Maintaining a social life without booze?

[Mark300zx]

Middle aged, single and realised 90% of social life revolves around alcohol, tbh I am getting fed up with it particularly at this time of year, so any tips on maintaining my social circle without going on the lash would be appreciated?

[GT03ROB]

Go out with mates don't drink the booze.... not much use I'm afraid!!

[kowalski655]

That's just what my wife does,and its no problem for her, she has fun and takes the piss out of her mates when they sober up

In her case its coz she is allergic to the stuff....probably an ultra rare recessive gene,as she is Scottish

[Robertj21a]

Just say you're on medication and have to stick to soft drinks.

[WestyCarl]

I gave up the booze a few years ago.

I just told my mates not interested in booze anymore, the 1st few times they took the piss, etc but very quickly it became normal and "accepted"

[Slushbox]

I don't drink in pubs as I'm always driving. No longer miss the smeary kiss of warm flat beer in pubs.

There are a rash of alcohol free beers around, some of them almost drinkable, like the Bavaria brand from Waitrose.

You can plead with some justification that you're driving and stay off the hooch, but alas, there is nothing quite so unhappy as sitting in a pub sipping your lager-free lager and reading Proust, while all around you are heading for black-out and twelve-hour hangovers.

Do something else with the time and your brain; find an OU course, build a model of the Eiffel Tower out of matchsticks, or a Caterham, get a dog, etc.

Don't bother with water-colour painting. It's always crap.

Edited by Slushbox on Monday 19th December 08:47

[TwistingMyMelon]

I dont drink really, apart from a few big nights a year. Although im not single and 3 kids (one toddler) so don't really get the chance to go out so much, I used to drink 3/4 nights a week

Join a sports club, im in a cycling club, its great social interaction without being near booze. I imagine a running/climbing/anything else club would be the same. The added benefit is that once you quit booze you get more energy

Since quitting booze feel and look so much better and best of all all the eczema which was blighting my whole body has gone

[Chris7865677]

I rarely drink these days. I am always the driver.I don't have to have a drink in order to socialize. I am also middle-aged and single.

[guillemot]

kowalski655 said:

That's just what my wife does,and its no problem for her, she has fun and takes the piss out of her mates when they sober up

In her case its coz she is allergic to the stuff....probably an ultra rare recessive gene,as she is Scottish

Without wishing to derail the thread -do you mind me asking whether this was an issue from the word go for her or something that happened gradually. I'm asking as I've recently developed the same issue - totally allergic to alcohol in all forms unless cooked. I can't say it massively bothers me, just curious when I hear of others with the same issue.

[kowalski655]

Hers was from the get go, 1st time as a teenager going to a club,mate's mum got her a gin or something...cue chucking up blood & a trip to A&E! They thought she had been poisoned , or her drink was spiked(wasnt,just a normal one). Never touched any real booze since, just an occasional Lambrini(see,not real booze )

Odd as her dad is a complete alkie!

[guillemot]

Oh crikey, that's not great. Thanks though, like I said, curiosity reigns when I hear of someone else with the same issue. I've never been able to tolerate wine well, but spirits were never an issue. Figured it was just a development of that, but having tried all sorts over the past year it's simply got worse and worse to the point I can only avoid it completely.

[Kawasicki]

I joined a cycling club. Not much booze, not much chat either. A bit of vomiting.

Hmmm, am I doing this socialising thing right?