Being teetotal
Poll: Being teetotal
Total Members Polled: 253
Discussion
Just over a decade ago I had a health scare. Not drink related but afterwards I have drunk a lot less than before. I wasn’t an alcoholic but was drinking too much at the weekend (plus did a fair bit of business travel).
At the end of 2019 I managed to give up completely. After a few months it was easy and I kept it up for two and half years. However, since moving country and job I’ve slipped back into drinking.
Anyone else managed to give up for good (or never started)? I think the two problems is that alcohol is so closely linked with most social occasions. Secondly, although I love coffee I don’t drink it after noon (as caffeine messes with my sleep) so if I go out in the evening, there is nothing I want to drink. Alcohol free beer and mocktails seem like a waste of money.
Would be easier if I didn’t like the taste and effects of booze! (At least the short term effects. I’ve found that with age even moderate drinking leads to hideous hangovers).
(mods: this is about a social issue - drinking - some would prefer if you didn’t move to food and drink)
At the end of 2019 I managed to give up completely. After a few months it was easy and I kept it up for two and half years. However, since moving country and job I’ve slipped back into drinking.
Anyone else managed to give up for good (or never started)? I think the two problems is that alcohol is so closely linked with most social occasions. Secondly, although I love coffee I don’t drink it after noon (as caffeine messes with my sleep) so if I go out in the evening, there is nothing I want to drink. Alcohol free beer and mocktails seem like a waste of money.
Would be easier if I didn’t like the taste and effects of booze! (At least the short term effects. I’ve found that with age even moderate drinking leads to hideous hangovers).
(mods: this is about a social issue - drinking - some would prefer if you didn’t move to food and drink)
OP, depends what sort of drinker you are. If you can nurse a couple of beers through an evening, then you shouldn't really have any issues. However, if you're one after another after another and suddenly you're pished then that's a different thing.
I can go to the pub for a pub lunch and have a pint. I know some people can't do that, they need more.
I think what I'm saying is it's a mindset thing. You will only ever completely stop drinking if you want to, not because you ought to. Bit like smoking. I gave that up one new year and just went cold turkey. I don't want to smoke and will never do it again. I like a drink though and it's how you view that is the starting point.
I can go to the pub for a pub lunch and have a pint. I know some people can't do that, they need more.
I think what I'm saying is it's a mindset thing. You will only ever completely stop drinking if you want to, not because you ought to. Bit like smoking. I gave that up one new year and just went cold turkey. I don't want to smoke and will never do it again. I like a drink though and it's how you view that is the starting point.
I'm not tee-total, but I don't drink a lot. One or two nights a week and then in moderation.
Don't drink wine. Don't drink spirits. I just don't like them.
Can't remember the last time I got drunk.
Because I don't have an issue with alcohol, I'm happy with my consumption. However, if I had to, I think I could switch to alcohol-free beer and not drink again.
Don't drink wine. Don't drink spirits. I just don't like them.
Can't remember the last time I got drunk.
Because I don't have an issue with alcohol, I'm happy with my consumption. However, if I had to, I think I could switch to alcohol-free beer and not drink again.
I'm not teetotal, but I've voted for teetotal in the poll because I drink so little that I may as well be - at least in the UK. I live alone and am not a pubgoer, and I find no reason at all to drink alcohol at home alone. I don't really enjoy it, but I'm not against drinking alcohol. If I'm out for a meal with friends or family, then I might have a glass of wine or I might not depending on whether I'm driving - but usually I am driving. So when I'm at home I might drink alcohol two or three times a year. And the only time I have more than a glass or two of wine is New Year's Eve. So I'm not teetotal, but for all practical purposes I may as well be. My average units per week is about 0.2
The only exception to this is when I visit the office in Paris, which I do every 10-12 weeks or so for a week at a time. Most of my colleagues are remote workers who all gather at the office at the same time, and we all have lunches and dinners together, complete with multiple drinks, all on expenses. My cars are at home in the UK, so I'm not driving and I will have a couple of beer or glasses of wine at lunchtime, then several beers after work with my colleagues, and then we all go out for a lavish dinner and there's more wine. And then we go to a bar after dinner and then go to our hotel rooms after midnight. The company also provides free wine and beer in the kitchen, although I don't see too many people drinking at their desks. But after a week of that I'm ready to come home and try to undo the damage of constant eating and boozing, and I go back to my near teetotal lifestyle.
