I've decided to stop drinking alcohol, because I've realised I hate it and my body can't cope with it. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be a good enough excuse for my university friends. Drinking is such a huge part of culture in the UK, and so many students drink because the drinking age here is 18 and it's their first time away from home.

Does anyone have any tips about how to relax socially around people who are drinking when you're not? Thanks x

:P

hahahaha! It's also calorie free.*



*until you eat everything.


Seriously though I know the feeling, I guess don't tell people you're not drinking and if you ask why say you can't for some medical reason and they should stfu.

You can always pretend you are drinking. Get a drink that's non alcoholic and nurse it, or get a lot of low calorie non alcoholic drinks and chug LOL

It may not relax you, but you'll be more relaxed once your friends are drunk. Also there's still a placebo effect, even when you know it's non alcoholic you may start acting buzzed anyways.

~Katy

Ugh, I know!! hahaha

Is it strange that I'm excited to move to Colorado (where they just legalized it) and to get out of the military?

(I kid)

or do I?...

When I was 20-27 I didn't drink at all. I had the same worries. I used to get a coke (in a glass) or a non-alcoholic beer and turn the label in towards me. Coke in a glass- how are they supposed to know it's not a mixed drink? And beer bottles look the same.

But later on I just realized...I don't have to defend my decision not to drink. It's really none of their business.

When I was in HS, I'd take a beer into the bathroom, dump it out and fill the can or bottle with water.

Now I'll just have seltzer with lime, but now my friends don't care if I don't drink.

Hahaha, strange.. hmm.. not so much. :P And I hear Colorado is on mountain time which is a pretty epic name for a timezone. I think you'll be living the actual dream.

When I was in college I spent a semester in London... So I completely relate to how drinking is such a part of the culture in the UK... I mean, I thought that I went to a pretty big "party" school... BUT I was just blown away by how completely trashed people would get... and since I didn't drink it was definitely a bit awkward at first, but I got over it pretty quickly and wound up having a great time... I sort of became the "voice of reason" for my friends, so they didn't completely embarrass themselves... and I got to be the DD on more than a few occasions which was a blast for me because of the novelty of driving on the left-hand side of road... which was always a lot of fun

I have a hard time believing that any one in the UK can outdrink the good ol' boys in Manitoba and Saskatchewan I drink occasionally, but it's never called to me and I usually prefer something non alcoholic.

A lot of time, the peer pressure thing is a fear response. They feel like you're judging them or lording something over them by having self control they don't. Just let them know you're the same person, and you won't have any issue not drinking with them.

Do *special*-brownies count as calorie free aswell? :P LOL

Lol. I am from SK and I hear ya!

Thanks guys for your advice. I don't feel comfortable about pretending that I am drinking, because like an earlier poster said, I shouldn't have to lie. Also, if people realise that I'm not drinking I'm going to feel really stupid for pretending! I'm naturally a very friendly person so I don't think it should be too much of a problem. I'm going out tonight so I'll let you know how it goes!

I'm in my last year in university and for the past two years (since I left my last job), I have gone out very little. For the past year, I could count the amount of times I have gone out and drank. My friends call me boring but I don't let it bother me. Drinking is a huge part of the culture here in Ireland too (as you could probably guess, stereotypes and all ) but I don't care what people think or say, especially what my friends think. I don't want to drink, I don't have too. I have drank twice since the middle of September. The next time will be in about two weeks for my birthday. It is important to realise you can have a good time without alcohol. I went out about a month again and didn't drink alcohol that night - I actually had a great time. There has been many times when I'm sober enough and my friends are drunk and watching them do funny/silly things makes it a good laugh too.

It can be hard with peer pressure, but you can always give people the reason that it upsets your stomach or gives you bad headaches the next day.

I'm in a similar position...my roommates and family are big drinkers and they can be very pushy. This is difficult for me because I'm trying to stay sober. I usually just take a drink and get rid of it or say my stomach is too unsettled at the moment.