Teetotalism

[LOAM]

I drank since i was 13 or 14 (I'm 37 now) At times it was monster boozing. It's another storey but I used to do a lot of sit-up / crunches every night, on a Friday I would do them with a can of caffereys in my hand and it wasn't uncommon to drop 8 cans down myself in an hour and then go out on the lash.

I went a whole year not eating and only drinking beer when I was about 24 or there abouts (lost 9 stone in 9 months). It was the funniest year of my life it was mental and I was mental, anything was fair game and i loved every minute of it. All during that time I never once thought (I still don't) I had problems as everyone around me was doing the same thing.

I've always drank, I think 1 beer is a waste of time and I would drink because I liked getting drunk.

I've not touched alcohol since May 2010, me and the wife (who barely drank anyway) just stopped. It wasn't hard, no sweating, no bad withdrawal, nothing. It's not bothered me at all and we never even thought about it over xmas.

 

[cheets64]

I went 46 days without drinking in 2009 for lent, lent finished on my birthday and went out and got drunk and the next day felt amazing, liver was like come at me, was the longest since I was about 16 never drank as a teenager, its amazing once you dont feel the need to drink, you can talk to people more, gets tricky with people that are really drunk, I was always wanted to leave the conversation asap, its not hard, you can do it if you want to.

 

[Deiwos]

I haven't drunk a drop since August 2010. I've been out plenty of times to clubs and all I need is music I like and my friends and I'm more than happy to not drink. Saved myself a fortune this past 4 1/2 months. I take a tenner out with me and this covers parking in a multi-storey for the night plus a coke or two. I don't mind if others around me drink since I was that person before.

 

[Amp34]

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.

He go my opinion pretty much spot on TBH. You seem to be implying that anyone that doesn't drink doesn't have a life, how wrong you are...

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.

Again, why can't you meet new people without being off your face? Not confident enough to talk to people whilst sober? Then perhaps you should start thinking about going to confidence classes.

 

[Nitefly]

Well, I'm about to blow this thread wide open

I love drinking. It makes me feel relaxed and gives me a big high. A friend of mind gave me a really good analogy of what drink does to your ability to care (the dotted lines represent how much you care):

Normal:
<Past---------------------------------------NOW---------------------------------------future>

Drunk:
<Past----NOW----future>

You don't care for what has happened and you don't care for what will happen, at least without any sense of rationale - it probably explains why people are typicly drunk when unfaithful.

I'm fully aware of this, but I love drinking and I love getting drunk. It lowers my inhibitions and relaxes me. It's escapism, pure and simple. I get at least once a week and find quite frequently the next day is a write off, but I rarely drink to the point I am sick. I enjoy nights that I am drinking probably much more than nights I do not.

Each to their own!

 

[Nitefly]

Again, why can't you meet new people without being off your face? Not confident enough to talk to people whilst sober? Then perhaps you should start thinking about going to confidence classes.

Actually, I think talking to strangers in clubs in attempt to seduce people is really, really hard and is a completely different skill than being confident or admirable generally. You have to have some form of game if you are intending to just swan into a group of 4 girls.

In any other situation, I'm like donkey in shrek - getting me to shut up is the trick

 

[Skyrunner]

I haven't drunk since the second year of uni, best decision I made, I tend to enjoy socialising quietly a lot more and found myself better off financially, still sometimes I miss loosening up a bit, but I'm happy alcohol free these days.

 

[Naffa]

Errr... No. Going out and not drinking is fine if you're not a total loser with no social skills.

 

[Amp34]

Actually, I think talking to strangers in clubs in attempt to seduce people is really, really hard and is a completely different skill than being confident or admirable generally. You have to have some form of game if you are intending to just swan into a group of 4 girls.

In any other situation, I'm like donkey in shrek - getting me to shut up is the trick

I get what you mean, but then alsso it is still possible to do it. Either way I normally go out in a mixed group so going over and acting like a **** in front of a group of girl would probably earn me a slap from one of the girls I was out with (well not really). That would also involve me being "that" guy, the one that everyone hates and the one you always laugh at with your female friends (not that I dislike them that much as it normally gets me free dances ).

