Current Events > Why do people freak out when someone says 'I don't drink alcohol'?

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LordTrinen posted...

I don't drink alcohol. When people ask me why, I tell them I suffer from a bad case of OSD.

"Obsessive Sobriety Disorder"

It is a rare condition that fills an individual with an irresistible compulsion to face life sober.

That's what I tell people to make a joke about it. If they want a serious answer, I have several reasons but even I'm not certain which is the predominate one.

My class underwent the D.A.R.E. program when I was a kid. Sometimes I think it stuck with me more than most because I stayed away from drugs in high school and college, never smoked and never had a drop of alcohol. I made a silent vow after that to never drink alcohol and at the age of 30 I've done well. Later I also learned that I have alcoholics on both sides of my family (aunts, uncles, grandparents). If the studies about alcoholism being hereditary hold any merit then I'm seriously screwed. Perhaps I could break the chain and maintain better control of myself but with all the shit going on in my life I could easily see myself constantly drinking myself into a stupor. Better to stay away altogether.

Even if people view it as "weird" or a violation of some social convention I commend anyone else who chooses to forgo alcohol. Speaking from personal experience, I know the pressure is there and it takes a lot of willpower to resist it.

To my fellow teetotalers, let us raise our non-alcoholic glasses in a toast!

I like you.
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To a certain extent, alcohol is seen as an "adult" thing. So refusing to drink can be perceived as you being more childish. People do the same thing with coffee. (You also see that in how people treat the "taste" reason. Although honestly, there's so much diversity in taste for alcohol that usually indicates a lack of breadth of experience rather than a well informed opinion. The same way I would feel when my parents won't touch sushi.) In some social situations, like a work celebration or something, turning down a drink can be seen as a sign that you don't trust the other party or you seem guarded towards them. Even in something like a house party, there's a bit of an atmosphere of "We're comfortable to lower our inhibitions around each other" where someone refusing puts them in an "outsider" role.

Now, I don't judge people who don't drink. And I have some friends who never drink and they don't get any trouble at parties that we go to. The above are just some explanations that don't come down to "They feel guilty about their habit!".
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Is "I don't drink alcohol" is the new "I'm a vegan"?
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geno_16 posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

Unless you live in a dry country/state or are a recovered alcoholic, most people have the occasional drink. When someone says, "I don't drink, anything, ever", it's out of the norm. For alcoholics, it's tantamount to treason. For everyone else, it's like saying, "I morally choose not to eat any Japanese food".\

There's a little but of a difference between Japanese food and alcohol. Japanese food isn't a substance with addictive qualities linked to liver and heart problems that causes people to do stupid things like sing karaoke.

You are absolutely right. The point I was trying to make was that there are, for the most part, two types of drinkers; addicts, and social drinkers. Addicts react to the idea as offensive, since alcohol is so important to them, and social drinkers see it as harmless, because it's never been a problem for they themselves.

I guess what I'm trying to say is most people react poorly because it's hard to emphasize with someone who refuses alcohol but is not a former addict for most people.

I don't drink anymore, but it's just because I don't like it. I never really enjoyed being "buzzed", and really only liked being drunk when I could get absolutely trashed like I did in highschool and collage. Once I started getting into the meat of my double major, and into law school, I couldn't get trashed anymore, so I just kinda grew out of it. Anybody that would 'freak out' on me for not drinking anymore is likely a pile of shit and I couldn't care less what they think.

A few weeks ago, I was at this bar/diner I frequent. A good friend of mine owns it, and I go in and hang out with him, watch sports, whatever. Asked for coffee, as I always do, and some big fat fuck started giving me shit. "Drinking coffee at a BAR!? What are you, a (f word for gay people)." Yes, you big fat fucking redneck, not drinking means you absolutely love eating cocks with your ass.

My response was something about how he should worry less about what I'm drinking and worry about getting off food stamps, getting rid of those tits he has, and trying to be the best husband he could possibly be to his sister. Then he started yelling about kicking my ass, and I just pointed at his tits and laughed at him. Got bored, left, and I heard he got arrested later that night for swinging on a cop. Not important. My point is, anybody who cares that much about other people not drinking is likely just upset that their own pathetic life is so dogshit, and they can't fathom someone else not having to drink themselves happy.
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omega cookie posted...

and I heard he got arrested later that night for swinging on a cop. Not important.

Nah, that's absolutely important because it's hilarious.

Mikablu posted...

omega cookie posted...

and I heard he got arrested later that night for swinging on a cop. Not important.

Nah, that's absolutely important because it's hilarious.

It happens all the time out here. People get their load on, are giant assholes, someone calls the cops, and one of the 'good 'ol boys' decides it's time to throw hands with a cop. I've personally seen it happen twenty or so times since I moved to Utah. I'm from Boston, and the last fucking thing you EVER want to do back home is throw hands with a cop. Not only are you going to jail, but you are going to catch the biggest ass beating of your fucking life, both at the scene and when they take you back to the house. Here, they just throw you down and that's the end of it.

This place is fucking strange.
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Drinkers feel the need to force their lifestyle onto others whenever someone at a party goes, "no thx, I don't drink" or "I don't feel like drinking". They always harass the person going, "why", like a person needs a reason to choose not to drink. Frankly, it's none of your business and you have no right to judge what a person chooses to do, whether it be drinking or something else.

halomonkey1_3_5 posted...

I'd just rather drink soda tbh

I've tried this before. It tasted good but I didn't enjoy the overall experience any more than I would have if I had abstained from soda.
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I just tell them I don't drink and drive, because I'm usually driving

I'll drink occasionally though and if I'm not driving
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I get incredible "WTF?" looks from people when I say don't drink.

Alcohol makes my throat swell up and makes it a lot more difficult to breathe. Multiple different alcoholic beverages, same result. Figured I was allergic to alcohol, so that's my main reasoning.

Also, I really, really hate the taste. The only drink I could ever tolerate was alcoholic lemonade.
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What do people think if someone drinks Hard Soda?
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FrenchCrunch posted...

i've never met someone who reacted in a way other than "oh, cool"

This. People are usually interested when I explain why I don't drink, although there's always one guy who won't listen and insists I drink something anyway.
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Kaliesto posted...

What do people think if someone drinks Hard Soda?

it's the same as beer if it has alcohol.
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What if I only like Frutezia, Smirnoff, and sweet-flavored mixed drinks?
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Laserion posted...

What if I only like Frutezia, Smirnoff, and sweet-flavored mixed drinks?

it's girly drinks we think nothing less of them. still alcohol.
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