Research Article Non Drinking

sarahf

Hello,

I am researching a piece for the Irish Times on people in Ireland who don't drink alcohol...no mean feat in this drink obsessed country!

I am looking to talk to/interview people and find out why they made this decision, how other people react, if life is so very different without alcohol, what other socialising options there are etc...

My email address is sarahf80@hotmail.com

I understand that many of you would prefer not to discuss this but if there are people in this group who would be happy to, then please get in touch.

Thanks,

Sarah

Dave!

Hi Sarah,

it might be worth your while having a read of this:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055216148

It's basically everybody's reasons for not drinking

Hopefully you'll get some people willing to contact you though

(I drink, so I'm afraid I'm of no use )

TonyDon

Heya Sarah,
I feel let down by my parents' generation and Irish society in general in that the only social outlet when I should have been socialising was the pub and I shunned that environment and drink to my cost because I've no friends now and I'm in a 10 years and more depression that I'm very bitter about. I think the Celtic Tiger has made us a very spoilt, shallow people lacking character and compassion. I hate the "what will people think" way people lead their lives always trying to impress others. I tried a variety of alcohol recently(all the main lagers on the Irish market, cider, a few stouts, wine etc.) to see if maybe I was wrong in my assertion that drinking is a big con game but I don't think I was. Every alcoholic drink I persisted with was disgusting, with cider being a little less disgusting than the rest so why would anyone acquire a taste for something that the taste buds reject unless they're afraid of being alienated for not going with the flow. I hope this gives you some insight into the consequences of not drinking in Ireland. Write a belter of an article for me! All The Best, Tony

Dave!

Tony in relation to your point about taste, I would say that most people push past the taste because alcohol is a drug which is usually drank for its effects. Being somewhat tipsy/drunk feels great. Cigarettes don't usually smell or taste great, but nicotine feels quite good, so it's often deemed worth it to get past that/used to it because of the effect of nicotine. I'd say most people start smoking/drinking because of social issues however, as you pointed out.

However I think it's worth also making the point that alcopops like WKD, bacardi breezer, and so on, are delicious as well as being alcoholic... so not sure you can apply your points so broadly.

Just so people know, I'll move this thread to the new Media Interaction forum soon... just giving it a few hours here so it gets exposure, as I'm sure it would be deemed a good thing (by most posters here) that the issue of non/drinking is getting media attention.

sarahf

sarahf wrote: »

My email address is sarahf80@hotmail.com

Being at the bar everyday you probably don't meet many non-drinkers... badum, tisch. I'll get my coat.