Introduce yourself & your "reason" thread

titan18

I'm 18 and I dont drink as I ee how my 'friends' act with in them and the damage it can cause to people.That and I dont want to give in to the pressure the people in my class put on me to drink.I also decided form an early age to never drink and I want to keep it like that

thusspakeblixa

titan18 wrote: »

I'm 18 and I dont drink as I ee how my 'friends' act with in them and the damage it can cause to people.That and I dont want to give in to the pressure the people in my class put on me to drink.I also decided form an early age to never drink and I want to keep it like that

Non-drinking 18 year olds FTW

titan18

thusspakeblixa wrote: »

Non-drinking 18 year olds FTW

Theres so little of us out there.I think I'm the only one in my year who doesant drink at all.Theres another 2 who only drink at really special occasions cos they're into sport and stuff

thusspakeblixa

titan18 wrote: »

Theres so little of us out there.I think I'm the only one in my year who doesant drink at all.Theres another 2 who only drink at really special occasions cos they're into sport and stuff

Yeah I know, I mean I only know of one person besides myself who is a non drinker and is my age, and she's in it for all the wrong reasons, lets say!
Stay with it, it's a lonely path, and yet it's one that requires bravery!

geminilady

Snap! well technically not 18 for a few weeks! but woo! i know a few other of my friends that don't drink but when i was in school, think it was only another girl and me not drinking at the grad!

Pythia

I have a problem with alcohol in that if I have a few drinks, I will be very ill for a few days. It's to do with my IBS and the doctor says I should have as little alcohol as possible. I find it difficult to cope with as it's a decision which has been made for me (by my tummy!). It has only started in the last 2 years as well, so it's only new.

The pain just isn't worth it!

Feeonaw

thusspakeblixa wrote: »

Yeah I know, I mean I only know of one person besides myself who is a non drinker and is my age, and she's in it for all the wrong reasons, lets say!
Stay with it, it's a lonely path, and yet it's one that requires bravery!

It doesn't have to be a lonely path! Join a club & do something that interests you...start looking around...there's something for everyone

Davidius

I don't drink because I don't want to.

There's not much more to it than that.

zAbbo

I do drink! but not often, and have went through long periods of not drinking.

I don't think it's a conscious decision to drink or not drink, I guess it's just one of those things.

I think it's good to differentitiate drinking from getting drunk.

I don't like the taste of most alcoholic beverages and even then it doesn't agree with me - I just end up sick so I keep off it.

Certainly off the agenda now though due to a potential stomach ulcer (maybe that's why it never agreed with me?)

offaly1

I have to say i didn't drink till i was 18 (quite a while ago:eek::eek:) and even now i really do see the point in it! i Just drink on special occasions...so that could just be 3 r 4 times a year.... i prefer to have a clear head the next morning....nd I despise hangovers!! :( I also hate been drunk... its just not me, so whats the point?!?!?!
Have to say it doesn't go down well with some of my "friends", but then again if they were friends they would take me for who i am!!!!!!!!:D

BroomBurner

Same as other posters, can't find an alcoholic drink that I like. Also don't really like being drunk or sick, so giving it up wasn't difficult. Am off the booze now ~3 years Is good for a cheap night out though as friends will only let ya buy one round if you're drinking water. Plus, I can drive home

DJ_Spider

I work as a DJ and am always being offered drinks when working. Usually to make sure I play the song they asked for! But as I am learning to drive and Mrs Spider doesn't drink, (he da was an alcoholic and she loves driving) I am beginning to cut down my drinking. I do drink, but in fact since comming to Ireland I have cut down immensly.

I used to work in the UK in a pub doing karaoke & discos, we would get there about 7:15/7:30pm, set up, do the soundchecks, sort everything out etc and then start about 9:00pm. We would work til about midnight, then go on to a club til silly o'clock! Did that for 5 years, 4 nights a week!

I now notice you go out a lot later here and to me by the time you go to the pub, I would be well on the way to being locked in the UK! :eek: But I am now trying to cut down my drinking, (I did go to the last beers, but only drank about 5 pints from 7pm to 2am so not bad - not good either!) as when i pass my test I wont touch a drop. If I have one I want another and it not worth the risk drinking & driving. If you don't kill yourself you could kill someone else and I wouldn't want that on my conscience.

So would I be welcome at any of your events even though I am a drinker? +1 for getting the forum anyway!

thusspakeblixa

DJ_Spider wrote: »

So would I be welcome at any of your events even though I am a drinker? +1 for getting the forum anyway!

well I know there were a few drinkers at the last one, I'm sure you'd be more than welcome!

Feeonaw

All events are open to both drinkers and non drinkers! For more info on what the group is about just check out our websitehttp://www.nondrinkersgroup.com/

Some events are entirely non-drinking (Example: Non Drinking Table Quiz) and some events might be a non-drinking activity where people have the option to go to a pub afterwards if they want to (Example: Dublin Movie Club)

Feel free to come along to any event or even organise your own!

Bruno1

Hi, just came across this group yesterday, great idea, whoever came up with it!
I've never drank, like a lot of people here, I was turned off the idea when i was in school ( which is a while ago now), just wasn't into the whole 'getting completely plastered' competition it always seemed to be. Ever since then it's just been something I didn't do.
It would be great to chat to other non drinkers here simply because most of the time, people/friends talk to me about it as though it's something either amazing or odd. I've had a few people over the years who were ****ty about it, especially the 'how can you be any fun when you don't drink' thing, or worse 'I wouldn't trust someone who didn't drink' argument. I have to say though, a lot of people have been great about it.
Do any of you ever find that when someone discovers you don't drink, they kind of assume you're looking down on them?? That does turn me off, it's a pity people would think like that without talking to you a bit first.

