Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing. How do people like OP function in life when confronted with something more complex than "I don't want to drink alcohol"?

I really have to wonder how many posts on this entire forum are AI in training, learning to be more human acting. I've never seen so many helpless people as on this forum.

I was in my early 50's and had some guy (who definitely had a drinking problem) give me a hard time about it at a retirement party. Like, the whole night. It was absurd, but it happens. And while I think fewer people drink now, abstaining is not the norm among my long time friends. It's noticed, especially if the last time you saw them you had a few, no problem.

Just because it's not your experience doesn't mean it's not someone else's experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never drank, and I just ask for ice water, because that's what I like. If anyone gave me a hard time they wouldn't remain a friend.

If you never drank, you can't really answer the question, can you?


How do you tell friends you no longer drink?

You don't. Would you announce everywhere that you "no longer eat this" or "no longer take that"? That's silly and trying to gain attention for the wrong reasons.

Anonymous wrote:I've never drank, and I just ask for ice water, because that's what I like. If anyone gave me a hard time they wouldn't remain a friend.

If you never drank, you can't really answer the question, can you?


How do you tell friends you no longer drink?

Anonymous wrote:Amazing. How do people like OP function in life when confronted with something more complex than "I don't want to drink alcohol"?

I really have to wonder how many posts on this entire forum are AI in training, learning to be more human acting. I've never seen so many helpless people as on this forum.

Amazing. How do people like OP function in life when confronted with something more complex than "I don't want to drink alcohol"?

Anonymous wrote:No big a-ha moment or disaster; it just isn't working for me anymore - messy sleep, hangovers, empty calories, not worth it.
I have some friends who love their cocktails and dinner parties with wine courses. They're good friends - I don't worry about feeling judged so much as sort of being a wet blanket...and also I don't want to play coy and claim some excuse. Anyone who's BTDT, how did you "come out" as a non-drinker to friends?

You don't, that's signifying and juvenile.

If offered an alcoholic drink, just say you want insert drink here instead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None for me, I stopped drinking.

+1. If they inquire as to why, "it really messes with my sleep" has worked well for me.

If asked "why" for something like this, I would stare at the person blankly to make them feel uncomfortable and then change the subject.

LARLA: "Why?"

ME: ... ... ... ... "So, how about them Nationals?"

Anonymous wrote:None for me, I stopped drinking.

+1. If they inquire as to why, "it really messes with my sleep" has worked well for me.

I've never drank, and I just ask for ice water, because that's what I like. If anyone gave me a hard time they wouldn't remain a friend.

Why would you have to say anything? If someone asks, just say you're not drinking or that you've stopped. No need to provide some long explanation. I've never had anyone question why I'm not ordering a drink. And I've never asked someone why they aren't drinking.

if you have friends that you have to explain your decisions to then you need to get new friends.

If you're going to a party or dinner in someone's home, bring a non-alcoholic version of whatever you like. So many good options now. I don't think it should be a big deal at all - between needing to drive, playing sports or training, aging, random meds... lots of good easy reasons to skip alcohol. Justl like if you were abstaining from gluten or dairy or something else...

"Alcohol is poison and you're a fool for consuming it. Be like me and stop."

That usually does the trick.

Take a small pour as nurse it, or ask for an alternative x or say "no, thanks". Only an alcoholic will press you about it, and for them their correct response is " you should probably join me"

I have several friends who have quit drinking and they say they don't drink - closer friends have told me why, but I never expect that and I don't ask. I think a direct and simple I don't drink/don't want a drink is fine/all you need. I think people are coming around to the idea that not everyone drinks.