Teetotal and teased

[evedawn]

About three months ago I stopped drinking alcohol (totally) Not that I was heavy / daily drinker at all, (always been able to "take it or leave it"). But, I do know that it changes my personality (alot) when I do drink...and so because of that I decided to not touch alcohol again...ever.

Now this is the Q: Why do others (including friends tell me I am being ridiculous, unsociable etc...I do NOT have a problem with others drinking ... and still enjoy a good party / pub crawl etc. I feel quite able to enjoy myself when stone cold sober...but I am getting tired of the comments from others! Anybody found the same?

[Hopkirk]

Just use the phrase

"No thanks, I never drink when I'm driving"

It's a perfectly good reason, that most people should respect you for. There is no reason why you should have to explain any further.

[Eve]

I can take it or leave it am am quite happy to go on a night out and not drink. It is completely alien to me how people can get themselves into such a state that they can't look after themselves and get themselves home safely and when people can't remember parts of the night, getting home etc... the thought of being that drunk terrifies me!

I wouldn't want to and couldn't do it and just, I assume, expect others to look after me, probably at the cost of their own night as well! Seems very selfish to me.

[bld767]

I've not had an alcoholic drink for 10 years now for health reasons, and my family and friends have been nothing but supportive to me, which has made life a bit easier, but also many of my friends don't drink whilst they are out, usually because they are driving, or they just don't drink much any more. I still have a good time when I'm out, and watch people get drunk and feel quite glad that I'm not making a prat of myself and will have a stinking hangover the next day! But.... I went to a very old friend's wedding last week, and there was champagne poured for the toasts, and thought - oh, I'll try just one sip, and it tasted awful, and it was good quality champagne, so it's easier to stick to avoiding drink now as well.

[Answerprancer]

My advice - don't give in to "beer pressure".

[andy-hughes]

I have been teetotal all my life, and as a teenagerin the seventies, it was seriously unusual not to drink.

I always got asked if it was for medical or religious reasons!

It's true though, some people's insecurity manifests itself as aggression, which is really unpleasant. I believe as a culture we are raised to believe that being intoxicated equates with a good time.

The British are alone in this - all other countries drink for the pleasure of the drink - the British drink to be drunk, one of our most unpleasant national characteristics.

[Pinkypie]

I'm teetotal and I also get this, BUT I am also quite bubbly without drink anyway so people don't often realise I'm not drinking! I can get away with it as I drink a coke (which could have vodka in it for all they know) but it's more noticable if a man doesn't have a pint I suppose!

Don't get why people feel that way!

[jno]

andy, it's not only British; it's north European (countries with cold weather and long nights for part of the year, which may well be a significant factor). Scandinavians and Russians tend to drink too much in a similar fashion to Brits. (ie by no means all of them or all the time of course, but some.)