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

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

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 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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.