Anyway it wouldn't work for me because most of the time the most attractive girls in the club are the barmaids. Probably because they aren't tarted up in sort skirts and too much makeup or falling all over the floor.

 

[iviv]

I go out with my friends, I drink coke/dr pepper, I have a laugh, I'm always the designated driver. They are happy as we don't spend silly ammounts on taxi fares, and nobody else has to sit out not drinking, so we all win. Plus none of us do the whole 'clubbing' thing. Can't stand it, much prefer a nice quiet bar where we can chat and joke.

When he's here over Christmas, my brother often comes stumbling back home at 3 or 4am when everyone's asleep, and can't really remember what happened. I just don't see the point, how that can be fun.

 

[Gackt]

I'm on the verge of quitting it as a social thing, i.e. Going out to Pubs/Bars/Clubs as it really seems like a pointless waste of time and money. Oh and my health suffers as a result of it.

I've recently had another go at the whole clubbing thing, thanks to younger work colleagues, and I can say with much confidence, that it is a waste of time. All that happens is that I spend lots of money, get intoxicated, act like a fool and spend the next day with a mixture of self-pity/self-loathing and an unstable stomach.

I'd rather spend a night in either on my own or with friends. Why must I necessarily go out? I'm out of the house most of my day anyway. And without alcohol, there would be almost no point in going to Clubs/Bars - Pubs, which tend to be quiet-ish and perhaps serve food I can see a point in going to still.

And I will say it again as I always have: If having a "social life" means simply spending time with other people, talking about rubbish, possible having a grope and "dancing" then I place very little value on the common interpretation of that so called "social life".

 

[Nitefly]

I get what you mean, but then alsso it is still possible to do it. Either way I normally go out in a mixed group so going over and acting like a **** in front of a group of girl would probably earn me a slap from one of the girls I was out with (well not really). That would also involve me being "that" guy, the one that everyone hates and the one you always laugh at with your female friends (not that I dislike them that much as it normally gets me free dances ).

Anyway it wouldn't work for me because most of the time the most attractive girls in the club are the barmaids. Probably because they aren't tarted up in sort skirts and too much makeup or falling all over the floor.

It is entirely possible, but you almost sound like you are totally agreeing with me or have never done it

Speaking with acquitances / friends is an absolute breeze compared to walking up to a girl you have never met and chatting her up. I'll be the first to admit that I'm pretty rubbish at it. Requires the ability to get rejected and to brush it all like dust on your back. I misplace far too much pride on the situation and really don't like getting rejected. In reality, it shouldn't bother me. Back on alcohol related talk, I find alcohol can really help relieve anxiety and remove feelings of awkwardness in that situation. Let's be honest, the first thing you noticed was the way she looked, she knows what you want and has already judged you on your appearance. Make or break time! If you've got the chat and a meeting of the minds, you can win.

So have you actually done it?

 

[Throrik]

I'm completely tee-total and have no issues with any parts of my life - I can meet new people if I choose to, and if they judge me for choosing not to drink alcohol then they aren't the sort of person I want to know anyway so any judgment by these sort of people is irrelevant to me.

I'm not tee-total out of any form of religious views, health reasons or anything of the sort, I just don't drink alcohol, just like I don't smoke, nor do I snort cocaine it's just the choice that I made. Am I introverted, to somebody who is judgmental then possibly, I like my quiet time with a book, to play Sudoku etc. I don't enjoy clubbing or pubs, mainly from growing up pubs were full of smokers and music I didn't like and clubs are full of music I don't like and crowds in far too close quarters for me personally.

The OP to me comes off as patronizing because he seems to believe (IMO) that people can't meet new people or have social gatherings with people other than 'old friends' without alcohol and that's just completely untrue, if you need peoples' acceptance by drinking alcohol with them to become friends then that is up to you, I am merely different.

