4 ms·

I'd like ways of saying no to alcohol without implying I have addiction problems.

by bjo590 6y ago

cschep 6y ago
how about, "I've had all the alcohol I want tonight, that's for sure!"
retsibsi 6y ago
If anyone doubts the strength of the social pressure to drink alcohol, it's pretty telling that even in societies that stigmatise addiction, it can be easier to hint at alcoholism than to simply say you don't like to drink.
nrclark 6y ago
During my 20s, I routinely gave up drinking for Lent. My friends were all drinkers though, and going our for drinks was very much part of our routine. What worked for me was just to get my own drinks at the bar, and always order non-alcoholic stuff. When folks were buying rounds of drinks, I'd just say "Nah, I'm good for now". No need to mention that I wasn't drinking, and no need to explain why. It's easy to time your drink orders so that you're out-of-phase by few minutes. Then you're ordering at the bar, and you have total control over it. That way, I've got something in my hand to drink along with everybody else. Maybe it's a soda-water with lime, or maybe it's a near-beer poured into a pint glass. But I was taking part in the social aspect, and that's what mattered. I never lied if asked what I was drinking, but I wouldn't go out of my way to bring it up/make it visible either. Anybody who's had some good nights at the bar will tell you - there's nothing wrong with being a non-drinker, as long as you're not an asshole about it. Nobody likes to feel judged (even implicitly) for their life-choices. But if you can avoid giving off that vibe, nobody will care at all what's in your glass. In my observation, the social pressure isn't to drink _alcohol_ per-se. It's to drink _something_. Something that you bought at the bar, and something you're drinking along with everybody else. Soda-water is fine as long as you're pacing your drinks with the people around you, so that you're being part of the group.
sumthinprofound 6y ago
"it gives me painful heartburn"
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
tomjen3 6y ago
The Unit is an old TV-series, but they got this quote exactly right: >Best way to get yourself out of a jam: confess to something illegal, immoral, or embarrassing. Once you do that, basically nobody prods further.

I'd like ways of saying no to alcohol without implying I have addiction problems.

by bjo590 6y ago

I'd like ways of saying no to alcohol without implying I have addiction problems.

cschep 6y ago

how about, "I've had all the alcohol I want tonight, that's for sure!"

retsibsi 6y ago

If anyone doubts the strength of the social pressure to drink alcohol, it's pretty telling that even in societies that stigmatise addiction, it can be easier to hint at alcoholism than to simply say you don't like to drink.

nrclark 6y ago

During my 20s, I routinely gave up drinking for Lent. My friends were all drinkers though, and going our for drinks was very much part of our routine. What worked for me was just to get my own drinks at the bar, and always order non-alcoholic stuff. When folks were buying rounds of drinks, I'd just say "Nah, I'm good for now". No need to mention that I wasn't drinking, and no need to explain why. It's easy to time your drink orders so that you're out-of-phase by few minutes. Then you're ordering at the bar, and you have total control over it. That way, I've got something in my hand to drink along with everybody else. Maybe it's a soda-water with lime, or maybe it's a near-beer poured into a pint glass. But I was taking part in the social aspect, and that's what mattered. I never lied if asked what I was drinking, but I wouldn't go out of my way to bring it up/make it visible either. Anybody who's had some good nights at the bar will tell you - there's nothing wrong with being a non-drinker, as long as you're not an asshole about it. Nobody likes to feel judged (even implicitly) for their life-choices. But if you can avoid giving off that vibe, nobody will care at all what's in your glass. In my observation, the social pressure isn't to drink _alcohol_ per-se. It's to drink _something_. Something that you bought at the bar, and something you're drinking along with everybody else. Soda-water is fine as long as you're pacing your drinks with the people around you, so that you're being part of the group.

sumthinprofound 6y ago

"it gives me painful heartburn"

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

tomjen3 6y ago

The Unit is an old TV-series, but they got this quote exactly right: >Best way to get yourself out of a jam: confess to something illegal, immoral, or embarrassing. Once you do that, basically nobody prods further.