What part of "I don't drink alcohol" do you not understand?

[Lace Neil Singer]

Someone I know always says he's driving if he goes to a party and people expect him to drink. Everyone's usually too far gone to check up on him afterwards, anyway. XD He says this cuz it takes the pressure off, and people quit bugging him to get drunk; so problem solved. He hardly ever drinks cuz he's the world's worst lightweight; two drinks and he's on the floor, so he doesn't bother to drink cept when he's at his own house.

My problem is the opposite; pain in the arse goody goodies whining at me cuz I choose to smoke and drink. Get a life; we all have our own choices, and just cuz you think your opinion is the correct one, does not make it so.

[draggar]

My third reaction, when I am not out and about but working behind the bar and someone orders, say, water or tea or soda, is to look at them, point to the door, and say "OUT!"...with a smile on my face. It is, of course, a joke. In all the years I've been doing it, exactly one asshole person was offended by this, apparently not realizing it was a joke, or just not having a sense of humor. Of course I will bring them their beverage of choice, be it water or tequila. Now, some people who were not intending to drink may change their minds when I do this, and actually order an adult beverage, which means, frankly, I am doing my job. But I would never REALLY pressure someone into drinking that honestly doesn't want to. That is idiocy of a criminal nature.

I've had bartenders brush me off when I asked for a soda in the past (sadly, too since I'm normally a good tipper - I *always* tip - even if I go through 20 sodas, I'll tip for each one.

As for your response - I'm not sure how I would take it but it would HIGHLY depend on how visible the smile is (and what kind of smile).

Okay, I give up. What the hell is Sidra? I've never heard of it.

It's an apple champagne (I think)- you can usually get it at most bodegas (Latin markets). I'll admit - it's extremely good and I don't mind it every now and then but on very rare occasion (I'll admit, I had a few classes at our wedding but I haven't had any in YEARS even though we have a bottle in our fridge). The stuff isn't expensive too - usually under $10 a bottle (this stuff was under $10 for both bottles) but still very good.

Its not hard cider.

What's really scaring me about this is that it's showing me how little my wife actually knows me, even after 8 years of marriage. Sure, I've tried drinks with her but never had alcohol on a regular basis (hell, the dogs get more beer then I do! My father in law stayed with us for a few days once and got a 12-pack of Heinekin keg cans - he left us with 5 or 6 cans, the dogs got them over the next year or so during show season). Generally, I don't drink and she's NEVER pulled this before.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I also love these responses:

"Were you in a drunk and driving accident?"
No.
"Oh, then you must have lost a god friend due to someone who was drunk and driving?"
No.
"You're nor diabetic, are you?" (I get this one once in a while).
No, I am not.
"Then why don't you drink?"
Because I don't like the taste of alcohol.

Sometimes I'm even accused of being a recovering alcoholic.

Even if any of these were true, I would never presume someone would want to discuss it, especially in a social situation...

Blas, my ex and I spent a lot of time at the bar (he spent a lot more time there; I spent a lot of time alone with the dog...who was often better company...). Guess who drove home.

[NightWatch]

Generally, I don't drink and she's NEVER pulled this before.

Maybe one of the friends complained to her about your not drinking and made her feel weird about it?? So maybe she thought if she pressured you to have a couple of drinks, they'd back off?? I'm guessing here, dunno if I'm anywhere near the mark.
I know I have a general rule where even if I know someone doesn't like something, if I am partaking (be it alcohol or some other consumable), I typically offer once. Like the bf almost never eats sweets, he doesn't even care for fruit. But if I am digging into the candy jar, I'll still offer it, I expect him to say no. And when he shakes his head, I grab what I want and put it away. Once in a blue moon though, he'll actually want a piece and I always feel glad I asked.
It's a weird manners thing, if I'm getting something for myself, no matter what, I always offer what I'm getting.

[Jester]

I've had bartenders brush me off when I asked for a soda in the past.

As for your response - I'm not sure how I would take it but it would HIGHLY depend on how visible the smile is (and what kind of smile).

I say it in such a way and with a smile where it is obvious I am screwing around. Another response I often have is, when they ask, "Can I get an iced tea?" I answer simply, "No." And then go and get it. I always feel bad when I pull this stunt and then actually forget to get them their tea/water/soda. (This usually happens when they already have a beverage, want a glass of water, and I am busy. I don't mean to forget....I just sometimes do. And then apologize profusely.) Also, when people order water from me, I often put it in front of them saying, "Here's your hydrogen oxide martini." People find that amusing.

But yeah, the "OUT!" thing is something that is obviously a joke, unlike the "No" thing. I ham it up....trust me, it's hard to explain, but if you saw it, you would laugh. Everyone does.

[RayvenQ]

I'm glad I did drink whne I went to Greece, afterall, I was held hostage with the threat of an inflatable cactus if I tried to leave before I drank the dirnks that I'd somehow mysteriously earned. Which included 10 Vodka shots, 3 and a half pints of beer and a shot of Ouzo and a shot of Raki. D;you know how hard it is arguing with a Greek about paying for drinks when he insists that you don't? (Because he was the owner, knew my aunt who worked over there and one of the bar girls was a former employee of my aunts)

So instead I chucked 30 Euros into the tips jar.

