Comments on Pet Peeving: Am I the only one that doesn't drink anymore?

I think that is a really good point.

2008-07-15T07:25:00.000-05:00

I think that is a really good point.

The legal drinking age is 18 where I live, so the ...

2008-07-15T02:04:00.000-05:00

The legal drinking age is 18 where I live, so the pressure starts early. I also live in a country where drinking is a ridiculously huge part of life. I do enjoy a social drink every now and then (we're talking maybe five times a year), but always stop at two because I don't like being drunk. Yet, at age 22 (so I've been drinking and around drinkers for four years), I'm constantly pressured to 'lighten up', 'stop being boring' and 'enjoy myself'.

I do enjoy myself when I go out. I'm a light hearted person and I never judge anyone else's drinking habits. I think the reason big drinkers are so judgemental(where I am anyway) is because by not drinking, you're inadvertadly casting light on their bad habits. Nobody likes to have their bad habits aired in front of them. It's like when you order fries and the person you're with orders a salad. You feel really unhealthy. I'd say the same goes with the drinkers.

@Ryan: I am with you. Especially on number 1. One...

2008-06-05T16:55:00.000-05:00

@Ryan: I am with you. Especially on number 1. One of my grandfathers was an alcoholic as well. I've heard studies show that alcoholism tends to skip a generation in males. If that is true, you should be especially cautious if you have a son.

I am a 22 year old male. I have never been drunk ...

2008-06-05T16:49:00.000-05:00

I am a 22 year old male. I have never been drunk and I have not tasted anything but a sip of wine. I choose not to drink for many reasons.

1. My family has a history of alcoholism, including my father.

2. I come from a county with excessive underage drinking and drunk driving accidents.

3. I never want to become influenced by the power of alcohol to do things that I would regret.

4. I want to look and be the person that everyone can count on to be the hero that saves the day, not the alcoholic that ruins everything.

5. I am happy with myself and don't see why alcohol will ever make my life easier. It looks like it would just make it more expensive and harder.

6. I want to be different.

I get very harsh criticism from everyone that finds out that I don't drink. They are very narrow-minded people that need a nice slap in the face. They are usually very rude when they ask me about it. They assume that I am in a religious cult or something. I make damn sure that they know how rude they are being too. I usually state that "most of Americans go out to eat every day and just because everyone does it doesn't mean I should do it too." A lot of people snort crack, but I choose not to, does that bother them too? It is wrong to make a positive decision in America.

@MaLeah: Thanks for commenting. It's good to know...

2008-05-14T11:01:00.000-05:00

@MaLeah: Thanks for commenting. It's good to know other people have the same sentiments. Good luck on your blogging and travels.

Oh my gosh. I couldn't believe your post. My husba...

2008-05-12T16:11:00.000-05:00

Oh my gosh. I couldn't believe your post. My husband and I are non-drinkers and have a hard time finding friends who don't drink either. We're age 29 and 31. We drank in college a lot but just don't want to anymore. We don't mind having friends who drink but it seems that is all people want to do these days. What happened to just going out to eat (not to drink!) or to a movie with another couple! I wish we could find friends who wanted to do normal, non-drinking things but we don't know a single couple that this applies to. Everyone we know drinks every weekend almost!

Along these same lines, I had a relative through m...

2008-02-22T06:41:00.000-06:00

Along these same lines, I had a relative through marriage who was quite wild to say the least and was a student at Harding before getting kicked out. Anyway, we were with his pals and him once, and they were smoking, getting drunk, etc. on a Saturday night. At the same time they were talking about and making their plans to go to church the next morning. I would have expected my reaction to be something like: "These guys are being so hypocritical acting this way tonight at the same time they plan to go to church tomorrow." But my actual reaction was something like: "I'm glad that these folks with this wild lifestyle still have a connection to church (even if it is a shallow one), and maybe God will use it to pull them in his direction."

jonmower - I'm thinking I wish I had known you bet...

2008-02-21T22:08:00.000-06:00

jonmower - I'm thinking I wish I had known you better growing up. Thanks for what you said.

I agree it is an unnecessary and artificial barrier between friends regardless of their affiliation with Christ - but I'm afraid it is still a barrier nonetheless - regardless of which side of the table you sit on. And as you mentioned, with younger "Christian folk" it may become a lesser barrier in years to come.

As for the peer pressure, I don't think it is direct peer pressure which was we experienced more of as teens. It's now more of an indirect pressure, an internal struggle of your own mind. Even for the Christian friends who fear having a drink in front of others face the pressure to not drink because they aren't sure of the rules.

Again, for some reason I just find the subject fascinating.

Do you drink and how much?occasionally, maybe an a...

2008-02-21T18:12:00.000-06:00

Do you drink and how much?
occasionally, maybe an average of a couple drinks a month

If so, would you admit the age you started and why you took your first sip? Why do you do it now - is it really that good?
age 24, was visiting some Christian friends who ordered margaritas at dinner and offered a taste. I had also had the experience of non-Christian friends asking why I didn't drink and I had no real answer other than I just never had (because the reasons why it was wrong that I had been taught, I no longer believed). Still don't really care for liquor but enjoy wine and especially beer. Never been drunk.

