For those of you who don't drink alcohol, what does your social life consist of?

[Amp34]

Before any warriors come in with the 'it really isn't that hard to go without alcohol', I can appreciate how the OP might feel. Due to a very social last week, I drank 5 nights out of 7, more out of coincidence rather than deliberate choice (if that makes any sense). Clearly, Alcohol consumption is extremely common at a wide range of social events.

But of course, you don't need to drink to have fun. There are plenty of activities you can do with your friends without alcohol - go on a day out, cinema, sports. Why don't you try taking up a sport like squash and convince your friends to play?

You don't need alcohol to have fun...

Being serious here, I don't drink (well the *very* occasional cider) but go out to clubs and anywhere else, just instead of alcohol I drink soft drinks (usually coke), never had a problem.

As for places other than clubs where you drink, ie pubs there really is no excuse, they sell soft drinks as well don't you know.

Having said that if the club is particularly nasty or the friends particularly drunk then it isn't quite as pleasant, however you just learn to not go to those clubs. I don't quite see why the OP doesn't go out, to me it's more of a don't want to go out and using alcohol as an excuse.

Also it's interesting to note that although a lot of my friends ask how I can go out and not drink and still have fun, when there is no alcohol being drunk by anyone those nights regularly get called one of the best nights out...

You don't need to drink to have fun...

 

[Amp34]

I don't understand people who don't drink any alcohol, a few pints on an evening every few weeks is hardly gonna kill ya.

Besides when I go to the pub I can't be bothered with a taxi, on a week night I will just have the 1 beer and then a coke.

Some people don't like the taste, some don't like the feeling of being drunk (me) etc.. If you don't like the taste of Beer for example then why drink it? If you don't want to get drunk (for example driving) and don't like beer what's the point in spending a couple of quid on an alcoholic drink when a pint of coke, or orange juice is cheaper and just as nice? The real question is if the answer to the previous questions is yes why are you drinking alcoholic drinks in the first place? Street cred?

If I say to my mates I am not drinking they would think I was weird but they wouldn't force me, are these people really your mates?

IME it's not normally mates as such, although there are the occasional "mate" that tries it on constantly but more aquaintences, people you meet out or have not known for long/been out with before. These are the usual suspects. When you say no a few times they usually get bored...

Each to their own but tbh some of you guys are weird, I am not the most sociabal person or even outgoing but how is dancing not fun? Are you dead?

finding a good club is the problem, most of the places are rubbish around here and simply play chart music or crap chav dance music. eurghh.

TBH as someone else mentioned clubs are very antisocial in a lot of ways, and although I like the occasional dance most people who go to clubs are there for one of two reasons: to get smashed, or to pick up someone to **** (especially men). It's quite enlightening to go to a club sober sometimes.

Just to point out I didn used to drink, however I decided I didn't like the taste of alcohol (especially beer) and couldn't see the point of buying it just to fit in when a soft drink was usually nicer. I also hate the feeling of being drunk, and by that I don't mean wasted, I mean just tipsy, not being in control of my body 100% is not something I enjoy.

 

[panthro]

On most week nights I train at a muay thai gym, or play squash. Afterwards if I go out I just drink non alcoholic drinks, play some pool, chat with friends etc. Sometimes we go bowling as a group (its good fun!), go for dinner etc. Since when does a social life have to revolve around alcohol?

 

[KizZ]

I think you'd be surprised, many nights I've had lots of fun without drinking any alcohol at all, you might be surprised that you don't need alcohol to have fun or maybe you do =/

Alcohol can relax and 'loosen up' shy people. Certainly works for me and a friend.

 

[Ziggy]

I think it's quite a sad reflection on society that people can't socialize or enjoy themselves without taking a drug.

 

[Nitefly]

I think it's quite a sad reflection on society that people can't socialize or enjoy themselves without taking a drug.

Well, that clearly isn't true is it, as demonstrated by the numerous posts in this very thread.

I like to drink because it's fun, that doesn't make it a bad thing unless you are doing it as a form of escapism more often than you probably should.

 

[Dj_Jestar]

I'm in the same boat. Used to drink several times a week with friends, but have since decided to put a stop to it, to save money and sanity if nothing else.

