What's wrong with the phrase "I don't drink"?

[Arclight]

Try a blended pure malt scotch.

 

[mommymichelle]

I’ve never been a drinker, either. People seem to feel like you’re putting a damper on the festivities if you don’t drink. I don’t understand it.

 

[Ruthie]

I’ve had plenty of experience, as an alcoholic with a quarter-century of sobriety. Here’s what I use with the really persistent ones, when the polite responses don’t work:

(Jokingly) “Sure I’ll drink that, if you don’t mind me barfing it up on your carpet/sofa/upholstery.”

Another, not joking:

“Why are you so worried about what I drink? Are you afraid everybody will notice how much you drink?”

“It’s none of your business what I drink. You are being rude. Please stop interfering with my enjoyment of this evening.”

Also, pray for them…

Love,

Ruthie

 

[Trishie]

It works for my husband.
He was once taken aside by a colleague and lectured seriously that “being a non-drinker is ‘anti-social’”. He remained a non-drinker.

 

[Liberanosamalo]

"So don’t let it bother you. I learned to just say, “Alcoholism runs in my family,” and then people left me alone.

Haha. This one could be really fun to say when you’re around your family.

 

[apromisemade]

I am a 19 year old college student and don’t drink either. I don’t like the idea of a foreign substance altering my mind to that extent.

Surprisingly though, I have found a number of friends who either

a) don’t really drink either

b) drink and just don’t wear it on their sleeves and understand there are other ways to have fun

c) drink openly but respect me for the fact that I don’t

I think the idea that “everybody drinks” is a serious sterotype and overstatement.

 

[seeker_of_God]

Yeah, I get this, too. I’m 20 years old, and in a fraternity, so the problem is multiplied a bit.

Everyone knows I don’t drink, but offers anyway. One friend in particular was rather pushy last year, almost getting angry I wouldn’t drink. He appologized for it later, but still he gets pushy sometimes.

They did get me to drink once at the end of the spring semester last year, so are just trying to do it again. I didn’t mind it, but it just doesn’t taste good to me, and I’m worried of the effects that’d have with my medication.

 

[spellinggirl]

My mom gets this all the time. She only likes really good wine, so she feels obligated to drink at parties. It’s sad.

I’m only 15, so I don’t drink, but I never will. We’ve had some huge issues with alcohol in my family, and it’s just caused too many problems. I don’t want to hurt my family the way some of my relatives did.

 

[gardenswithkids]

for one thing the phrase is not accurate, as I do drink, all kinds of things at least a quart of filtered water every day plus tea–green, black, white; coffee, club soda-cranberry juice spritzer, V-8, anything wet, just not alchohol. …

:yup: Notice what Annie wrote. I was thinking that to myself as I read the title of this thread, while drinking a non-alcoholic beverage. :compcoff: Very few individuals don’t drink–the human body is about 60% water. We need liquid. If you tell people you don’t drink while you are drinking a glass of water or root beer, they may notice the irony and laugh a bit.

Oh yeah!! I do love a good Root Beer!! And a Sassperilla(sp).

See now–you just admitted that you drink.

Now, if you want people to stop saying something about you not drinking alcohol, try adding a wedge of lime to your glass. Sparkling water with lime blends especially well. Even plain water tastes better to me with a wedge of lemon or lime–and then it doesn’t look quite to plain and boring to drink water at a party. If it’s a party, people want to have fun. Food and drink are part of the fun–if you select more festive non-alcoholic drinks, people may be less inclined to say something.

 

[GraceDK]

Seriously. I don’t drink. I don’t have anything against it, I just don’t like it. I don’t like the way it tastes, I don’t like the way it makes me feel. And even one glass of wine will really upset my stomach so it’s best if I just don’t drink so I don’t. It’s amazing how much money I save too.

But why do I seem to be the odd ball. I get funny looks while I drink my water at a cocktail party. My parents talked to me the other day and were asking if I got drunk with my sisters the other weekend. When I reminded them that I don’t drink they say, “oh yeah, you’re that child of ours”. So I’m even getting it from my parents.

Now, I am a strong person and no one can sway me to do something I don’t want to do. I just wish I could come up with something clever to say when I am being made fun of for my lack of alcohol appreciation or when my sister is trying to hand me a glass wine knowing I don’t want it.

And in case you are wondering, I am almost 40 years old, I’m not a teenager or in my 20’s. I’ve been dealing with this for a long long time but I’m just now getting really sick of it for some reason.