Of course, if I'd really protested and really not wanted to drink they;d have let me go

[Jester]

What is wrong with an inflatable cactus?!?!? (So said the desert boy....)

[RayvenQ]

What is wrong with an inflatable cactus?!?!? (So said the desert boy....)

Nothing, until it gets threatened to be shoved up various bodily regions

I remember that night I ended up sleeping on a rooftop (hey was my last night in Crete, always wanted to do it) and waking up with zero hang over.

Also, don't Drink Raki if you're halfway through a horse rise, actually, you may as well because knowing the greeks who were running it, the horse had been given plenty too.

Though I can somewhat proudly say I got to ride Cindy Crawford Guy next to me wasn't so lucky, he'd got Saddam Hussein

Be aware, Greek horses are just as mental as their human counterparts on mopeds, they can do handbrake turns too

[Jester]

Nothing, until it gets threatened to be shoved up various bodily regions

Touche.

I remember that night I ended up sleeping on a rooftop

I'd like to say I've never done that. I'd also like to say that if I had, it would be the strangest place I've ever slept. I'd like to say those two things...but sadly, only the first one would be true.

[RayvenQ]

Yeah, it would have been strange, if I hadn't planned to do it. ONe of the strangest places I've slept was partially, well, mostly ON a woman who I'd never met before in my life We were all tired as hell on the flight back, she just turned to me and said "Meh, lean on me" so I did, wasn't alltogether unpleasant, although she had the annoying habit of jerking awake just as i was dozing off

[Red_Dazes]

I don't drink either, unless I have the Beau around to keep a close eye on me... Not for lack of wanting too.
I have an intolerance for Alcohol... my body doesn't absorb or break it down correctly. So instead of getting drunk... I get a little fuzzy and then puke till I get Bile... and then puke some more.

Even one glass of wine or using wine to cook with will do it to me. I have to be very careful.

So I get the third degree all the time. I think it comes down to other people need to feel justified in their drinking so they want you to drink with them

[Stormraven]

I don't get many people pushing drinks on me, but then I'm not often in situations where that's often an issue.

When people do ask me why I don't drink, I just tell them the truth. My body won't let me anymore. Not after 6 Long Island Ice Teas in an hour and a half. (I was young and stupid, and in addition, my 'friends' were dropping other drinks into mine whenever I was away.)

First - and last - hangover I ever had. First - and last - time I ever blacked out. And the day after, at an event, I bought my favourite mixed drink, an Amaretto Sour, and couldn't drink it. Every sip got a gag reflex.

I suppose I could have forced it, but I'd long since learned that when my body says 'no', it's safer to listen.

[Seshat]

Personally, I like the occasional drink, and I think I would have a hard time with someone who flat out doesn't drink ever.

That kind of bothers me. I used to drink a bit, but now I'm on psychoactive medications & it's wiser to be a 'doesn't drink ever'.

And by 'drink a bit', I mean very rarely - probably three or four times a year. More, for a while, if we happened to get a bottle of chocolate liqueur or some other time-sensitive drink.

There's this one cream liqueur that's made from an African fruit, I totally cannot remember the name, but it was utterly gorgeous. That, I would risk messing with my meds to taste again.

My third reaction, when I am not out and about but working behind the bar and someone orders, say, water or tea or soda, is to look at them, point to the door, and say "OUT!"...with a smile on my face. It is, of course, a joke.

I'd be startled, and need to really study your face (probable Aspie - undiagnosed, but given that I'd have to STUDY your face to be sure it's a joke, well...)

Anyway, once I got that it was, I'd be smiling too.

The one bomb I DO drink is an Irish Car Bomb, which has nothing to do with Red Bull. It's a half-filled pint glass of Guinness, into which you drop a shot glass of half Jameson's Irish Whiskey and half Bailey's Irish Cream, and then slam the whole thing!

That sounds good.

In the same way that some lobster things sound like they'd be good.

I can't have them, wouldn't like the taste of some aspects of them, but I can understand that the flavours would blend beautifully.

[Teysa]

If you don't like to drink, you don't like to drink. It shouldn't be that big of a deal. I rarely drink but that's by personal choice. I also can't hold my alchohol worth a darn. I get tipsy off of one wine cooler.

[Jester]

And the day after, at an event, I bought my favourite mixed drink, an Amaretto Sour, and couldn't drink it. Every sip got a gag reflex.

I suppose I could have forced it, but I'd long since learned that when my body says 'no', it's safer to listen.

Yes, but that does not mean you can no longer drink ever. Not saying you should, just saying that the reaction the next day is somewhat normal, and I've gone through it before myself, where the next day I just could not drink. Perfect example was the day after my 21st birthday party (as differentiated from my 21st birthday, which was a week earlier). The next day, I was out at a bar with my buddy, and I just could NOT drink. I nursed one drink for about an hour and a half, and that was the only drink I ordered that night.

And I have that happen since, from time to time, where my body simply said, "Uh, dude? HELL no. Not today. Fuck off."

I'd be startled, and need to really study your face (probable Aspie - undiagnosed, but given that I'd have to STUDY your face to be sure it's a joke, well...)

Trust me, you wouldn't need to. While much of my humor is often subtle, this one is not....because I could not afford for it TO be subtle. It is over the top, in your face, obviously a joke. Again, it is more a visual thing, and hard to explain, but I have never had any problems with it.