Genuine Question.......

daycent

I'd be interested to hear the real reasons why people don't drink. Under the cover of anonymity and all that. I'm not taking the piss here, i've just always wondered why. I know you all might say tell us the reasons why you do drink, but non drinkers are very much in the minority, especially among young people. This would be directed more towards people who have never drank. My brother has never drank and I suppose I wonder what the big deal is. I'm not one of those people who interrogate non-drinkers in a pub or whatever, or patronise them.

Just to give an example, one of my friends has never drank. We rarely see him on nights out even though we are all used to him not drinking and don't give him a hard time or whatever. He's a huge music fan, and i've always thought he has been missing out with regard to that. What I mean is, after a few glasses of wine or whatever, your favourite album and music in general becomes a hundred times better. The emotions are just amplified in a way that doesn't happen when you're sober. And I don't mean falling around a dancefloor, more hanging around with a couple of mates (a spliff perhaps??;)) He'll never experience that. I suppose I just feel tee totalers are missing out. It doesn't mean you have to go out and get hammered and puke all over yourself or whatever.

Sorry for rambling on. Anyone feel like sharing? it's not the kind of question you can ask face to face.....

Karen_*

I used to wonder about teetotallers and how they could be enjoying their night out or how did they reward themselves at the end of a tough week in work when it wasn't with a drink. And I guess thats a sign of our drink obsessed culture. I've changed my views though. I know loads of teetoallers and they NEVER envy a drinker. They can have a good time and enjoy music without adding a chemical to the equation. If you have ever been at a childs birthday party you'll see kids having a fantastic time and quite a wild time and all on lemonade. You didn't always drink yourself and I'm sure you had great times back then. And you weren't missing out on anything at all.

Alcoholics don't give up drink because they were having loads of fun with it. In my eyes its not all its cracked up to be.

Having a few drinks might be your way to unwind or mark the weekend but its not for everyone for various reasons. Kind of like we don't all want to go bowling every weekend:p

I know I'm not really answering your question about me personally but just giving a few thoughts as to why not to feel sorry for your mate and to point out that he might not actually be missing out?

I don't drink because I can't stand being out and about in public. I feel uncomfortable around people and therefore i know that going to pubs, clubs, etc. isn't anything that i'd ever see myself doing. Drinking being a huge part of that lifestyle, and that lifestyle never appealing to me means that drinking doesnt appeal to me.


Besides.. when you're not a drinker, you realise what a waste of money it is. Its such an expensive... hobby (if you could call it that?).

I can spend €100 on buying clothing, wrestling merchandise (something i collect) or a video game or DVD's or whatever, and that will always be there. Some people might find it strange that i'd spend €200 on a replica belt. But i find it strange that some one would willingly spend the same on a night out drinking, and most likely would barely remember it the following week, whereas i'd have the replica belt ten years later.


Its just a case of different perspective. I don't go around with a "Teetotaller" or "Straight Edge" t-shirt on and try and tell everyone that drinking is wrong or anything. I just dont see the appeal of it.

Feeonaw

I don't drink because I'm on meds. Strangely enough though, I stopped drinking of my own accord about a year before I was told I could never drink again. Sometimes alcohol doesn't agree with you, and you know it. I wouldn't say I'm missing out...maybe I am...but I just don't want to think about it because it's something I can't change. I think my perfect evening out though is a house party with a few buds and a guitar you don't need drink to enjoy playing music and yappin' away to people you haven't seen for a while!

LaVidaLoca

What I mean is, after a few glasses of wine or whatever, your favourite album and music in general becomes a hundred times better.

This is only true if you are used to drinking to get that feeling of liberation: If you're a non-drinker you can feel that way without having to having to drink first. To take an analogy: A tobacco smoker would be amazed if I said I had a job interview and didnt smoke a fag first, as they cant imagine not smoking during a stressful situation. Same here: There is no essential connection between parties, music, chat, socialising and booze: Alchohol just happens to be the drug our society uses at these times.

more hanging around with a couple of mates

Again you're assuming that is a totally normal human pleasure, is somehow indelibly associated with drink: It isnt, you just happened to grow up in a culture where 'hanging out with mates' = drinking.

