Teetotalism

[memyselfandi]

I drink very very little over the course of a year, (I've had a boozy, for me Christmas and New Year this year ... since Christmas Eve I've probably had two pints of beer and four glasses of wine) ... don't find barely drinking really affects things when I go out at all.

But then by the time you are my age then a night out doesn't really have the goal of drinking until you pass out and wake up in a skip in Minsk ... not that I've ever been a big drinker.

I just don't see the point of spending vast amounts of money on alcohol, which I don't really like that much, and then doing something stupid or not remembering what I did the next day.

 

[Makunouchi]

I was teetotal for about a year and half for sporting reasons. After that amount of time I realised I'd stopped doing a lot of social things I used to do before and was having a lot less fun because of it, yes I was getting satisfaction from my sport but I was so focused on it I was training to the exclusion of everything else, including my friends. In the end I just walked away from it and went back to a normal life. Yes I regret it and wish I could have it both ways but unfortunately I'm not that sort of person. I'm having much more fun now and have found other interests/hobbies that don't require such massive time sinks and strict diets.

 

[Amp34]

Same thing everyone else does? I've never been a drinker and my average night out at Uni involved the same things as everyone elses - just without getting hammered or spending 50 quid I couldnt remember the next day.

This...

If you can't go out to a bar/pub/club and have fun without drinking then you really need to look at yourself.

I am not a teetotaler however, I normally have a drink or two* when I'm out but don't like being tipsy or drunk so never go beyond a drink or two.

Peer pressure is usually the most annoying thing you have to put up with (other than the wasted ****s you find in a lot of dross places) but that usually fissles out about the second or third time you go out with someone and it doesn't bother me either way.

The only thing I "miss" is the pulling/sleeping with random girls, but then if I could pick them up in a club when I was drunk I probably wouldn't want to spend time with them anyway...

*And by that I literally mean one or two drinks, I like the taste of Cider for example so will have one drink, the alcohol is an unfortunate side affect of cider which is why I only have that many!

EDIT: When I was 17/18 I used to drink a lot more but then I grew up and realised I could go out and have a good time without drinking.

 

[Cosimo]

For the guys that have gone tee total, how easy was it and did you do it gradually, go cold Turkey or was it case you have never been big drinkers ?

I was a big drinker and went cold turkey. I was bad for the first weeks but it was the only way. It had to be a clean break or else I would have just carried on. Everybody thought that I wouldn’t get past Christmas but I can be pig headed and made it. Weeks turned into months and I’ve not looked back.

 

[The Halk]

If you can't go out to a bar/pub/club and have fun without drinking then you really need to look at yourself.

I still disagree with that.

I challenge you to go (by yourself, I'm not coming) for a night out in Hamilton Palace, sober.

It's just a bad night out.

I can only speak for where I live, but over the past 15 years it's descended into simply binge drinking.

If you think binge drinking is fun, I think you need to a take a look at yourself.

If you think going to a place where all that's happening is binge drinking, and not binge drinking yourself is in any way fun, I think you need to take a look at yourself.

 

[FooAtari]

I don't drink. To be honest it's for medical reasons, but I was never a big drinker in the first place. Never saw the point.

I'm not really one that goes out to pubs/clubs much, but not because I don't drink, simply because I can't be arsed with it, busy, fighting my way to the bar, not being able to hear what anyone is saying, no fun.

I'd rather get together with a few mates at home, or go for a meal, or to the cinema. Or simply spend time at home/out with my wife, or playing games/watching movies. All a whole lot more fun that a night out at the pub IMO.

I don't mind people drinking around me. Unless they get totally hammered, as I've never come across anyone that was totally legless and didn't turn into an annoying ****.

 

[Amp34]

I still disagree with that.

I challenge you to go (by yourself, I'm not coming) for a night out in Hamilton Palace, sober.

It's just a bad night out.

I can only speak for where I live, but over the past 15 years it's descended into simply binge drinking.

If you think binge drinking is fun, I think you need to a take a look at yourself.

If you think going to a place where all that's happening is binge drinking, and not binge drinking yourself is in any way fun, I think you need to take a look at yourself.

Obviously it depends where you go as to what it's like but personally I wouldn't want to go somewhere that (seems) so bad if I was drinking either.

That said I rarely go out to clubs when at home because the clubs are dreadful, university areas are much better. I wouldn't go to the home clubs if I drank though so...

Unfortunately there are too many people like the OP around so you need to pick your places a bit more carefully.

 

[lixxus]

Unfortunately there are too many people like the OP around so you need to pick your places a bit more carefully.

whats that supposed to mean ?

 

[[TW]Fox]

whats that supposed to mean ?

It means he is dissapointed at your apparent attitude that if you dont drink, you cant have a good time. I mean just look at your post, you basically assumed that anyone who didnt drink alcohol was some sort of retard who was unable to go on a normal night out and instead had to do something different.

 

[oli356]

I went off the drink for a year at uni. I just drank coke and laughed along with the drinkers.

