People who don't drink- why don't you?

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beergutkid wrote:

The only socially savvy people who don't drink either cannot handle alcohol well, or they're legitimate sociopaths.

Both my parents and sister were killed by a drunk driver when I was 12. I have limited use of my left hand from the accident. I despise alcohol. If you're "socially savvy" only when you drink, then you're the one with problems, big boy.

Identical thoughts, right down to the "..fall asleep." Never anything harder than a beer. Way back when - decades ago - before serious running, I smoked some serious weed for several years, but when training became a significant part of my persona that fell by the wayside - along w/ the fact that it aggravates my seasonal asthma. Over the years, I've learned to make friends w/ my brain as it is - no help needed. Yeah, sounds scary....

Because they are losers and dweebs.

I drink very occasionally. If you think about how pregnant women aren't supposed to drink alcohol or else the babies will have birth defects, then it doesn't seem like alcohol is a good think overall. Anyway, when it comes time to make a baby, I'll make sure that I haven't drunk anything for a few months. Look it up. Not going to take chances with my sperm DNA.

I don't drink because I reached my lifetime quota between 1979 and 2009.

If someone is rude enough in a social setting to ask why I'm not drinking, I say the line above. If they want to keep talking about it after that, I answer whatever questions they have.

More recent acquaintances are probably surprised when I say that I use to drink. Between that and my being a vegetarian, they think I'm a health nut.

Long-time acquaintances are probably surprised I really, truly no longer drink.

beergutkid wrote:

The only socially savvy people who don't drink either cannot handle alcohol well, or they're legitimate sociopaths.

If you require a drink to make you socially savvy, then you are not savvy (by yourself). Lots of good people don't drink. Those that are abusers of drugs tend to have social problems.

smd wrote:

I don't drink because I reached my lifetime quota between 1979 and 2009.

If someone is rude enough in a social setting to ask why I'm not drinking, I say the line above. If they want to keep talking about it after that, I answer whatever questions they have.

Correct. For some, there is no more appeal. Or as others have posted, being sleepy in social scenarios doesn't work very well.

The person that keeps at the "why aren't you drinking alcohol?" after politely declining has some things to work through.

I do drink, but very little. If you're in a group you can usually get away with not drinking. If it's one on one it's polite to have a drink if they're having one. What I do is usually just have one drink though along with water and drink slowly.

Why don't I drink (more)? Alcohol is terrible for you for one, regardless of what any studies might say. While small amounts of alcohol might be beneficial in some ways, it's still harmful in others. I've met a few people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who never drink and never really started, and they generally look astonishingly good for their age. I've also known many people in their 20s and 30s who drink regularly (doesn't even need to be heavy drinking) who look like hell. I would rather look good and healthy.

I also don't like being drunk or inebriated in any way. Never appealed to me. I do enjoy the feeling of being buzzed, but it's not something I seek out. If people are drinking to "escape," there are better ways to do that. Therapy would be a good starting point.

not here wrote:

Because I had two relatives who were alcoholics, including my dad. I watched my dad literally drink himself into an early grave, and live in an alcohol induced haze for years before his death.

Studies show that having an immediate family member with alcoholism increases your own proclivity toward it. I decided my best route was to never touch the stuff. Simple risk-reward decision. Whatever "reward" it might bring isn't worth the risk of ending up like my dad.

I get absolutely no "crap" from people about it, because I don't hang around immature jerks.

Literally the same situation here. And I was raised a "Mormon" as y'all would call us, and I just don't believe in it. My family history strengthens that, though, as alcoholism has been an epidemic in my family for many generations.

Brain Injury...

I drink beer and wine and I've been thinking about giving it up for a number of reasons. 1. I'm 42 now and unless I'm actively training, I'm struggling with staying slim even without delicious IPAs. 2. I'm a worse patent when I've been drinking. I have less patience with my kids and less desire to play with them. 3. It's saps my ambition to do things outside of my job -- freelance work, business ideas, yard work etc.

Beer and wine are honestly better than ever and it's ridiculous how tasty they are now, and it's harder than ever to quit outright.

I don't like the taste of alcohol.

liverlover wrote:

Also, how much crap do you get from colleagues, co-workers, friends, etc. for not drinking? How'd you navigate college as a teetotaler?

I never drank much in college due to a lot of social awkwardness and mistrust. I carried around a beer can full of water after my first drink so that I fit in at the parties. Because I never got used to drinking alcohol it makes me sick now. I can only drink maybe, one beer before feeling ill. Don't usually make it through a whole one honestly. I've wondered if my liver has trouble processing it because the one or two times a year that I drink more than one beer, I'm hung over days and it takes a week or more to feel back to normal.

I don't get that much crap. I'm the odd one out though! I've noticed I look a lot younger than others my age though. Does teetotaling cause you to age more slowly?

I quit in Dec. of 1994. I only drank for social reasons. I don't like the taste and the aftereffects, commonly called a hangover. I don't miss it. I also don't drink and use caffeine. I tell people for religious reasons. I also don't indulge in narcotics or tobacco.

Non drinker here. I never drank a beer in college. Once in a while I will have a beer just to fit in.....but really would rather not.

I enjoy the taste of root beer so much more. I never thought beer or alcohol tasted good at all.

That said I am glad that I don't drink. I don't have a beer gut and can eat a lot more without gaining weight.

As you know alcohol causes fat storage and slows metabolism and adds calories.

I don't drink cause I don't like the taste and also don't like the buzz you get.

I'm 26 and I've never had a sip of alcohol for several reasons.

1. I've never been curious to know what it tastes like.

2. My priorities have always been running and school. I always ask myself this question: how does this fit in with my goals? I've just never seen alcohol to have a place in my goals.

3. It costs money.

4. I've got a very addictive personality, so if I get into something, I'm usually all-in. That means I'm never taking any chances with drugs or alcohol.

5. I would still go to parties in college, and seeing people that had to be taken care of makes me never want to be that person. I'm very independent and don't like relying on others.

All of those combined are why I will likely never try an alcoholic beverage. Most people throughout college respected me for it. Sometimes I felt like some people thought that I had an "I'm better than you because I don't drink" vibe, but I really don't mind if other people drink or not (unless they're my teammates and they're being irresponsible). I just don't enjoy being around it. Seeing people drunk at parties would motivate me to go to bed earlier and get up and hammer a long run. My two cents.

I dont drink because I don't want to. I'm still underage anyways but obviously its common for anyone to drink in college no matter how old they are. I just don't have a want to go out and drink or get drunk. I don't get any crap from friends or teammates because they don't care. When I first got to college and my team had a party, people offered me beer but nobody really cares if you say no. Most people aren't going to try to push you. It seems like everyone is drinking and a lot of people think you need to drink to have fun but you don't. I navigate college just fine.

I dont drink because I don't want to. I'm still underage anyways but obviously its common for anyone to drink in college no matter how old they are. I just don't have a want to go out and drink or get drunk. I don't get any crap from friends or teammates because they don't care. When I first got to college and my team had a party, people offered me beer but nobody really cares if you say no. Most people aren't going to try to push you. It seems like everyone is drinking and a lot of people think you need to drink to have fun but you don't. I navigate college just fine.