“I dont drink” is a great little line and right to the mark. You have no explaining to do and nothing to apologize for.
I also dont drink and I say that whenever I am offered wine or beer. Its that simple. I was never teased, not even in school… rather people get interested to know the reason, and even if it was a principle of mine before I became a Christian, I now use it as an evangelisation-opener

 

[jman507]

If I was pressed I might say, “Seriously, I cannot drink or else, I’ll get a pretty bad reaction from it.” You may want to figure out, if your feeling anxious how you think people see you as not drinking. Sometimes if you give off vibes of feeling uncomfortable or defensive, people will hook on that, to give you a hard time. But of course that may not be the case, sometimes people will be that way regardless.

Actually for myself, I’ll go out to the bar, I hardly ever have alcohol. I’ve find any fun I’ve ever lost out on by not drinking, has been more than replaced by the peace of mind of not worrying about the drive home, or making sure the others get home safe. Actually, I don’t think I really had more fun drinking; it was just nice to be out there with the people I know.

 

[samcarter14]

"So don’t let it bother you. I learned to just say, “Alcoholism runs in my family,” and then people left me alone.

Haha. This one could be really fun to say when you’re around your family.

I seriously thought of using this line when we were planning our wedding. Because we had so many little kids (DH’s nieces and nephews) running around, and because my MIL’s childhood had been shattered by her mother’s alcoholism, we opted to have NO open bar. We did have a champagne toast, but after that people had to go to the hotel bar to buy booze if they wanted it. It was ironic that my family’s table was the one boozing it up, because my mother’s father was an abusive alcoholic during her childhood. Doesn’t stop her from drinking!

 

[maryjk]

“The last time I drank, I threw up. Your call.”

Or you could just hang out with others that don’t drink. My husband doesn’t, ever. Like you, he doesn’t like the taste.

When we are out together and someone offers him a drink, I pipe in with, “If he drinks, who is driving me home?” I married my own designated driver. (And I only drink wine.)

 

[Arclight]

… I get funny looks while I drink my water at a cocktail party. …

water in a highball glass looks like a tom collins, coke in a double old fashioned glass looks like a rum and coke. Are you “advertising” your dislike of alcohol for some reason? It sound like you’re picking a fight. I’ve been on the cocktail circuit and I’d don’t see the kind of shunning you’re talking about.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

“I dont drink” is a great little line and right to the mark. You have no explaining to do and nothing to apologize for.
I also dont drink and I say that whenever I am offered wine or beer. Its that simple. I was never teased, not even in school… rather people get interested to know the reason, and even if it was a principle of mine before I became a Christian, I now use it as an evangelisation-opener

Which could lead to an interesting conversation or two!

However, a DECENT host would say, “Okay, then, what can I get you: water, soda, tea, lemonade?”

The crux of being a good host is to make your guests feel welcome, comfortable, and relaxed. People who push others to booze it up are the ones who have a problem–not non-boozers.

 

[Southparkmom]

The perfect reply…

I’m driving.

 

[LilyM]

water in a highball glass looks like a tom collins, coke in a double old fashioned glass looks like a rum and coke. Are you “advertising” your dislike of alcohol for some reason? It sound like you’re picking a fight. I’ve been on the cocktail circuit and I’d don’t see the kind of shunning you’re talking about.

Especially if you stick an umbrella or lemon wedge or olive (or other garnish) in it.

I had lots of fun at the tail-end of a cocktail party once. I went around giving a glass of water with an umbrella to people, with no other comment than ‘try this!’. Took most of 'em a while to work out that it was just water

 

[captbackfire]

I can understand your frustration…I’d probably tell people, “I’m recovering” just to see the looks on their faces. After all, they don’t need to know that you are really referring to the fact that you are trying to recover from people bugging you about your decision not to drink alcohol And I bet you they’d never try to hand you a drink again LOL!

**After more than two decades of sober living, I can tell you it’s not worth the look on anyone’s face when you tell him or her that you don’t drink. If pressed, I tell them, “You don’t want to see me like that.” If pressed further, I tell them I become homicidal if I drink. That is the truth. That usually quiets them down.

capt**

 

[lovemysix]

Capt,

Kudos to you on your 20 years! I’d love to see the looks on their faces after your truthful “homicidal” comment, though. I’m sure that DOES shut them up

Lauren

 

[Cat]

I’ve never been a drinker, either. People seem to feel like you’re putting a damper on the festivities if you don’t drink. I don’t understand it.

Same here.

I seldom go to social gatherings where there is drinking. Dinners occasionally. I don’t enjoy myself much. My favorite social activity is conversation, and when there is drinking, I’m never quite sure exactly where the other people are.