If you're hanging out with the right mates (i.e people you really like) you dont need to drink to make it fun. Its fun anyway.

I suppose I just feel tee totalers are missing out.

I have been off drink for 7 months (was a heavy and social drinker for many years before that) and though in the initial days, I felt a bit reserved, I no longer feel Im missing out on anything.

If I go to a party or a gig and it's good, I enjoy it even more than before, remember everything about it, and wake up the next day feeling great that I had a good night out - no more feeling litke **** for a whole day (or sometimes 2) as a result of a good time I can barely remember.

If I like a person I can really feel that I like them, and if somebody is unpleasant or boring I avoid them: No more smoothing over the cracks with booze, where everybody's "A great laugh, and me besht mate!'

But ultimately I gave up cause the hangovers, for me, were always far more severe than the joy of the night out: 5 hours of feeling good followed by 24 of feeling crap. Kind of like taking out a loan you have to pay back at 500% interest. Just not really worth it.

daycent

Cheers (;)) for the replies...

titan18

HI,I'm 19 next month and I've never drank and never plan to.I dont really see the point in drinking because all my friends are doing it and I feel that is a very stupid reason to do anything.It seems to be a huge waste of money as they all blow around 70 to 80 euro a week or two which is crazy.I'd rather buy a game every now and again,or a few books or save my money for when I really want something.

It is also not too good for your health.Some people drink to unwind at eh end of the week and they'll go out to nightclubs or a pub and end up plastered.I prefer to read a book or watch a movie.

allybabe84

I'm 24 and don't drink at all. I was a little shy when I was in school so socialising was always going to be the last thing I would be interested in, hence I don't have the desire to drink. I have had people ask me what pub do I drink in and when I tell them I don't drink, there is usually a pause with "oh" and that's the end of it! Going out drinking would just get in my way of my routine. I love video games and surfing the net so I generally spend my time doing that or spending time with my boyfriend (who doesn't drink either and who also loves video games) so I'm happy!!

allybabe84

allybabe84 wrote: »

spending time with my boyfriend

That lucky bastard. I wish i could get a girlfriend who didn't drink. Practically all of the girls Ive ever met care more about getting locked at the end of the week than anything else.:(

geminilady

yeah lads that drink too much put me way off! he would have to drink very little or a bonus.. not drink at all!

allybabe84

Deleted User wrote: »

That lucky bastard. I wish i could get a girlfriend who didn't drink. Practically all of the girls Ive ever met care more about getting locked at the end of the week than anything else.:(

If I told him that he's lucky to have me he'd laugh at my face! He'd say that I'm lucky to have him:)

Jemmy

Deleted User wrote: »

That lucky bastard. I wish i could get a girlfriend who didn't drink. Practically all of the girls Ive ever met care more about getting locked at the end of the week than anything else.:(

Then your meeting the wrong kind of girls!

Jemmy

allybabe84 wrote: »

He'd say that I'm lucky to have him:)

Then your with the wrong kinda guy!

Jemmy

Jemmy wrote: »

Then your meeting the wrong kind of girls!

Well, as an unemployed, ugly fat prick with some Social Anxiety problems, you don't really meet too many.

LaVidaLoca

That lucky bastard. I wish i could get a girlfriend who didn't drink.

Go foreign, my son. I have spoken.

estebancambias

When I see Ireland as the second highest country of alcohol consumption(after Luxembourg) it makes me sad.

There is no real reason I don't drink...I just don't.....I'm not a loner, but to be fair my best freind is Muslim, so the drink thing wouldn't often come into the equation. Most of the time, its just play football, and then play ps3 at night....watch a movie or something.....just general stuff.

People say to me ''well done for not drinking''...and I'm like ''ok..do I say well done to you for not eating jaffa cakes?

yummycake

Sick of drinking. Drank since I was 13 almost every weekend. Really don't see the appeal anymore have plenty of other stuff to enjoy the night.

happydayz182

tbh it seems the non sociable people who play alot of video games etc are the main non drinkers..

I dont go out "to" drink...i normally just have 1 or two bottles to loose me up a bit...

happydayz182

happydayz182 wrote: »

tbh it seems the non sociable people who play alot of video games etc are the main non drinkers..

Everyone unwinds differently.


