Peer pressure!

Wardy92

Off the drink for the next 4 months because of antibiotics. Didn't realize how bad peer pressure was until now. Im 20 and a student in NUIG its mad how much people react when they see you without a can or pint in your hand. Few friends asking if I'm "ok" and things like that. Funny how if your not drinking its naturally assumed something is wrong with you!! Tough on people who actually don't want to drink!

Peanut Butter Jelly

At my age, it's common for people to drink nowadays. I don't want to because I'm afraid I'll end up like my granddad. He drank way to much and rarely had time for me. I feel like the odd one out cos, believe it or not, I'm the only non-drinker in my year. But this works, when no-ones looking, order a red bull in a pint glass, and it looks like a pint of bud. Then just sip away and it looks like your drinking.

libnation

Do not give in to the pressure. It seems puzzling as to why people pressure you constantly but it all boils down to from my experience:

Teenage years - 'man you have to try getting drunk it's awesome' but that's only because its a new sensation. Replace 'getting drunk' with anything - eg skydiving, and people who have just done a skydive will say 'man you have to try sky diving its awesome'. But the reality is most people will say 'no I'm too scared' and be left alone. However with alcohol - teenagers don't get hangovers and drinking underage is seen as cool so the pressure is easier to put on others.

College years - you have new found freedom. Getting drunk in our culture is an excuse for doing crazy things so people associate those who don't drink with people who aren't availing of their new found freedom so pressure is put on.

In your twenties - alcohol is seen as a quick stress reliever and crazy nights out are a way of sticking it to the man - 'I can still be my crazy college self'. Those who aren't drinking are perceived to be throwing their life away - aka 'why isn't he drinking, work is like college with money, what a dry sh*te'

However the common theme here is that after the initial first-time-effects-of-alcohol, people get a perception about alcohol and its supposed important role in life which they feel the need to pass on to others. The reality is the real enjoyment from the 'good times' are laughs you have with friends and even more importantly the different experiences you have - getting drunk is just one experience you can have.

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

xim2

Doesn't get better in your 30's ...:( i stopped drinking now for over a year and jeezz I couldn't believe how much could it affect my social life.
People at work were surprised and kinda cut me out off from my social circle a bit.

I basically had to find some new friends if i wanted to continue off the drinks , I am so glad I did it , was hard... but people who only can think off party and alcohol is self destructive. I met so many new people and i feel healthier, if you want to meet some like minded people , here are some groups that can help you :

http://bit.ly/V2Mx8B
http://bit.ly/TqDTPf

gilmour

I have to say its not something that i ever really struggled with or should i say encountered a lot. Of course its there and i would never suggest otherwise, but my way of dealing with it was to be absolutely frank and honest about why i quit drinking (of course thats different to people who never drank or just dont like it etc). Its been so long for me personally that everyone i know associates me with being a non drinker but they know i like to socialise without it and they happily get on with their business.

I'm in my early 30s now though but i did quit at 21, i can still remember the puzzled look on all my friends faces when i gathered them round one night to tell them exactly why i was quitting and that it was no joke. You find out who your real friends are then, i found out the majority of mine were cool with it and some others drifted away.

The only time i really come across those puzzled looks now is by women in their early 20's in nightclubs which is understandable really, some people just dont know non drinkers as f*cked up as that sounds