So, for 5 weeks a year I'm a drinker, and for the rest of the year almost teetotal. Quite odd!
The only exception to this is when I visit the office in Paris, which I do every 10-12 weeks or so for a week at a time. Most of my colleagues are remote workers who all gather at the office at the same time, and we all have lunches and dinners together, complete with multiple drinks, all on expenses. My cars are at home in the UK, so I'm not driving and I will have a couple of beer or glasses of wine at lunchtime, then several beers after work with my colleagues, and then we all go out for a lavish dinner and there's more wine. And then we go to a bar after dinner and then go to our hotel rooms after midnight. The company also provides free wine and beer in the kitchen, although I don't see too many people drinking at their desks. But after a week of that I'm ready to come home and try to undo the damage of constant eating and boozing, and I go back to my near teetotal lifestyle.
So, for 5 weeks a year I'm a drinker, and for the rest of the year almost teetotal. Quite odd!
Pretty much, I have a bottle of JD that I was given at Christmas, but the fact it's still half full shows how often I've used it. But that is made easier by the fact I've never really liked the taste of alcohol and would just do it to fit in. So it's rather easy to stop paying for something that you don't like. My dad actually let me have a shot of vodka when I was really young, and it was so disgusting I think it actually put me off for life.
I never touched alcohol as a teen and young adult. No interest it because I just never acquired a taste for it.
I was teetotal from teen to 34 years.
When I met my ex at 34, I joined her with the occasional glass of wine or beer but that was all - maybe one glass a month at most on average.
Nowadays, in my 50's, I'm still pretty much the same. I don't mind having a drink but it's rare. I still have never experienced being drunk.
I just don't enjoy alcohol the way most seem to.
I have seen some horror shows involving alcohol though so it doubles down on my preference to remain sober. I used to work with people who said they didn't have a good time unless they couldn't remember it! They also wanted to get drunk as rapidly as possible.
My experience of living in different countries is that the UK is very immature with alcohol consumption.
Anyway, it does nothing for me so I hardly ever touch it - when I do it is to keep my partner company in having a glass at a restaurant.
I was teetotal from teen to 34 years.
When I met my ex at 34, I joined her with the occasional glass of wine or beer but that was all - maybe one glass a month at most on average.
Nowadays, in my 50's, I'm still pretty much the same. I don't mind having a drink but it's rare. I still have never experienced being drunk.
I just don't enjoy alcohol the way most seem to.
I have seen some horror shows involving alcohol though so it doubles down on my preference to remain sober. I used to work with people who said they didn't have a good time unless they couldn't remember it! They also wanted to get drunk as rapidly as possible.
My experience of living in different countries is that the UK is very immature with alcohol consumption.
Anyway, it does nothing for me so I hardly ever touch it - when I do it is to keep my partner company in having a glass at a restaurant.
Edited by PastelNata on Friday 25th August 12:33
I was spiked (badly) as an 17yr old in 2000, I have small glimpses of memory from that night and it’s not good. I was found lying face down in a subway near my parents house by a “friend” and left for dead. I managed to get myself back to my parents where near at the top of the stairs I collapsed and fell down them and through the floor to ceiling plate glass window at the bottom.
I was bluelighted to hospital, stomach pumped and given lots of fluids etc. thankfully I only had minor cuts from the glass.
As a result, subconsciously, I was tee-total for many many years. Alcohol just stopped featuring in my thought and decision process.
While I do drink now it’s few and far between and I’ve got all sorts of booze in my garage unopened that’s sat for years and years. Can’t say I’ve missed it and on the odd occasion I do drink I only have 2 or 3 then call it a day.
I was bluelighted to hospital, stomach pumped and given lots of fluids etc. thankfully I only had minor cuts from the glass.
As a result, subconsciously, I was tee-total for many many years. Alcohol just stopped featuring in my thought and decision process.