Drinking is just such a huge nationwide thing, it is assumed everyone participates. Gaming on the other hand, its known that many people don't play.

Personally, i do neither.

challengemaster

LOL@tagging all gamers as non-sociable.

Anywho.. I don't need drink to loosen up/have a good time, and its way too ****ing funny when you dont drink. You get to piss yourself laughing at everyone who is drunk doing completly stupid things.

Dagon

challengemaster wrote: »

You get to piss yourself laughing at everyone who is drunk doing completly stupid things.

Careful now, this is the kind of thing that can stop you getting asked along to stuff once they see what you're doing :cool:

I drank from age of 15 to 23, and only stopped when I took up meditation. I didn't need the effects of drink anymore, and for me drinking was a childish thing really - drinking was just to make me feel more "social" or relaxed, or to fit in with people. Obviously this was due to confidence issues. If you go to the root of your problem and solve these things... hey presto, you don't feel like drinking anymore.

I'm not saying the above is true for everyone... I'm sure there are a rare few people out there who do actually enjoy the taste of the stuff, and drink solely for that reason... but a lot of the time drinking is done because of a perceived "lack" within. You need to change somehow, you need to relax, be social, chill out, fit in, feel at ease...whatever it is, you need something that you don't have, but you need drink to get to that place. I think that - in itself - actually says something.

You can fill that hole with other stuff...

Tupins

I'm 29 and I don't drink for a few different reasons. Funnily enough I used to drink and get drunk most weekends for years and had a great time doing it so I do understand why people drink. Lately though have just gone off it big time. Main reasons are:

1. It makes me really sick. Don't know why I could drink before and not now but basically even if I have a relatively small amount of alcohol (ie 1 or 2 bottles of beer or even one glass of wine) I feel really awful the next day with banging headache. If I drank more than that I would literally spend the next day vomitting and dying in bed - which I could really do without thanks!

2. No desire to. Maybe its to do with the above or maybe it's because I started drinking when i was 14 and I feel I've just grown out of it. I cant stand going to pubs or nightclubs as I get so bored. Also, seeing other people get drunk is not my idea of fun. I'm really trying not to be condescending here but drunk, sloppy people spilling stuff, knocking stuff over, slurring their words and repeating everything 20 times are SO ANNOYING! I just think, thank god I don't do that anymore.

3. Too expensive. When you get used to not spending money on nights out you realise just how much money you were flushing down the toilet. Anyway, I couldn't afford to now even if I wanted too. I genuinely don't understand how other people do it.

4. Can drive places without spending a fortune on taxi home or having to leave the car somewhere and get it next day etc.

I do still feel some pressure from people saying "ah go on have a drink" but it's getting less all the time as more people realise that I dont' fancy it anymore. I actually pretended to have a drink at a house party recently. The hostess insisted on me having a drink so I took a bottle of beer from her just so she'd stop going on. She was too drunk to notice that I didn't actually drink it and I just thought to myself "how silly is this?"

Jigsaw

I personally think that drinking to excess is obviously a bad thing. It is something that I do frequently and I would like to get it under control. That said. I have no intention of quitting drink altogether. There are sometimes when a drink is just a bloody good thing. Say you are working to a deadline with some colleagues in work and you meet it on a Friday, then you all head to the pub and have a few pints to unwind. I see no problem with that at all.

harlem

I started drinking when I was 17 & by the time I was 21 the novelty had worn off.
Then when I started heading into Dublin for a night out, i either couldn't get taxi's home at all or it cost a ridiculous amount (I lived in Skerries) & didn't fancy taking the fight link home.
So it was easier not to drink and I still had a great night out - with the bonus that I'd plenty of extra cash too!

The thing that really gets up my nose is the way people that meet me out and see that I dont drink saying 'aw we'll have to get you drunk when we go out next time', eh - why?

I think drink is accepted as such a big part of our culture, that if you don't drink people assume that their must be something wrong with you or you must be some sort of a social pariah!

*rant over*!

TheInvisibleFie

harlem wrote: »

I started drinking when I was 17 & by the time I was 21 the novelty had worn off.
Then when I started heading into Dublin for a night out, i either couldn't get taxi's home at all or it cost a ridiculous amount (I lived in Skerries) & didn't fancy taking the fight link home.
So it was easier not to drink and I still had a great night out - with the bonus that I'd plenty of extra cash too!

