Anyone here who lives their life free of alcohol?

I rarely ever drink- maybe once or twice a year. My dad is an alcoholic, so I've always been scared I would follow down that path.

I am 46 and could probably count on boh hands the number of times I have had my fruity slushy drinks. I have never enjoyed that weird feeling in my head (which my drinking friends call "the buzz"). I used to nurse a drink the whole evening just to avoid people asking why I wasn't drinking. Then a couple of years ago, I had enough of that and just stopped. I don't have a problem with people who drink but I just was sick of the pressure (you don't know what you're missing). Now I might have a bellini or something a few times (2-3) but that's it. I think it's cause I hate losing control that I don't enjoy drinking.

Many you have talked about the pressures to drink, to fit in ect.. Has anyone had success at getting groups together that are not centered around drinking? What did you do?

I'm a college student. I rarely drink, mostly because of the taste. Also because it feels like I'm drinking poison.

Many you have talked about the pressures to drink, to fit in ect.. Has anyone had success at getting groups together that are not centered around drinking? What did you do?

I find myself in very awkward situations in college where everybody is ****-faced drunk and I'm sipping on my glass of wine. Lol. I usually just let myself have one or two mixed drinks that I like, and hold my last drink for the rest of the night. If it gets too uncomfortable, I just leave.

1014 days sober today

I don't drink it. I just have no interest. Once in a blue moon my BF might by some wine coolers, but that's about it. Even though, I might have just one. He likes to buy lemonade flavored ones which are great this time of year esp if we don't have lemonade on hand.

Growing up both of my parents were VERY HEAVY drinkers, at least 12 cans of beer each per night. By my teens (and im talking 13 - legal age in UK is 18) I was drinking neat vodka. I thought that's what everyone did! honestly! I was drinking a lot until my late 20's but never in the house and never around my children until my marriage hit the rocks - there i was Christmas day, ringing mt friends asking if the off-licence was open where they were as id run out of Vodka. That was the turning point for me. I'd crossed the line, I was also in denial about my diagnosis of Arthritis. soon after with the help of my new partner now hubby we both gave up drinking, we both gave up smoking too... 8 years free of both!

I have to say though, the culture in the UK is that you are somehow Weird if you DONT drink - I found that pretty much the entire social calendar revolves around drinking and pubs and nightclubs - and with the recession - which is the best deal down at Tesco/BoozeBusters, No one seems to think that going to the movies or for a meal is social event worthy and because of it, i have actually lost a lot of friends who just dont bother to ask me to go out anymore - unless they want a designated driver

Just wondering if there are members on MFP who do not drink? Back on my 21st b-day, my friends took me out to celebrate. That is the one and only I have drank and I have not touched alcohol since. Well over two decades ago. I barely can stand going to a ballgame and having people drink around me. What about you?

I drink about 1 unit a month as I rarely fancy a drink. Doesn't bother me if others are drinking alcoholic drinks around me, though, unless they are behaving like ****s.

I don't drink alcohol, but I don't condemn those who.

That's a refreshing post to read. Too many smug and condescending posts on here. If someone doesn't want to drink, great for them. I choose to drink in morderation because I enjoy good wine and scotch. Not because I "need" it...nobody does. But we shouldn't look down on people who choose to indulge. I choose to have a 150 calorie glass of wine over a 400 calorie sundae, so what? We all have our vices...even the numerous LDS posters here, so let's not cast stones people.

Speaking of...my ex was raised LDS and she drank and cursed like a sailor, so not all of you are without sin. Like I said...we all have our vices.

Rant over :-)

I just want to say, none of us are without sin, even us Christians. I've read all 17 pages and haven't gotten the impression that anyone was smug or condescending. The thread is titled "Anyone here who lives their life free of alcohol?" so you should expect that people who don't drink are going to respond to this thread. I wonder why you even bothered to respond to this thread since it doesn't apply to you. I'm not being condescending either it just doesn't make any sense to me.

I do not drink, but only because I don't like the taste of any of it. I know lots of fantastically awesome people who drink on a regular basis. So I have nothing against anyone who drinks. Drinking doesn't have anything to do with someones' personality. It's all up to the individual and how they handle their drinking. Most of my friends drink at home, and handle their drinking in a mature manner.

@holly1283 - My heart goes out to you!

I have to agree with Bradford72. The thread is littered with smug and condescending tone. It is natural that the self-righteous don't see it. There is a tremendous lack of understanding, perspective and also really off-whack perceptions about drinking in this thread.

Yes, it is a thread asking who lives alcohol free, but those of us who don't can't sit idle while gross misrepresentations are presented by uninformed, inexperienced and sheltered people, .

On the other hand, those of you that have alcoholics in your family and have been directly impacted by alcoholism, I really feel for you and I'm sorry you had to live through that... it is awful. I have personally dealt with people who have been a part of that. It is ugly and life long. I applaud your strength and resolve when it comes to how you have had to deal with it.

I will take myself out of this thread now for my own reasons but first I will say that this is the internet and words in a thread don't always come across sounding like they are meant by the poster. Because I don't see the smug and condescending tone of the posts apparently makes me self-righteous? That couldn't be further from the truth.

Thank you to the OP for starting this thread and God bless all you (and I didn't realize there were so many) who choose not to drink for whatever reason.

Betty

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I'm Mormon
(aka I don't drink. never have never will)

x2

I don't drink.

The main reason is I cant find any I like the taste of. I will have a sip of friends drinks to see if I could drink it, but as of yet I can honestly say I have not found one I like the taste of (and I am not going to drink just for the sake of it).

As a teenager I drank due to peer pressure, but never really liked it. I hated the morning after. Why give myself a headache and sick feeling for 'pleasure'. lol

If people want a drink to chill out and relax it is their choice and good for them, but If people binge drink to get leg-less then I really feel sorry for them that they have to go so far to 'have a good time'

Everyone to their own I say.

Not had a pint of beer in over 30 years now. I am happy with my glass of Pepsi. Cheers :-)