While I do drink now it’s few and far between and I’ve got all sorts of booze in my garage unopened that’s sat for years and years. Can’t say I’ve missed it and on the odd occasion I do drink I only have 2 or 3 then call it a day.
Never was a big drinker, a bottle of wine a week but I haven't had a drink since Christmas 2019. All my friends were drinking too much IMHO, four pints a night was what they called nothing and eight pints was typical. One of them was breathalysed during the afternoon following going to the pub in the evening and he failed, he was driving a coach with a bus full of passengers at the time.
When an employee of mine died of liver failure only a moderate drinker, I thought this drinking business wasn't for me, he was just 26.
When an employee of mine died of liver failure only a moderate drinker, I thought this drinking business wasn't for me, he was just 26.
I fully understand being teetotal for certain health reasons, whether mental or physical.
Otherwise I don't quite understand it - complete abstinence has always struck me as religious like in it's fervour and totality, rather than allowing oneself even very minor amounts of alcohol on rare occasions.
Otherwise I don't quite understand it - complete abstinence has always struck me as religious like in it's fervour and totality, rather than allowing oneself even very minor amounts of alcohol on rare occasions.
I was a big drinker when I worked in central London (driving not required).
Retired now, barely touch a drop but not absolutely teetotal yet.
Guinness Zero works for me when I want/need to socialise, very occasional pint at footy or whatever
I always feel rough the morning after any single alcoholic drink these days...
Retired now, barely touch a drop but not absolutely teetotal yet.
Guinness Zero works for me when I want/need to socialise, very occasional pint at footy or whatever
I always feel rough the morning after any single alcoholic drink these days...
The issue I have is that I really, really enjoy the taste of wine, beer and cider, although not in the same glass, haha. I do not like spirits and never touch them, but I take great pleasure in exploring the near infinite variety of the aforementioned.
But here's the thing: I hate being drunk. Slurring my speech and generally acting like a fool are things I do not wish to do. If it was possible to create alcohol free versions of wine, beer and cider that had exactly the same taste as the 'real thing' then I'd choose those. To date, I've never found an alcohol free version of a drink that I enjoyed; they just taste wrong to me. Although some low alcohol wines - like a good Riesling for example - are very nice.
To answer the OP's question: as it stands I could never be teetotal because I'd be denying myself one of - for me anyway - life's great pleasures.
But here's the thing: I hate being drunk. Slurring my speech and generally acting like a fool are things I do not wish to do. If it was possible to create alcohol free versions of wine, beer and cider that had exactly the same taste as the 'real thing' then I'd choose those. To date, I've never found an alcohol free version of a drink that I enjoyed; they just taste wrong to me. Although some low alcohol wines - like a good Riesling for example - are very nice.
To answer the OP's question: as it stands I could never be teetotal because I'd be denying myself one of - for me anyway - life's great pleasures.
Another non-drinker here. Anecdotal evidence is that it’s becoming very slowly more popular, especially with those under 35.
Won’t drink at all if I’m driving or working the next day for safety’s sake, so that knocks out most of the year.
The main reason though is health. Obviously everyone can be healthier and you never know what’s round the corner but if you don’t drink, have never smoked, exercise regularly and are a healthy weight then statistically it’s like running a 800m race but your starting point is at 600m.
The first 3 are easy to control, the 4th harder when you’re fond of apple pie. Oh well.
Won’t drink at all if I’m driving or working the next day for safety’s sake, so that knocks out most of the year.
The main reason though is health. Obviously everyone can be healthier and you never know what’s round the corner but if you don’t drink, have never smoked, exercise regularly and are a healthy weight then statistically it’s like running a 800m race but your starting point is at 600m.
The first 3 are easy to control, the 4th harder when you’re fond of apple pie. Oh well.
I gave up 3 years 8 Months ago as of the end of this week having wanted to go a year without it, I'd made my mind up to continue indefinitely after about 7 months I think. I've no concrete aim or goal or reason.
Occasionally have a few 0% coronas to cure a very minor itch or just enjoy an ice cold drink as I like the taste of certain non alcoholic beers, typically twice a month sort of thing. I keep alcohol in the house no problem; there's beer around for when we have people round and whiskeys I never got round to opening. Doesnt even cross my mind to grab a drink.
