I dont drink, what else can I do?

kjl

OK so When I was in college I drank a good bit, back in the palace days I was on my quadruple vodka and red bull.

I totally killed it though, and now I hate drinking so much, I feel stupid, I get no enjoyment from it what so ever and for me its just not worth it.

Enter my problem, What else is there to do in this stupid country, I feel like Im living in booze nation, the only other thing there seems to be is bowling, or going to the cinema, which aren't exactly the most sociable of things to do.

I still go out every Saturday, but find myself almost waiting for it to be over, I'm not attracted to the drunk women and the "craic" is getting a bit of the boring side from a sober perspective.

Any advice?

Zaph

We actually have a Non-Drinkers Group forum on Boards who cater for people just like yourself, so I'm going to move this thread over there.

Moved from PI.

Bubblefett

I find being a non drinker in any club situation is horrible, i hate dancing and become very aware how close people are standing to me.
What I find works is pub trips, yeah everyone else is drinking but not as heavily and you can just have yourself a rockshandy and enjoy the chat! However if your mates are the kind who like to get drunk beyond all reasonable measure that's a problem.

I gace up drinking when i go out due to a bad incident one night (i now only drink in my own or close friends houses) but i was lucky that all my friends weren't big into clubs and now we spend our saturday nights down the local having a few- i'm the designated driver which aside from the fact takes away the finding a taxi problems means we can drive off to eddie rocks or tesco or back to someones house after the pub.

You'll find your own way to cope with non drinking- rememeber, alcohol isn't the be all and end all of going out!

hupyago

follow your interests or your bliss
do what you enjoy doing
use your gifts and talents and see where it takes you
I find the arts,music and the theatre and the outdoors suit me
its a matter of thinking creatively about what you want to do
martial arts and sports are good too
there are plenty of alternatives too being in a crowded room surrounding by people having what they consider to be fun (drinking)
take it easy and have fun
cheers

eimear10

i have exactly the same problem , what other activities is there to do in dublin evenings or weekends that doesnt involve drinking

ShizDink

ah tell me bout it!! Pub is no fun at all without drink and going out is not worth the hangover. I've just given up pretty much all of my friends, they drink and then some. For my own benefit I've had to let them go, sick of the pub culture. I can't advise you what to do. I'm finding it lonely at the moment (as you may tell from a boards post at 10.30 on a Saturday night ) I've joined a film club so far, so thats a start. Maybe an evening class?

J_E

Bring your friends along to a live music bar, usually good entertainment.

baby and crumble

The problem isn't that there's nothing social to do, it's that a lot of Irish people won't do it instead of the pub if club. One of my favourite places to go with friends is the Tea Garden on the quays in Dublin. To me it's the same as a pub- you're ingesting liquids with company in public- but it's not alcohol. They open til 11 every night.

You can join dinner clubs, comedy clubs, storytelling nights, movie clubs, host dinner parties, have friends over for movie/ videogame nights, go out to the beach at night, loads of things. But most people in Ireland think weekend= booze, so if you're friends are big into that scene, you'll find it hard.

J_E

Saw this in the Limerick forum. Don't know if you're in the area, but this sounds interesting. Might pop down myself if I find a few people willing to go.

the_syco

kjl wrote: »

I still go out every Saturday, but find myself almost waiting for it to be over, I'm not attracted to the drunk women and the "craic" is getting a bit of the boring side from a sober perspective.

Question: what sort of music do you like? I acknowledge your dislike of pubs, but if you like a certain type of music, have you tried going to such a venue that does live music of that sort and enjoying the music?

Liberal Irishman

ShizDink wrote: »

ah tell me bout it!! Pub is no fun at all without drink and going out is not worth the hangover. I've just given up pretty much all of my friends, they drink and then some. For my own benefit I've had to let them go, sick of the pub culture. I can't advise you what to do. I'm finding it lonely at the moment (as you may tell from a boards post at 10.30 on a Saturday night ) I've joined a film club so far, so thats a start. Maybe an evening class?

You're not alone! It is very difficult to try to find something where you don’t walk in and feel like a bit of a dildo (excuse the expression).
Also, it's difficult to meet people that you would even half ‘get on with’.
Tried a comedy club in Temple Bar last year but I’m afraid I felt very out of place!

mikemac

Five a side football, there are leagues all over the country and even if you know nobody teams are always looking for new players

Basketball forum have meetups every week
Would get ya fit and good craic

[-0-]

Go for dinner with your friends at a restaurant.
Every week one of you could cook food at their house/apartment, and invite others to bring food if they likek too and just hang out.
Have a movie night at home with the lads as well.