I've also found that this means I am almost neglecting my friends, and am also at a loss for what to do with my self when I'd normally be in the pub.

I've seen every film that has come out in the last 3 months, have been experimenting with food (i.e. trying out new recipes, trying to make more flamboyant dinners etc.) to try and keep my self entertained, it's starting to prove difficult.

 

[Delvis]

I'm in the same boat. Used to drink several times a week with friends, but have since decided to put a stop to it, to save money and sanity if nothing else.

I've also found that this means I am almost neglecting my friends, and am also at a loss for what to do with my self when I'd normally be in the pub.

I've seen every film that has come out in the last 3 months, have been experimenting with food (i.e. trying out new recipes, trying to make more flamboyant dinners etc.) to try and keep my self entertained, it's starting to prove difficult.

Just go out then, and don't drink alcohol, you obviously don't need it....and soft drinks are loads cheaper than alcoholic ones.

Take up a hobby, learn to ski/snowboard or something...anything!

 

[Nitefly]

Just go out then, and don't drink alcohol, you obviously don't need it....and soft drinks are loads cheaper than alcoholic ones.

This is obviously a valid alternative, but you would probably be lying if you thought it could be as constantly fun. Once and awhile, a night out without drinking is enjoyable, but I'd imagine it could become a chore quite quickly.

 

[Dj_Jestar]

I can't afford any hobbies as luxurious as that, unfortunately. I'm also 'out and about' a fair bit, but not in terms of out and about doing fun stuff, just running around getting things done and getting stuff in order etc.

I find myself bored within an hour if I go to the pub and not drink. With the right company (i.e. not a load of people drinking) it's great and very pleasant, but my friends are drinking and after a while it becomes annoying, if nothing else.

 

[Yamahahahahaha]

Why not try...?

Why not try pretending to be the local Lord of the Manor, get some girl (or girls) pregnant, then threaten them that unless they keep quiet, they will surely lose their job?

Why not try taking time off sick?

Why not try never having heard of Miss Saigon?

Why not try pretending not to know who Natalie Imbruglia is?

Why not try sending a slightly crumpled copy of this week's "Reveal" magazine to a bookbinders' for repair and subsequent rebinding in vellum with gold lettering on the spine?

Why not try presenting your old toilet paper rolls to the British Museum as a treasure for the nation?

Why not try calling the President Bill Clinton "pet"?

Why not try not collecting your wages, getting a written warning for it, and remaining inscrutable as to the reason why?

Why not try ordering your dinner in a silly French accent, and your pudding in a silly German Nazi accent?

Why not try saying "keep the change, baby" to the lady in the newsagent's?

Why not try casting your fate to the wind, and your bread upon the waters?

Why not try building a bridge over troubled water?

Why not try taking someone by the hand and leading them through the streets of London to show them something to make them change their mind?

Why not try inventing someone who worked in your office when you started 14 years ago but left before any of your present colleagues started, and reminisce about the jolly japes and capers they got up to, making everyone else wish they had known him as well?

Why not try telling everyone that you are lonely and that for you the sun don't shine?

Why not try looking into the middle distance and rubbing your lower lip?

Why not try asking around?

Why not try making a go of it?

Why not try catching in the rye?

Why not try being a worldly-wise and lovable cockney character who knows more than he's letting on, know what I mean?

Why not try marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before?

Why not try being there for me, no matter what?

Why not try going into your local library, going up to the librarian at the main reception desk and saying in a very loud voice: "I bet you read lots of books, don't you?"

Why not try airlifting an enormous emergency consignment of Haribo sweets to feed the Eskimos?

Why not try telling everyone that Vanessa Feltz is your big sister?

Why not try drawing a picture of a tank?

Why not try putting your life savings into opening a Chuckle Brothers theme park?

Why not try telling your headmaster that your dad was reported missing in action during the last few weeks of the Korean War and that, therefore, you would like to be excused from attending the traditional Armistice Day school assembly as that day is a particularly poignant occasion for you when you would rather be alone with your thoughts, then, when he gives you permission not to attend, go into town and mooch around the local shopping precinct with just 8p in your pocket and kill time until you have to go back to school by looking at the yachting magazines in WH Smith's?