If anything, that would be a bit awkward wouldn't it? Everyone having alcohol and you having a coke.

 

[lixxus]

It means he is dissapointed at your apparent attitude that if you dont drink, you cant have a good time. I mean just look at your post, you basically assumed that anyone who didnt drink alcohol was some sort of retard who was unable to go on a normal night out and instead had to do something different.

I am going to call you murinho from now on.

The rumors are true. Is this translation service free or is it only reserved for retards such as myself and twoblacklines.

You patronise well sir.

 

[Tute]

I still disagree with that.

I challenge you to go (by yourself, I'm not coming) for a night out in Hamilton Palace, sober.

It's just a bad night out.

Then I just wouldn't go there. As I said, if you need to drink to have a good time then something's gone wrong somewhere.

I can only speak for where I live, but over the past 15 years it's descended into simply binge drinking.

If you think binge drinking is fun, I think you need to a take a look at yourself.

If you think going to a place where all that's happening is binge drinking, and not binge drinking yourself is in any way fun, I think you need to take a look at yourself.

I just wouldn't go there. Binge drinking is a dreadful part of society. If you can't hold your drink, don't drink at all.

 

[carlazai]

I am virtually teetotal. When drunk i am a complete idiot and i can't stand to drink beer in small amounts as it makes me feel sick when i sober up. I only drink a little red wine with food in social situations. It was a very conscious decision as i was a big drinker at Uni and didn't want to carry on like that.

When you tell people this they look at you very strangely, as if you are quite crazy. Some times i do wish for a drink but i just have to remind myself when i stopped in the first place.

 

[[TW]Fox]

You patronise well sir.

Whereas your entire thread isn't basically patronising in itself?

How do you enjoy yourself ?

I mean just LOOK at that statement! How do you enjoy yourself? Same way you do if you drink! You go for evenings out with friends

 

[Nix]

One of the best nights out I've ever had was on holiday recently when I was possibly one of the only people not drinking.

On the last night, my friends and I decided to go out for one last 'laugh' before we had to catch a flight home in the early morning rather than sleep. I had a few sips of a drink that night but it just wasn't agreeing with me (after a week of partying, it was bound to happen! I'm not a huge drinker normally.) so I stuck to coke and lemonade instead.

I think I may have possibly had more fun than half the people there who were off their heads - some not just on alcohol.

It's not about what you've drunk. It's about your state of mind and the company you keep.

Crap company, who don't want to 'play' is always going to be crap, drinking or not. Company that want to 'play' are going to do so with or without drink and you're going to enjoy yourself.

If you honestly cannot understand how people are able to enjoy themselves without drinking you are probably very socially immature, or just ignorant. I honestly suggest you try it a few times. It's certainly different. Besides, getting drunk is so bloody boring. Merry is all you need to be and you can be merry without any social lubricant.

 

[Adz]

I quit drinking about 18 months ago and have barely touched a drop since then (aside from a couple of brief lapses).

People think you're weird. When you try to explain why you don't drink, they think you're being self righteous and patronising. It's just something you have to accept; drinking is a social norm and you are the odd one out.

My argument is that I shouldn't need an anaesthetic to enjoy myself and that, if I was ever in a situation where I did, I should do something to either change my attitude (i.e. be more confident and outgoing without drinking) or avoid that situation. (apologies for attrocious grammar, it's late)

Since I quit drinking I'm healthier, 4 stone lighter, fitter, smarter, happier and generally a nicer person to know. Christmas and New Year are the only major challenges, that and the damn beer commercials.

 

[The Halk]

Nix, I don't think there's any disagreement.

I agree with everything you have said.

BUT! Where I live it's binge drinking in a crowded pub/club with horrible chart tunes blasting out too loud for anyone to hear. That's why my Saturday nights don't consist of pub/club any more.

The bad part is that all of the rest of Scotland sees that as a great night out. That' where the problem is. It isn't that I can't have a good time without getting drunk - I can. It's just that Scotland has managed to aquire binge drinking as the number 1 passtime.

 

[lixxus]

Whereas your entire thread isn't basically patronising in itself?



I mean just LOOK at that statement! How do you enjoy yourself? Same way you do if you drink! You go for evenings out with friends

Some people actually go out to meet new people/friends.

Ie freshers, clubs etc

People keep going on about their current friends that are already adjusted to their habits and lifestyle.

 

[blueshift]

Never liked it myself, its just another drug to me

 

[Nix]

Nix, I don't think there's any disagreement.

I agree with everything you have said.

BUT! Where I live it's binge drinking in a crowded pub/club with horrible chart tunes blasting out too loud for anyone to hear. That's why my Saturday nights don't consist of pub/club any more.

The bad part is that all of the rest of Scotland sees that as a great night out. That' where the problem is. It isn't that I can't have a good time without getting drunk - I can. It's just that Scotland has managed to aquire binge drinking as the number 1 passtime.

Then you're not drinking to have fun are you? You're drinking to forget where you are. That's not an issue with the teetotal mentality. It's an issue with culture and society itself.