I've been through all sorts of social situations challenges sober - weddings are really hard work sober especially given how drink other people get, being around lots of people in a pub after a few pints when they get loud makes me feel like an antisocial, startled cat and I usually leave as the room gets louder. Covid lockdowns. Watching my dad waste away and die from brain cancer over the space of a year. Christmas day sober. Not drinking on holiday, or while away on holiday with mates. All seemed like a really big deal. How was I ever going to manage sort of thing?
I was sat in a premier inn on 27th December with a couple of 'room pints' and asked my self what the f
k I was doing drinking them just before bed for the sake of it. Drinking had got to be a habit at this point, serious weight gain at 17 stone, looking grey. Probably bordering on alcoholism? Not sure.
I found it difficult to quit due to cravings for the first 4 months or so just wanting a drink in my hand out of habit and drank lots of alcohol free initially, I guess this was like methadone to a heroin addict. I think the thing that really kept me going initially was seeing other people drunk in the first months of not drinking - I vividly remember my mates I'd usually be drinking with slurring and spitting all over the table and food when we were out for a pizza, on a ski trip. This was my first eye opener. I asked my wife if I was like that, apparently I was. It was and is seeing other people's behaviour while drinking, while I was sober, that kept me away and still keeps me away I think.
Keeping occupied, having cycling as a hobby and seeing how not consuming alcohol allowed me to spontaneously nip out for a ride as I pleased or jump in the car and drive to the trails, and seeing how my fitness was without alcohol I think was the biggest benefit.
I think the most interesting challenge left that may arise in my mid 30s is (hopefully) going to be having kids (without making assumptions), if we do have, it'll be interesting to see if desires creep back in as a parent because it looks pretty crap until they become a bit more engaging.
I try not to judge anyone for drinking and I never encourage people not to, but its interesting to look in from the outside at how ingrained in our culture it is, how some people view you as odd for not drinking and how some people seem to defend their own even occasional consumption almost immediately when they find out you dont drink for the first time.
Occasionally have a few 0% coronas to cure a very minor itch or just enjoy an ice cold drink as I like the taste of certain non alcoholic beers, typically twice a month sort of thing. I keep alcohol in the house no problem; there's beer around for when we have people round and whiskeys I never got round to opening. Doesnt even cross my mind to grab a drink.
I've been through all sorts of social situations challenges sober - weddings are really hard work sober especially given how drink other people get, being around lots of people in a pub after a few pints when they get loud makes me feel like an antisocial, startled cat and I usually leave as the room gets louder. Covid lockdowns. Watching my dad waste away and die from brain cancer over the space of a year. Christmas day sober. Not drinking on holiday, or while away on holiday with mates. All seemed like a really big deal. How was I ever going to manage sort of thing?
I was sat in a premier inn on 27th December with a couple of 'room pints' and asked my self what the f
k I was doing drinking them just before bed for the sake of it. Drinking had got to be a habit at this point, serious weight gain at 17 stone, looking grey. Probably bordering on alcoholism? Not sure.I found it difficult to quit due to cravings for the first 4 months or so just wanting a drink in my hand out of habit and drank lots of alcohol free initially, I guess this was like methadone to a heroin addict. I think the thing that really kept me going initially was seeing other people drunk in the first months of not drinking - I vividly remember my mates I'd usually be drinking with slurring and spitting all over the table and food when we were out for a pizza, on a ski trip. This was my first eye opener. I asked my wife if I was like that, apparently I was. It was and is seeing other people's behaviour while drinking, while I was sober, that kept me away and still keeps me away I think.
Keeping occupied, having cycling as a hobby and seeing how not consuming alcohol allowed me to spontaneously nip out for a ride as I pleased or jump in the car and drive to the trails, and seeing how my fitness was without alcohol I think was the biggest benefit.
I think the most interesting challenge left that may arise in my mid 30s is (hopefully) going to be having kids (without making assumptions), if we do have, it'll be interesting to see if desires creep back in as a parent because it looks pretty crap until they become a bit more engaging.