Michelle502

How about Hill Walking with An Oige they have a bus leave city centre every Sun or Book Club if you like reading thru the local Library

gugleguy

if you don't drink, there is'nt a whole lot else for someone in my shoes!:(

CDfm

Well , the forum is trying to reinvent itself and it is fecking hard to do things on your own

So you might try to get to know other non drinkers.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056358101


Some activities like pubs are inevitable.

I was at the girlfriends last night and out with her extended family and always end up chatting to her aunts hubby who is an affable farmer.

Have you considered places like the funky seomra

Then there is this

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1290

A non drinking buddy of mine who is in to theatre and the arts swears the Sugar Club is the place to go.

bobbaggio

I quit drinking a while ago and was in America before that, but here is what I do/have been doing to keep me busy, along with attending meetings

Got myself a puppy, something I always wanted to do and love him to death!
Learning Spanish (learned quite a bit America and wanted to become fluent and I'm getting there)
Went into Eason and bought an art book and started drawing, poorly, but I draw!
Always played guitar but expanded my Musical C.V and now play Piano, Harmonica, Tin Whistle and am looking into buying a violin!
Started reading books....expanding my knowledge of different things that interest me....
Watch documentaries of some of the most interesting stuff you could imagine!
Take online courses - just stuff that interests me but it really is invigorating.
Started playing more video games - Love me some Fifa and COD now!

So I don't think it is viable to say that there is nothing to do! Although I understand, I was the same at one point, it is just about figuring out something that interests you and something you always wanted to do and some of these things are cheap and some free. PM if you ever get bored!

BackntheDay

i know exactly what yer on about, Im 23 and used be a heavy drinker but its all about who ya hang out with too , show me your friends and ill tell ya who ya are, if theres things your not happy about concentrate on them instead of drinkin try and give up smoking go to the gym start going to a muay thai club pick up a sport or hobby and get into it youll soon loose the interest in drink once you start realising theres more things out there

wobblyknees

One piece of advice, stick with it if you have decided not to drink. Take the time to make friends with similar interests who may like a glass of wine or a beer but who know how to enjoy themselves without losing control and wasting away a whole weekend. It's actually nice to spend company with people in a pub from time to time when you know the whole objective of the evening is nice conversation and maybe dinner or music afterwards.

bobbaggio

bobbaggio wrote: »

I quit drinking a while ago and was in America before that, but here is what I do/have been doing to keep me busy, along with attending meetings

Got myself a puppy, something I always wanted to do and love him to death!
Learning Spanish (learned quite a bit America and wanted to become fluent and I'm getting there)
Went into Eason and bought an art book and started drawing, poorly, but I draw!
Always played guitar but expanded my Musical C.V and now play Piano, Harmonica, Tin Whistle and am looking into buying a violin!
Started reading books....expanding my knowledge of different things that interest me....
Watch documentaries of some of the most interesting stuff you could imagine!
Take online courses - just stuff that interests me but it really is invigorating.
Started playing more video games - Love me some Fifa and COD now!

So I don't think it is viable to say that there is nothing to do! Although I understand, I was the same at one point, it is just about figuring out something that interests you and something you always wanted to do and some of these things are cheap and some free. PM if you ever get bored!

Sorry I dont mean this in a bad way, but their not social activities... I think what people look for are social activities.
One idea is to get non-Irish friends, they dont focus on drink so much )

ronan45

bobbaggio wrote: »

I quit drinking a while ago and was in America before that, but here is what I do/have been doing to keep me busy, along with attending meetings

Got myself a puppy, something I always wanted to do and love him to death!
Learning Spanish (learned quite a bit America and wanted to become fluent and I'm getting there)
Went into Eason and bought an art book and started drawing, poorly, but I draw!
Always played guitar but expanded my Musical C.V and now play Piano, Harmonica, Tin Whistle and am looking into buying a violin!
Started reading books....expanding my knowledge of different things that interest me....
Watch documentaries of some of the most interesting stuff you could imagine!
Take online courses - just stuff that interests me but it really is invigorating.
Started playing more video games - Love me some Fifa and COD now!

So I don't think it is viable to say that there is nothing to do! Although I understand, I was the same at one point, it is just about figuring out something that interests you and something you always wanted to do and some of these things are cheap and some free. PM if you ever get bored!

Great thread
some good advice baggio, im also tryin to cut down, i think i drink mainly from boredom on a friday evening. for 25 euro i can have a litre of vodka and 2 liters of coke and ice. So its a cheap night in. Cant remember anything the next day though. These online courses look interesting can you throw any links up?
I was also thinking of like maybe an online Degree too.