I don't see more peer pressure, but I do see it increasingly not being an issue. It isn't an issue for the younger church folks where I live now and where I last lived. Where I last lived, there was sometimes the problem that a couple of our Christian friends did occasionally drink too much. Where we live now, I have heard a couple different people mention that they feel the urge to hide their beer if they see a Christian friend while in a restaurant because they don't know "what the rules are here" (i.e., whether or not drinking is taboo in this church body).

I would never pressure anyone to drink, but in the end I felt like for me it was an unnecessary and artificial barrier between non-Christian friends and myself. Having a beer is such a universal mode of socialization and interaction, it felt kind of silly to miss those opportunities for no good reason. I also think this is one of the ways that some Christians feel good about themselves and superior to others for something that is ultimately not all that meaningful...while not really being too different from non-Christians in the ways that are more meaningful.

You make a good point Smitty. Along with Sushi an...

2008-02-21T11:41:00.000-06:00

You make a good point Smitty. Along with Sushi and alcohol, I would add Coffee to the list.

I remember hating Coffee, but I learned to like it because there were a lot of places I would go where my only options were coffee or water. I got tired of water, so I learned to like Coffee as an option. Prior to that I felt pressured to drink coffee. Now, there are certain people that make me feel inferior if I don't drink it black.

Do you drink and how much?I typically have a coupl...

2008-02-21T08:50:00.000-06:00

Do you drink and how much?
I typically have a couple drinks a week. I'll have a beer when I'm watching a game on TV or a glass of wine for dinner. If the guys are able to get together we'll head to a sports bar to catch a game and a brew.

Would you admit the age you started and why you took your first sip?
I would say there's two answers to that question. I didn't start until 21 and out of college (Christian university prohibited such activity), but my first sip came when I was 14. One of my older redneck cousins had some and with so many people telling me my whole life how off limits it was, of course I wanted to see what the big deal was. Took a sip and turns out it was moonshine. Duh-gusting.

Why do you do it now - is it really that good?
I love a good beer, but I also know people who love good sushi and I can't stand that stuff. It's like any food or drink - some people like it, some people don't.

Would it make you uncomfortable if we hung out and I didn't drink?
Nah. I'm a social drinker so I'll only have one if you're having one.

I know the people you're talking about in your post who as adults, shoot funny looks when someone doesn't drink. Those people who shoot the funny looks are what I like to call 'immature'. Who cares if someone doesn't like to drink? I don't like sushi and don't want someone treating me inferior if I don't - it's a food for crying out loud! And in the end, alcohol is simply a drink.

I'm a once or twice a year drinker. I really feel...

2008-02-16T16:41:00.000-06:00

I'm a once or twice a year drinker. I really feel no pressure and I neither especially like nor do I especially dislike it. The only time you'll hear me say something about someone drinking is if they go too far. Otherwise, it's live and let live.

I never really was a drinker as a teen and it never developed as a need to thing as an adult.

I do think there is probably more pressure to drink as an adult because there are more more social situations where it's served and everyone is buying drinks. I find this even among Christian friends. Not that Christians shouldn't drink, but I've seen a few buds have more than they should have.

I can't talk about my college days, because I never hung around campus much and was usually in school or working.

Glad to meet a fellow non-drinker. I inadvertantl...

2008-02-16T00:16:00.000-06:00

Glad to meet a fellow non-drinker. I inadvertantly had a starbucks-martini (thought it was just going to be coffee) when I was, gee, I guess 21? Took one sip, about died, and drank soda the rest of the night.

I don't like alcohol, and like you, I fail to see the fascination with it. And yes the pressure is definitely here. People give me the STRANGEST looks when I tell them I don't drink. But you know, I'm used to not being "normal."
I am a dave-ite after all. :)

Great questions.I enjoy a drink - a "sissy" beer, ...

2008-02-15T21:57:00.000-06:00

Great questions.

I enjoy a drink - a "sissy" beer, wine, or a fruity mixed drink - about 2 or 3 times a month when I am out with friends. I don't recall being pressured by my peers at all in recent years, and I think it's quite juvenile for adults to pressure others into having some alcohol. Besides a few sips of champagne at a wedding or two, I had my first drink after I turned 21, which brings up another question...

Why age 21? Just because you celebrate your 21st birthday doesn't mean you're automatically responsible with alcohol. We all know people of all ages who are irresponsible with this potentially dangerous thing.

I don't drink at all. The smell was enough for me ...

2008-02-15T20:20:00.000-06:00

I don't drink at all. The smell was enough for me to realize that I wouldn't like it.

My husband will have a beer once in a great while, but he can take them or leave them.

I also have noticed more peer pressure now that I ever saw as a teen. I'm not sure why, though. Maybe people just feel better about their own vices if people partake with them?