Why not try telling Chris Tarrant he's a ****?

The world is your oyster!

 

[Delvis]

This is obviously a valid alternative, but you would probably be lying if you thought it could be as constantly fun. Once and awhile, a night out without drinking is enjoyable, but I'd imagine it could become a chore quite quickly.

Meh, my girlfriend loves it, she doesn't drink at all....think she's had one night with alcohol, never again...And she's still fun to be out with

I can't afford any hobbies as luxurious as that, unfortunately. I'm also 'out and about' a fair bit, but not in terms of out and about doing fun stuff, just running around getting things done and getting stuff in order etc.

I find myself bored within an hour if I go to the pub and not drink. With the right company (i.e. not a load of people drinking) it's great and very pleasant, but my friends are drinking and after a while it becomes annoying, if nothing else.

Understandable about the finances, but you get the idea...Take up an evening class or something somewhere once every so many weeks...Just thinking of options

Or get yourself a cheap bike and go riding every so often, say Saturday morning etc.

 

[Wossi]

I go through phases of not drinking. Last weekend I was drunk Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday night. Between Monday and Last night I had 3 pints, this week it'll probably be the same.

 

[Vixen]

This is obviously a valid alternative, but you would probably be lying if you thought it could be as constantly fun. Once and awhile, a night out without drinking is enjoyable, but I'd imagine it could become a chore quite quickly.

Why would spending time with your friends become a chore? I don't go to the pub so much now but one summer I was out 5+ nights a week and drove almost every time. I wouldn't spend time with people who think they have to be "wasted" to have fun though, my friends at the time were out to socialise.

 

[Delvis]

Why would spending time with your friends become a chore? I don't go to the pub so much now but one summer I was out 5+ nights a week and drove almost every time. I wouldn't spend time with people who think they have to be "wasted" to have fun though, my friends at the time were out to socialise.

Exactly...Kinda defeats the object of a friendship

 

[platypus]

Exercise.

 

[Nitefly]

Why would spending time with your friends become a chore? I don't go to the pub so much now but one summer I was out 5+ nights a week and drove almost every time. I wouldn't spend time with people who think they have to be "wasted" to have fun though, my friends at the time were out to socialise.

What I meant was that if you are going to simply chat and be social whilst avoiding drink, then it is more comfortable to do it at home or a nearby location rather than a club, hence the option of going for a night on the town is a less appealing option. Furthermore, dancing is, in my experience, far more fun when you are drinking - people typically go out to town to drink and dance.

In summary, when you go to town sobre, you go out of your way to do something you would rather do in a more convinient location to do something where you probably won't have as much fun as everyone else, hence it might become less & less appealing. I have had a few sobre nights in clubs and have loved them, but I do prefer to drink.

 

[Dinomania]

I'll have the occasional trip down the pub, usually to catch up with someone, and then I'll have a couple of pints of a nice ale, sometimes three (by which point I'm usually pretty squiffy). Drinking four pints is bad, slur-city and dizzy, wheeeeee. I know now to stop at (or before) that point rather than drink through it like I used to while at uni.

I'm mad-keen on swing dancing nowadays though, if I have more than a couple spread out over the evening, I get pretty rubbish! And I'm usually hot and sweaty so tend to be chugging water or soda & lime just for refreshment instead.

The problem comes when something rocks the balance and I get a taste for it - only happens once or twice a year, I get a horrible hangover, and learn my lesson for a while. Usually that's a generous friend who I've not seen in a while (looong catch-up plus it's hard to refuse being bought your drinks), or like the last time I learned my lesson (about a month ago) when on walking back to my bicycle I spotted a lock-in at my favourite pub... I got myself in and the rest is history. Bleurgh!

 

[Janesy B]

The problem with being sober around drunk people as that you notice how people turn into repetitive irritating ***** after a couple of pints and you will wish you hadn't bothered.

 

[Bony Maloney]

The problem with being sober around drunk people is that you notice how people turn into repetitive irritating ***** after a couple of pints and you will wish you hadn't bothered.

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