I try not to judge anyone for drinking and I never encourage people not to, but its interesting to look in from the outside at how ingrained in our culture it is, how some people view you as odd for not drinking and how some people seem to defend their own even occasional consumption almost immediately when they find out you dont drink for the first time.
Nope, but I don’t drink very much though, can go weeks or more without alcohol. I live alone and alcohol is a social thing for me, only now and then will I drink at home alone.
Holidays, meals out, pub with mates, different story. I like the taste of decent BW&S but don’t ‘need’ them. Had 5 pints last night with a good mate I haven’t seen in ages, good times.
I wish this had a noticeable effect on my waistline but it doesn’t seem to have done so :/
Holidays, meals out, pub with mates, different story. I like the taste of decent BW&S but don’t ‘need’ them. Had 5 pints last night with a good mate I haven’t seen in ages, good times.
I wish this had a noticeable effect on my waistline but it doesn’t seem to have done so :/
Olivera said:
I fully understand being teetotal for certain health reasons, whether mental or physical.
Otherwise I don't quite understand it - complete abstinence has always struck me as religious like in it's fervour and totality, rather than allowing oneself even very minor amounts of alcohol on rare occasions.
Equally, I don't understand the assumption that 'everyone drinks', eg people assuming that you'll want a bottle of wine when they can't think of anything else to buy you as a present.Otherwise I don't quite understand it - complete abstinence has always struck me as religious like in it's fervour and totality, rather than allowing oneself even very minor amounts of alcohol on rare occasions.
I have drunk alcohol in the past (significant amounts as a teenager) but hate the way it makes me feel, so I stopped drinking regularly probably in my early 20s (I'm now 53). I am a self-confessed control freak, so I think it's partly the fear of not being in control of my actions. Plus my grandmother was an alcoholic, and I saw the impact that had on her family, including my dad. I tend to have an addictive personality, so don't want to risk ending up like that.
Apart from that, I don't 'like' any alcoholic drink enough to want to drink it regularly.
Bathroom_Security said:
<edited for brevity, apologies>
I try not to judge anyone for drinking and I never encourage people not to, but its interesting to look in from the outside at how ingrained in our culture it is, how some people view you as odd for not drinking and how some people seem to defend their own even occasional consumption almost immediately when they find out you dont drink for the first time.
I've had a glimpse of this when doing a dry September or whatever. Somebody is celebrating a birthday and you're invited along and inevitably get offered a drink.I try not to judge anyone for drinking and I never encourage people not to, but its interesting to look in from the outside at how ingrained in our culture it is, how some people view you as odd for not drinking and how some people seem to defend their own even occasional consumption almost immediately when they find out you dont drink for the first time.
"Cheers buddy, but I'm doing dry September so I'll toast you with a glass of apple juice thanks."
"What? Come on, have a proper drink!"
"No honestly I'm fine."
"Blimey, since when did you become Mister Boring?"
TT1138 said:
Another non-drinker here. Anecdotal evidence is that it’s becoming very slowly more popular, especially with those under 35.
Won’t drink at all if I’m driving or working the next day for safety’s sake, so that knocks out most of the year.
The main reason though is health. Obviously everyone can be healthier and you never know what’s round the corner but if you don’t drink, have never smoked, exercise regularly and are a healthy weight then statistically it’s like running a 800m race but your starting point is at 600m.
The first 3 are easy to control, the 4th harder when you’re fond of apple pie. Oh well.
I have heard that younger people are drinking less but no sure about the cause. Higher percentage of people from cultures that don’t drink/don’t drink as much? Health? Or just scared about finding pictures on social media?Won’t drink at all if I’m driving or working the next day for safety’s sake, so that knocks out most of the year.
The main reason though is health. Obviously everyone can be healthier and you never know what’s round the corner but if you don’t drink, have never smoked, exercise regularly and are a healthy weight then statistically it’s like running a 800m race but your starting point is at 600m.
The first 3 are easy to control, the 4th harder when you’re fond of apple pie. Oh well.
Here in Denmark there doesn’t seem to be any downturn amongst those that don’t have a religious reason not to drink. I work with a lot of young people and most go for it when we are out socialising (which is mainly why I’ve been dragged back into drinking).
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