Pressure to Drink

[Limie]

By all means, rant away; I certainly did.

Actually, I just checked your profile and realised we're both British. Might explain the similarities given the fact the UK has a big drinking culture. As for the part of your post that I bolded: same here. I'm 19, 20 next month, and I can't find anyone of similar age to me who would be happy doing something that doesn't involve alcohol. It's not just my age range either; I know of people 30-40 who behave similarly. It's apparently impossible to drink and not over do it for a lot of people.

I've been fortunate in that I haven't found myself trying to get puking friends home as you have, mostly because I haven't let myself get into those situations in the first place. Of course, now I've just kinda isolated myself. Ah well. I've never been a big party-goer anyway; it's just not my thing. I just wish I could have a couple of friends who I could say "Hey, wanna go see a movie?" to and not have "Sure! But after we could go to this pub and that club and-" as a response. Sometimes I'd just like to watch a movie, y'know? Or invite a few folks over and stay at home eating crap food and playing stupid games. Maybe I'm just boring but I could actually have fun with that and I'd remember it the following morning.

They do ask to do other activities, it's just that they have to wangle in a drink as well. We went bowling once and about 5mins in they ordered cocktails. They just seemed to be on a mission to get drunk. I don't understand why they feel the need to drink to the point where they can no longer control themselves, or remember what they are doing and must have someone else to look after them. Personally I don't see a problem to have a drink in a pub where you can talk and meet people. Whether you drink or not is up to you, however it is depressing that the social norm becomes binge drinking every night and because of this people think they have no choice in the matter, especially to be socially accepted. As for age groups I know people of similar ages to those that you mentioned that share the "binge drinking attitude" and it seems to but the same social pressures and culture that drives them to do so.
The point i'm trying to make is that you do have a choice to make with how much you drink.

 

[Neosage]

If I'm not gonna drink on a certain night. I'll say I'm not drinking tonight to my friends, and they understand. I just go around with a pint/bottle of water and the only questions I get are:

"Can I have some of your vodka?"

"You not drinking tonight?"

Can't remember anyone ever forcing me to drink. Except these two times where some guy poured beer in my water (whilst trying to sober up) or (the same guy, different party) put a bottle of jack up to my mouth and tipped it up (again while trying to get sober)

 

[FinalHeart95]

I'm a fucking teenager and I've never been pressured into drinking.

I must smell or something.

 

[Hiikuro]

Ethanol, how deeply annoying you are. I don't like drinking as it just doesn't feel right having to use drugs every single time being out and social. To me, using alcohol is equivalent with using any other hard drug, and while I'm not against drugs (I absolutely lust after trying an entheogen), I'm strongly against using stronger drugs frequently.

But I run into a conflict considering moderate use could be equated to using caffeine or other mild intoxicants, which I consider fine. So I try my best to convince myself that it in fact is not bad to use low doses of alcohol.

I don't like depressants or any drugs reducing my mind (I prefer, in decreasing order, hallucinogens, anti-depressants, and stimulants). I really really like my brain, and don't want to slow it down. The fact that my brain chemistry in a normal state is so incredibly awesome, and that alcohol actually ruins this, I see no reason to use it. So when anyone state that it is universally wrong not to drink, I get quite annoyed. I find it quite an immature statement to make.

Even though I find the taste of some drinks pleasant interesting.

 

[rokkolpo]

It's polite to drink when someone offers you a drink.
Just drink it slowly.

Or tell them what's up, instead of walking away which is rude.

 

[rokkolpo]

So anyone else have a similar new years? being pestered to drink?

Yup. Like you, my interest has gradually waned over the last few months. Previously I would drink Coke and pretend it was a mixer just to avoid a scene, but now I just say "No thanks" and my peers get kind of bored of pushing me.

Only in sobriety do we stay in touch with our soul. Someone clever said that. Probably.

Bob Marley begs to differ.
You want to tell me he's not in touch with soul?

Only when drunk we are truly ourselves, the way we are without any brakes or boundary's.
That's just my belief though (Someone awesome said that)

 

[Sweeney94]

I think you should just drink some whisky - it's actually the same price as beer because you'll be drinking a tenth as much. If you then feel thirsty, as a shot won't quench it - especially in Australia, you can then drink soft drinks or whatever. Now you're rehydrated, and you've drank something, actually something more heavy than your friends.

 

[Sweeney94]

So anyone else have a similar new years? being pestered to drink?

Yup. Like you, my interest has gradually waned over the last few months. Previously I would drink Coke and pretend it was a mixer just to avoid a scene, but now I just say "No thanks" and my peers get kind of bored of pushing me.

Only in sobriety do we stay in touch with our soul. Someone clever said that. Probably.

Bob Marley begs to differ.
You want to tell me he's not in touch with soul?

Only when drunk we are truly ourselves, the way we are without any brakes or boundary's.
That's just my belief though (Someone awesome said that)

To be honest I think that's very true. Fears and emotional boundaries aren't a problem when you've consumed a bit, although I also think getting totally pissed, especially as a woman, isn't respectful to yourself, and usually shows weak character.

 

[DustyDrB]

Being pressured to drink...
You know, people have been generally cool about it if I don't want to drink on a particular night. I kind of find it hard to believe that people would pressure you. The only time I ever was pressured even slightly was on my 21st birthday, and even then it was only like, "You sure you're not going to try anything?". I didn't drink any back then. I only started drinking beer because I discovered craft beer in all it's many brands and varieties of deliciousness (Dogfish Head is the best brewery period). I was 22 then, and only drank some Rum before that. I drink what tastes good, mostly. Every now and then I'll play some Beer Pong with friends and will get some PBR for it.

