Drink Not Required

bluefinger

Not sure if this has been done, but here goes.

Browsing through the non-drinkers group forum, i've noticed that there is not a lot to recommend it, especially the things to do threads. Which i would imagine could be very useful for those who are stuck for things to do.

Imo this is probably due to a false division between events where drinking is present and it is not. Which means that this forum is struggling as if you divide things into non drinking or drinking events you're left with very little for non-drinking as drink is available just about everywhere these days. For instance as a bonified thing to do, there is only the funky seomra where drink and drugs are a definite no no.

As a non drinker myself i'm not too concerned about whether or not others are drinking whilst i'm out but would admit that as the night goes I get a bit weary if i'm in a place where drinking is the only thing to do. As such there are probably at least three categories of events that you could have.

Drink Centred Event ie sitting in a pub for four or five hours- Not great fun for your average non drinker i would imagine.

Event Centred ie a concert or something- Can be enjoyed with or without drink. Suitable for non drinkers or drinkers who are drinking or just 'taking a night off'.

Other, Something like funky seomra where there is an emphasis on substance free enjoyment.

So, with this in mind are there any suggestions for things to do (especially over Xmas) that might fall into the second and third category above?

OK-Cancel-Apply

It's a tough one because the primary motivation and 'fuel' for going out and having a laugh in Ireland is alcohol. Like you said, who could sit around a table for 5 hours without being sustained by drink? As a non drinker I find myself either in the aforementioned scenario, or simply staying in. It's the cornerstone of our culture, so anything different is going to be difficult to realise.

So the main thing with the events, for me anyway, is finding a reason to interact with other people that isn't centred around the promise of alcohol at some point, but the event itself. I don't have a problem with others drinking, but when they are, it's as if they are on a different wavelength - as if the source of their enjoyment, at that particular event or moment, is different to yours.

Pete4779

The solution is to not feel like sitting in one pub for 5hrs is a normal thign to do - it isn't. The only people that stay in one place to do one thing that long are drug addicts injecting heroin.

Basicaly, go out, have acup of tea, maybe two, but you should be done with the socialising within 1-2hrs at most. If you are getting bored, it's your mind telling you to go and do something else. That is normal. It's why you might find after 1-2 hrs in a movie, it's time to do something else, same with anything really. It's normal after you have caught up with friends, etc., to then go abotu your business. It's entirely ABNORMAL to stay drinking 5 diet cokes for example - it's the alcohol that keeps people in pubs, not the amazing surrounds and high quality lemonade.

The problem is the critical mass of people that will sit in a pub for 5hrs+ simply drinking. If there are one or two more of you that don't and leave, it makes things much easier. Also, the drinkers will tend to go for ****ty food like McDonalds or kebabs in my experience; you'll have to simply not invite them to a restaurant if they only want to knock back 10 pints. The fast food mentality also makes socialising with the Just Drinkers much more difficult.

I don't think alcohol-free events are in any way normal either; basically, extremes of either banning drinking or being near alcohol or else having 12 pints and sitting in a pub is the problem. You drink or you are a pioneer - in reality, a better solution is that socialising is with alcohol if you want it, or with little mince pies if you want it. Segregating groups is a little weird IMHO.

Panthro

maybe set up a thread with the aim of setting up a few localised get togethers of non drinkers and folk who u know will call around and not want to drink on the night, to sit around each others houses, have wii parties, watch films, trade tunes, have a chit chat, that kind of thing.