why. I haven't drank in 20+ years because I simply don't enjoy any aspect of it.

Hi Friend.. I do not enjoy the taste of alcohol. It is expensive and has lots of calories. I do not get all the people who must serve wine at kid bday parties etc...but carry on. You do you but please do not read in to my drink choices. I am not in recovery, I am not pregnant, I do not have a health issue. I am just not drinking what you are.

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1 this doesn't seem that unusual. There are plenty of people who drink occasionally like champagne at a wedding, getting a glass of wine at a work gala and just having a bit of it, a poolside margarita on vacation or whatever. But not having frequent wine with dinner, going to happy hours, drinking as a significant component of socializing etc.

I have a drink a couple times a week but I feel like the approach is increasingly coming in my peer group as a lot of ppl say alcohol doesn't agree with them the same way it used to or hits harder now.

Anonymous wrote: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 is what I say and why. I haven't drank in 20+ years because I simply don't enjoy any aspect of it.

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

I'm confused that they're confused. Every generation is drinking less than the ones before. I find it hard to believe that a Millennial and a Zoomer can't understand the concept of not drinking. Unless they're used to Gen Xers being pretty heavy boozers (which we really are, though nowhere as bad as Boomers).

Anonymous wrote: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.

FWIW, for a lot of people who do drink, analysis is really intrusive. All these Carrie Nations on here who disbelieve you if you say you drink moderately, and say things like "are you really pouring 5 oz? Admit it--you fill your glass up to the top."

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

The real issue here is with the ridiculous question. What will he drink to celebrate? It’s so presumptive. An open ended how will you celebrate? Would have been a much better question.