My three main drinks:
-Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA
-Bacardi Gold (Rum) and coke
-Maker's Mark (Bourbon) and ginger ale

 

[haruvister]

Only when drunk we are truly ourselves, the way we are without any brakes or boundary's.
That's just my belief though (Someone awesome said that)

I understand your point, but the way I see it, our inhibitions are just as much a part of our personal character as our underlying desires. In sobriety I'm shy and reticent - that's who I am. I have sampled most chemicals (legal and otherwise) and found that being true to oneself is the only path to self-awareness not flanked with bullshit trees and disingenuous hedgerow.

 

[smurf_you]

OH my god, I am SO glad that I am not the only one who has this problem, I get this crap all the time, whenever my bf's friends want to have a party (which is a lot) I don't care if they drink (glad that my bf doesn't though) but they get on my case if I don't, like a few weeks ago, a couple of them were having a housewarming party or some crap, and one of the girls was literally screeching at me, begging me to have a drink, was the most pathetic thing I have ever seen....

 

[Fridge]

So I'd like to start off by saying I'm not a teetotaler, and I'm most definitely not under drinking age, but lately I've not had much of a desire to drink, and my annoyance with my friends over their "have a drink already" attitude boiled over on New Years eve after three hours of "it's new years, drink something".

I can likely count the number of times I consumed alcohol in 2010 on both hands with fingers left over, I just seem to have lost my affection for drinking; well drinking cheap crap I suppose, I like a good wine, and I love a good whiskey, but it's too expensive to indulge often.

It's the middle of Summer here in Australia and it was high 30s well into the evening on New Years eve, the very last time I wanted to do was to consume a drink that I knew would make the heat worse, even if I felt like it, but after hours and hours of being annoyed to "at least have a beer" I snapped and wondered off to watch the 10pm fireworks on my own, and then went home.

I should point I wasn't give any disapproving looks, nor making any comments about other people's drinking habits, I honestly didn't care, I just didn't want to bloody drink just to get drunk.

So anyone else have a similar new years? being pestered to drink?

And yes I know I either need new friends or move back near my old friends who knew when I said something I damn well meant it.

I know the feeling well. I'm not a big drinker, on occasion I'll have some but I have to be in the right mood.

No one makes a fuss of it though, they know I'll drink when I damn well please and pestering me just ends in me telling them where to go.

 

[cl20]

no, hell is other people

 

[tkioz]

I think you should just drink some whisky - it's actually the same price as beer

Sure if you want to drink something that tastes like an unholy mix of paint-thinner, nail polish, and cat's piss.

Maybe you missed the part of my first post where I said I love a good Whiskey, the key part was good, which unfortunately means expensive, and I don't know about you but I don't make enough money to indulge very often.

 

[Sweeney94]

I think you should just drink some whisky - it's actually the same price as beer

Sure if you want to drink something that tastes like an unholy mix of paint-thinner, nail polish, and cat's piss.

Maybe you missed the part of my first post where I said I love a good Whiskey, the key part was good, which unfortunately means expensive, and I don't know about you but I don't make enough money to indulge very often.

Well maybe you missed the part of mine when I said 'cause you'll be drinking a tenth as much.' Unless you wanna kill yourself by drinking 6 pints of whisky. By the way, you clearly don't like a good whisky, since a good whisky is a Scottish whisky, and a Scottish whisky is spelt without the 'e'. I don't know how expensive whisky is over there, but it can't be as expensive as it is in London.

 

[lizards]

we entered the new year on a trip so we didnt drink at all

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

I didn't drink till I was 18 (Also aussie) just because I was sick of my mates and the way the acted when drunk at 16-17 thinking it made them cool. I eventually snapped when one wouldnt stop pressuring me into drinking a beer and kept swearing at me and shoved it into my hand, at which I smashed it over his head and knocked him out and yelled "Does anyone else what to make me drink?!?!"

Same for people who get into my car, if they act like idiots, fuck around with the A/C, CD Player etc I'll tell them to stop or get out.

 

[SkyeNeko]

Ahaha... all the people I know are in my church, and its against the church's laws to drink =p AND I'm the minister's daughter so if anyone tried to they'd proly get in trouble. And I barely have any friends. And I'm not around anyone other than the family long enough to get invited to a party or a pub or anything. And I'm a Coke whore. COCA COLAAAAAAA <3

 

[tkioz]

I think you should just drink some whisky - it's actually the same price as beer

Sure if you want to drink something that tastes like an unholy mix of paint-thinner, nail polish, and cat's piss.

Maybe you missed the part of my first post where I said I love a good Whiskey, the key part was good, which unfortunately means expensive, and I don't know about you but I don't make enough money to indulge very often.

Well maybe you missed the part of mine when I said 'cause you'll be drinking a tenth as much.' Unless you wanna kill yourself by drinking 6 pints of whisky. By the way, you clearly don't like a good whisky, since a good whisky is a Scottish whisky, and a Scottish whisky is spelt without the 'e'. I don't know how expensive whisky is over there, but it can't be as expensive as it is in London.

yeah because I don't spell it the same as some posh gits I can't like it... And what kind of jerk shows up to a party with good whiskey and refuses to share it?

 

[Vault101]

Most people seem to assume that I "don't drink" I acctually do drink if the situation is right but that isn't very often, plus I CANNOT stand the taste, I'll only ever drink to get drunk and not inbetween

plus It makes me not want to drink when people think that I have somthign against it and then think its hilarious/make a big deal if I do