I dont drink or at best a very light drinker.

I notice however, that whenever I say I dont drink - there is a small but noticeable change in expression of the people around me.

I now accept a glass of wine and nurse it all evening and swap it for something i really want later.

Re uptight? Sometimes I am sometimes Im not. Like most people I suppose.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people who do not drink are a) an alcoholic b) religious or c) somewhat of a control freak who cannot relax.

I don't care if people don't drink but I have never met a person who doesn't drink for reasons a or b that isn't a judge mental prude who thinks anyone who does drink is an alcoholic. They have generally been horrible people who are no fun.

Judgmental huh?

Yes judgmental. Not sure why auto-correct did it that way? Funny that you are correcting it though.

Uh, I think they were also commenting wryly on your post.

Anonymous wrote:I think people who do not drink are a) an alcoholic b) religious or c) somewhat of a control freak who cannot relax.

I don't care if people don't drink but I have never met a person who doesn't drink for reasons a or b that isn't a judge mental prude who thinks anyone who does drink is an alcoholic. They have generally been horrible people who are no fun.

You're a hoot, pp. Yeah, I'm "a" and if I thought everyone who drank was an alcoholic, I'd never leave my house. We're just not thinking about you that much at all. Sorry to break it to you.

The drunks are the most uptight. Try not drinking when they are getting their drunk on.

Wine drinkers are uptight.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people who do not drink are a) an alcoholic b) religious or c) somewhat of a control freak who cannot relax.

I don't care if people don't drink but I have never met a person who doesn't drink for reasons a or b that isn't a judge mental prude who thinks anyone who does drink is an alcoholic. They have generally been horrible people who are no fun.

Judgmental huh?

Yes judgmental. Not sure why auto-correct did it that way? Funny that you are correcting it though.

To 20:11 - sorry, but it's true. I have a friend/coworker who gets flirty and handsy after two drinks...it's sad to watch (because we know how lonely he is). And I know two people who slur their words after a few drinks at happy hour...and I'm embarrassed for them because colleagues have picked up on it and judge them. Then there's the couple that likes to make out in front of everyone after a few drinks. It was funny the first time, but now it's just annoying.

PS - these are mostly lawyers, lobbyists and other professionals who range in age from 30s to upper 40s. And it's probably only 40% of the group that ends up embarrassing themselves.

I don't think they're uptight.

I don't drink. I don't like feeling drunk. I'm not uptight. But I know my body isn't able to digest alcohol in normal ways. I don't assume anyone's uptight when they don't drink. I like them better because they don't drink, obviously because they are more like me that way. I can have fun without alcohol. If I'm in a good mood you won't be able to tell me apart from my drunk friends...until the drunk ones start puking, falling asleep or falling over off their chairs and I'm still standing, laughing my ass off

I don't drink. I'm uptight most of the time. I'm totally okay with both. I still have tons of fun.

Anonymous wrote:Some are, some aren't.

This. I have friends who don't drink and they aren't uptight. It's not a big deal, they don't make it a big deal, we don't make it a big deal. I find that people who feel the need to tell you they don't drink and explain in detail why (and it often involves some version of "I don't need to drink to have a good time") are usually uptight. People who are like, "Eh, I don't drink, pass the salt, please," are usually not.

Thanks for the responses everyone! My husband likes to drink a lot and most of the people he associates with do too. He wasn't even at my birthday dinner so I really didn't understand why he was so angry about me not drinking. It went from did you have a good time to you didn't drink at your own birthday dinner, you're uptight and boring and this is why we don't do anything together.

Not unless they act that way.

I know plenty of people who don't drink. The only ones who annoy me are the ones who believe that because THEY don't drink NOBODY should drink, or that having a glass of wine with dinner is in and of itself immoral and a character flaw. Those individuals, I find uptight and unpleasant just as I find people who are judgmental about other things to be uptight and unpleasant.

People who just quietly don't drink, I don't think anything of it other than a mental note not to offer them an alcoholic beverage if I'm the hostess.

It's a personal choice. I don't judge if someone doesn't drink and prefer not to be judged when I do.

Anonymous wrote:
Suggestion: try staying sober and observe those around you who drink. Some folks have problems. Some folks embarrass themselves. Some folks make me feel sad for them.

Ugh, this is exactly why I don't want to party with nondrinkers. Get over yourself.