The thing that really gets up my nose is the way people that meet me out and see that I dont drink saying 'aw we'll have to get you drunk when we go out next time', eh - why?

I think drink is accepted as such a big part of our culture, that if you don't drink people assume that their must be something wrong with you or you must be some sort of a social pariah!

*rant over*!

[bold mine] That really annoys me! I get really nervous around people and when I was in school I didn't want to go out with my friends because every Monday they would tell me what I missed and say 'we'll have to get you drunk' rather than 'we'll have to bring you into town with us'.

Around 6th year I started drinking of my own choice but overdrank because of awkwardness at saying no to friends which led to a couple of really awful nights this past year in college where I let myself be pressurised into humiliating myself and now I can barely touch alcohol. After half a can I start feeling absolutely dreadful, it feels like every drink I ever had is still in my system.

I've tried explaining this to my friends back home but even the last night we went out and I got a 7up they kept putting their drinks up to my lips. People like that just don't get it. Luckily I'm going back to college where most of the friends I have now have given up on the drink. We still hang out in pubs for occassional drinks and for other friends but with a couple of people it is so much easier.

zAbbo

Those people who put drinks to your mouth, aren't really your friends!

Feeonaw

Can't believe people actually put drinks up to your lips! That's kinda like bullying. What a mad country we live in!

TheInvisibleFie

zAbbo wrote: »

Those people who put drinks to your mouth, aren't really your friends!

Yeah I know, that's why I'm looking forward to going back to college to get away from them (other annoying things too) and be with more sane people. I'm just kind of stuck with them here.

Feeonaw wrote: »

Can't believe people actually put drinks up to your lips! That's kinda like bullying. What a mad country we live in!

To be fair they do it in a nice, encouraging way ... well in what they obviously assume is a nice, friendly, encouraging way. Actually they were people who were nice to me when I used to be bullied in school. Lovely to see that everything is different when drink comes into the story in this country.

taram

I don't drink due to medication/diabetes, but had stopped 6 months before that due to not being able to tolerate it. Don't miss it at all which I was surprised at.

I go out with my friends, but often come home for 1am, that way I miss the nasiter side of drinking: the fights, vomiting on the street, smell of chips mixed with fags. Some of my friends didn't blink an eye when I said I'd stop drinking, but some constantly tried to make me drink for the 6 months I was off it until I told pretty much the entire pub that I had diabetes now so shut it. ^_^

Curlypinkie

Am not a non-drinker per se, but as an objective observer (am not Irish), I find it truly sad that the only choice or option to socialize in this country is by going to the pub. Don't get me wrong, I love the pub-culture, thing is, where is the rest of the culture? I'm missing cafe's especially... Irish are big tea-drinkers apparently why aren't there cosy tea-houses that are open til say, 11pm where you could go instead of the pub

I don't drink every time I go out. In fact I drink maybe once every two months. I think it's expensive, I don't like loosing control over my behaviour (I get really, ahem, forward) and I really hate having a hang over.

cocoa

Curlypinkie wrote: »

Am not a non-drinker per se, but as an objective observer (am not Irish), I find it truly sad that the only choice or option to socialize in this country is by going to the pub. Don't get me wrong, I love the pub-culture, thing is, where is the rest of the culture? I'm missing cafe's especially... Irish are big tea-drinkers apparently why aren't there cosy tea-houses that are open til say, 11pm where you could go instead of the pub

Brilliant point! I'm native myself but it's only recently I actually realised, we are so so so lacking in nice places to sit and chat/relax without alcohol. (a lot of the places with aren't particularly nice either...) I remember once or twice sitting down in starbucks or insomnia (still a bit too commercial for my liking, but nice atmosphere) and thinking they were nice, but they all close at 8!!! or earlier...

Personally, I would drink now and again, very rarely if ever to excess, but I'd never feel I needed it... I've seen and done some funny stuff while drinking, but I've done and seen some funny stuff while sober as well...