Rachiee

i'd second the funky seomra, the tea rooms, and theatre and going for dinner, also movie nights and games nights are a great laugh but i guess it depends what you are into.
if your friends arent interested in doing these things with you you can still go to the pubs with them and not drink every few weeks to keep up your contact with them but also join some sort of a social group that doesnt revolve around drink, golf, drama group/musical society/choir, walking/running club, book club, five a side as a way of meeting people and making new friends who you can socialise with in a non drink related activity

CDfm

ronan45 wrote: »

Great thread
some good advice baggio, im also tryin to cut down, i think i drink mainly from boredom on a friday evening. for 25 euro i can have a litre of vodka and 2 liters of coke and ice. So its a cheap night in.

Cheap , but it ain't right or healthy. if anything avoid spirits.

Getting a social life is great. I have a lesbian friend who I hung out with a bit when I quit . And she always just goes places anyway so I tagged along.

You name it, Ive been there.

ronan45

CDfm wrote: »

Cheap , but it ain't right or healthy. if anything avoid spirits.

Getting a social life is great. I have a lesbian friend who I hung out with a bit when I quit . And she always just goes places anyway so I tagged along.

You name it, Ive been there.

Reason i do spirits is that i have the inate ability to drink up to 18 cans of beer per night on a fri/sat session (weekend drinker only). figured vodka would be a "healthier" option

CDfm

It isn't the end of the world & it is a bit of a lifestyle choice.

What else do you like doing socially ?

hubba

I'm finding that as I do what interests me, on my own (to start with), my friend base is gradually morphing into one that suits my new life. In fact, I've made more contacts in the past 6 months of abstinence than in the past 5 years of guzzling in the old haunts.

So, my advice is to just take the leap and build your wings on the way down.

CDfm

wobblyknees wrote: »

the whole objective of the evening is nice conversation and maybe dinner or music afterwards.

This is something , I just enjoy dinner out and it need not be hugely expensive or even expensive.

Go on , spoil yerself

wobblyknees

CDfm wrote: »

This is something , I just enjoy dinner out and it need not be hugely expensive or even expensive.

Go on , spoil yerself

One really good thing I have found is that as I don't drink, I genuinely don't tend to spend as much money going out, the few times I get to go out! So I don't feel guilty when it comes to spending money on dinner or for a special occasion. It's a nice feeling knowing I can and deserve to treat myself or someone else to this really expensive dinner or gig!

unreggd

Tonight I went the cinema, then went for coffee, then went for a few games of pool / banter

7-hour evening out and it cost me a grand total of 14 euro :P

CDfm

Went out to dinner & herself paid.

Am such a slut

ronan45

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/many-cancers-could-prevented-000407948.html

And drinking has health implications ie CANCER

Overall, 34% of cancers in 2010 (106,845) were linked to smoking, diet, drinking alcohol and excess weight.

In men, 6.1% (9,600) of cancer cases were linked to a lack of fruit and vegetables, 4.9% (7,800) to occupation, 4.6% (7,300) to alcohol, 4.1% (6,500) to overweight and obesity and 3.5% (5,500) to excessive sun exposure and sunbeds.
In women, 6.9% (10,800) were linked to overweight and obesity, 3.7% (5,800) to infections such as HPV, 3.6% (5,600) to excessive sun exposure and sunbeds, 3.4% (5,300) to lack of fruit and vegetables and 3.3% (5,100) to alcohol.

CDfm

And we are going to the Burlesque Show on New Years Eve

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056467095

Woohoo

MyKeyG

bobbaggio wrote: »

I quit drinking a while ago and was in America before that, but here is what I do/have been doing to keep me busy, along with attending meetings

Got myself a puppy, something I always wanted to do and love him to death!
Learning Spanish (learned quite a bit America and wanted to become fluent and I'm getting there)
Went into Eason and bought an art book and started drawing, poorly, but I draw!
Always played guitar but expanded my Musical C.V and now play Piano, Harmonica, Tin Whistle and am looking into buying a violin!
Started reading books....expanding my knowledge of different things that interest me....
Watch documentaries of some of the most interesting stuff you could imagine!
Take online courses - just stuff that interests me but it really is invigorating.
Started playing more video games - Love me some Fifa and COD now!

So I don't think it is viable to say that there is nothing to do! Although I understand, I was the same at one point, it is just about figuring out something that interests you and something you always wanted to do and some of these things are cheap and some free. PM if you ever get bored!

With all due respect I think you're missing the point somewhat. A lot of the activities you mentioned are singular distractions whereas the sense of the OP's point seems to be what to do from a social point of view. I think it's perfectly viable to say that there is nothing to do with regard socialising with other people that doesn't involve drinking.

I joined a tag rugby league this summer. We played our 20 minute match every Thursday then it was all off to the pub. Bowling, pool, 5-a-side whatever it's all followed by off to the pub. Even having a movie night usually involves people bringing along a bottle of wine or a few beers. I've been sober for three months but I found it very challenging from a social point of view.