 

[Amp34]

It is entirely possible, but you almost sound like you are totally agreeing with me or have never done it

Speaking with acquitances / friends is an absolute breeze compared to walking up to a girl you have never met and chatting her up. I'll be the first to admit that I'm pretty rubbish at it. Requires the ability to get rejected and to brush it all like dust on your back. I misplace far too much pride on the situation and really don't like getting rejected. In reality, it shouldn't bother me. Back on alcohol related talk, I find alcohol can really help relieve anxiety and remove feelings of awkwardness in that situation. Let's be honest, the first thing you noticed was the way she looked, she knows what you want and has already judged you on your appearance. Make or break time! If you've got the chat and a meeting of the minds, you can win.

So have you actually done it?

Yeah I have, a couple of times. In fact the biggest fail I've had girl/alcohil/non alcohol wise* was when I was tipsy and managed to go from someone they liked to an aquaintence** so I appear to be the opposite...

*ie a girl in a setting that could involve alcohol, such as a club/pub etc.

** A newish aquaintence that I'd been out with a couple of times with friends, we'd decided to meet up semi seperately before the other friends came along.

 

[Nix]

Meh, that's nothing Ampy. I've managed to balls that exact situation up far more times than I care to recall now.

My pride hurts.

 

[Amp34]

So moral of the story is... Don't drink or you **** things up...

 

[Nix]

So moral of the story is... Don't drink or you **** things up...

Nope, the moral of the story is don't be me.

 

[Kazz]

4 years without a drink now (I'm 28). Used to go out every weekend. After the usual sunday bad hangover I thought I've had enough, can't be bothered and gave it up.

I do out with my mates a lot less regularly, but it just makes those fewer times actually mean something. My health is better and I've saved hundreds if not thousands of pounds.

The only downside is that most pubs in my town have a terrible selection of non-alcoholic drinks. Far too much crap packed with sugar.

 

[platinum87]

But for me its different (or mabye not)

I find lots of stuff booring and just "bla" With the exception of pretty big things

So basically theres nothing for me to do thats really fun, atleast with alcohol it might not be fun, but as you are drunk it feels fun!

 

[Aleksandrs]

I am 20. I've never been drunk, but been tipsy to the point where I said things I didn't mean to, but could still remember what happened the next day and woke up fresh as a daisy.

I used to want to drink loads of alcohol just because everyone else in my family did. But I hated things like beer etc, and was just cheap drinks like WKD.

At around 18 I moved onto things like Cubans, Those flavoured Brothers ciders things and all that sort of stuff. But then I found myself getting really hot when I drank alcohol. In 2010 I had probably about 1 bottle of brothers. I drank half a bottle once and found myself having this odd reaction to it where my skin would burn up and I'd go bright red, as my immune system was kicking in. Then left it 6 months, had another half bottle and the same thing happened.

From reading up, it seems I am alcohol intolerant, or something to that effect.

Anyway, from only having that amount in 2010 I've come to realise and learn that alcohol is pointless. You don't need it at all. Anyone who drinks to get drunk in my opinion is an utter moron, and those who feel the need to drink it over other stuff purely for social reasons is also a moron.

Nothing wrong with people drinking maybe a glass every now and then at weddings, birthdays etc, but just for a friday night? WHY! I think I would have a drink every now and then if it wasn't for the fear of this reaction I get, but i'd drink very little.

For 2011 I pledge to not have a sip of alcohol, and I won't give a damn! Since getting a kidney stone at 16 I've been drinking water. I used to hate it but now I love it. So refreshing and can't be beaten! If I'm out I'd just get a glass of lemonade or coke, but really I don't go out anyway! I find settings like bars and pubs to be really unpleasant places to be in. I'd rather the comfort of home with a mate or two round playing games or working on websites and stuff.

Another plus, is I become known as the designated driver. My brother (who drinks a lot, but I wouldn't say he is an alcohol, just "overly-social" ), normally rings me up offering like 20 / 25 quid petrol money for me to cart him and his mates home, which normally only costs like a fiver or so in fuel (or probably now 10). So I am also making money out of all this

TL;DR Don't need alcohol to have a good time. Smoking and drugs are also plain stupid too. Not sure about anyone else but I think completely different about people when I realise they are a smoker, or drink excessively or take drugs. My body has none of it!