But pubs are really crap anyway... I mean even if I am drinking, I just don't enjoy the noise of them (lol, guess I should really wait til I'm older for comments like that), having to shout conversations just isn't really my preference... I would love if there was more (or even some?) places that were just relaxed, didn't have the loud buzz of pubs, but still had enjoyable, more gentle, life about them. There really is no where in town, that i can think of to just 'hang out' of an evening that isn't a pub... Disappointing really... Business idea anyone?

If I'm wrong someone please tell me of any nice places, I'd love to give them some extra business

Wurly

Curlypinkie wrote: »

Irish are big tea-drinkers apparently why aren't there cosy tea-houses that are open til say, 11pm where you could go instead of the pub

.

Try moda in rathmines, dublin. It's got big comfy couches and goes great coffee. Plus, it stays open til 5 am on weekends.:D

homergriffin

The aftermath isn't worth it, especially with depression, god aweful sleeps, gaining weight, lousy thermoregulation, headaches, blackouts, throwing up, wasted days etc...

Drinking affects everyone differently, but these are just some of the things it can do to me. That's why I gave up. Depending on the circumstances, I could feel some of the affects after just three pints. Obviously the more I have, the more the side affects occur. I may be allergic to alcohol though.

xfirefishx

In Belfast, more and more I'm finding that coffee shops and cafes are staying open to 11pm/midnight so there are a few more options for meeting up with people in the evening. Also, a number of these places namely Common Grounds and more recently, Charlie's, are providing entertainment in the evening, usually in the form of gigs or singer-songwriter nights. Particularly, Friday nights in Common Grounds have been very popular for the last four years.

I'm a drinker but I do think that Dublin suffers a little from the fact that there is very little other activities to do in the evening apart from pubbing (as much as I enjoy a night in a bar). There are some cinemas obviously but things like bowling alleys etc seem to be quite far out. I might be incorrect about this, I've only just moved down!

homergriffin

xfirefishx wrote: »

I'm a drinker but I do think that Dublin suffers a little from the fact that there is very little other activities to do in the evening apart from pubbing (as much as I enjoy a night in a bar).

Nah you're right. It's pubs, clubs or nothing these days. Coffee shops staying open until late in Belfast sounds like a good idea. I like the fact that there are a few bars in Dublin were you can get a coffee even after ten but not enough. You're limited to were you can go on a night out to fully enjoy yourself.

I've only recently given up booze so any suggestions for places to go in Dublin city or south side with a few mates who mostly drink?

unreggd

Its crap how non-non-drinker friendly ireland is

luckily, i love clubs so im alright in that sense

Ive 2 main groups of friends, one are heavy boozers, the rest dont drink much at all, so i much prefer to go out with them

we go to a club, get a drink, then dance for the rest of the night, maybe get another drink durin the night

the other only insist on goin to loud bars [stupidest thing ever] and drinkin all night

idPlease

I've never drank, and the older i get (i'm 22) the more thankful i dont. Its not a snobbish opinion its just the whole drink culture never ever intrested me even in school when it was the coolist thing to do. I didnt join in.

The thing that annoys me is the huge over-zealous reaction i get when i tell people i dont drink. after hearing it 10 times you've had enough, so i just have to play along and give the usual drivel as to why i dont drink - something i dont feel i should have to explain. I dont ask them why they drink, or become shocked when they do drink!?!

As a guy i find i'm more comfortable not drinking as i can talk away and i dont need '"dutch courage" to talk and also i dont have to wake up next morning worrying about what i said or did the night before!

I love music so clubs are still on but not as much as when i was 18...but i'll happily get a drink and dance away (the sugar helps!)

Not drinking is not something to be ashamed of and i'm glad i found this forum:)

Delirium

I'm 29, stopped drinking at the start of September. Just wasn't doing anything for me anymore. Decided to try going out without drinking and am actually more talkative than if I had drinks. When I was around 18 (never drank underage) just said, 'never drinking' due to a step-mother would couldn't hold hers.

Around 20, started drinking because at that time everyone was conscious that I wasn't drinking. Did eventually enjoy drinking on nights out and kept drinking until September. Started in the gym a year ago, and noticed around September the difference it made. So, thought now what if I didn't drink?

Haven't stopped drinking forever, could drink again one day, but at the moment I just enjoy not drinking too much.