Any posters here from Galway/Mayo/Sligo who are interested in organising something/meeting up I'd be happy to here from you.

geminilady

yeah i feel like they think i look them at them too. i always seem to notice some people's reaction changing when they realise im not drinking!!
well im from leitrim! but say there could be other connaught ones here too so we could try and arrange something if we have enough people! : )

I don't drink because I've never drank in my life. My dad is an alcoholic pretty much (not the stereotypical alcoholic thats constantly angry and beating his family kinda thing, but it just annoys me how much money he blows on it and it leaves him in a real messy state).

So i've never really wanted to drink. But also, i don't like the whole pub/club thing. I don't really like being in the company of people I'm not familiar with and i rarely even see the people i do know (i wouldn't say i've hung around with anyone in well over two months or so).

I think i've Social Anxiety Disorder, so yeah.

All that combines to pretty much being housebound and not really feeling up for doing anything, especially going to a crowded pub to drink.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

I think i've Social Anxiety Disorder, so yeah.

All that combines to pretty much being housebound and not really feeling up for doing anything, especially going to a crowded pub to drink.

I know what you mean, I'm really uncomfortable around people I don't know and it's horrible!

This will sound selfish and prick-like.. but I'm glad im not the only one :-/


Sorry about that though

Cabaal

I drink the very very odd time but for the most part I'd refer to myself as a non-drinker...in fairness I've gone to 5 wedding over the past 12 months and not drank at any of them.

The reason I don't, I guess it comes from the fact my family owned a pub so I saw the affects the drink had on customers from a young age and how some people wasted their lives, lost their familys/wifes etc bny drinking too much or just staying in a pub all day.

Feeonaw

Karsini wrote: »

I know what you mean, I'm really uncomfortable around people I don't know and it's horrible!

Just so yiz know - almost EVERYONE is uncomfortable around people they don't know!

Meeting new people can be a bit scary, but if you do want to get out of the house sometimes (and maybe find some people you'd like to get to know better) then it's something you just have to do! And who knows, you might have a great time.

There are lots of meet-ups happening over the next while. I think it would be a good idea to come along if you can.

entropi

Think i'll add my 2c then since i've never posted here before:

Non drinker my whole life, don't intend to either and thats been good enough for me so far. Don't get ill, feel i don't waste money on such a short term thrill and never seen the attraction it holds for alot of people

Oh and hello all

Ruu_Old

I mentioned in another thread, I don't drink and I don't judge others who drink. Now I used to go out, was a DJ for a while and friends used to be always at me to have a drink. I wish they would have understood instead of buying me something and then being pissed off when I rejected it. The state of majority of my friends at the end of each night was depressing. The lads were asleep in a plate of chicken burgers and chips and the women weren't much better hanging out of some lads arm roaring up the street. I would rather spend my money on something more worthwhile and that I can remember the next day. The cost of going out is ridiculous and I'd rather have a nice, posh dinner anyway.

cute_cow

Cabaal wrote: »

I drink the very very odd time but for the most part I'd refer to myself as a non-drinker

+1

I very rarely take a drink. I think the drink culture in this country is out of control. I just feel I have a better time if I go out and remember the night!!

I also hate the way people act when I say I don't drink, I think they would be less shocked if I stripped off and danced on the bar. I sometimes feel I have to justify why I don't drink. Its really annoying!!

mondeo

I dont drink, I have no desire to drink as I have seen alcohol destroy our family. No drink for me thanks, give me a seven up with ice anyday!

Good Luck

larryone

Since the new year, I've had:
Half of an aperitif given to me for free in a diner in Paris. (he was a little slow with the food)
A taste of a cocktail in Captain Americas.

Been a long time since I've been drunk. In some ways I do miss it a bit. I liked the taste of a good ale, stout, wine, whatever. I liked the feeling of being a bit tipsy.

Should I support an industry that makes millions off alcoholics every year? I'd rather not. I know it's not as sinister as the tobacco industry that needs to reel in enough addicts each year to replace the ones they kill, but I'd still rather not give my money to an industry that thrives on the destructive drink culture that has built up in this country.

carl-sagan

got fed up ..Didnt like how it made me feel. Thought what better way to rebel against the culture than not to drink. How weird is it that usually drinking is seen as an act of rebellion and defiance whereas in Ireland choosing not to drink seems like the more defiant rebellious stance to take..!

Bruno1

I sometimes feel I have to justify why I don't drink. Its really annoying!!

Dead right .... occasionally it's been made rather clear to me that I have to justify why I don't drink, this is usually the last night I spent in the company of those people though ...., it's no big deal so I can never understand why people would wish to make it one.
Once a person who was on to me about all of this told me that they wouldn't feel comfortable being out with a non drinker because they didn't want to be getting drunk while somebody they were out with was staying sober .... that really made me feel great about myself as you might imagine!!! Like i say, it's a small pity that sometimes people amke a deal of it when it isn't a big deal at all.

gipi

Hey folks,
Stumbled upon this forum last week, and was amazed and delighted to find it.

I was never into the "drinking culture" when younger. I socialised with many serious drinking folk when younger and couldn't see the attraction myself! My capacity for alcohol is quite low - 2 or maybe 3 glasses of wine at most, or 1.5 pints of lager is all I could take without being ill.

I have suffered from depression for many years, it comes and goes and is generally manageable without medication. But I always found that about 36 hours after a few drinks a very black cloud would land. Yep, it was the demon drink wot did it (or is that wot dun it?:D).

So anyhoo, I decided that I'm better off away from the stuff (the odd glass aside). Means I don't socialise as much as I probably should, because I'm not into the pub/drinking/getting pie-eyed scene.

But I've signed up for the movie club, and will keep an eye on events round here, so things are looking up!