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Poll: Are you a drinker or a teetotaler?

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Re: Poll: Are you a drinker or a teetotaler?

#111

Post by swombat »

Kudos wrote: post #62
swombat wrote: post #22

I have been a regular drinker for most of my adult life. Recently, I tried a "semi-dry July", where I told myself I would drink only once a week (with no limit on that day, i.e. binge drinking allowed). But when I got to that day, I felt only like having one beer or so, and same the following week. Well, here's an amazing thing, shocking and totally counterintuitive: I felt much better while doing this than I did for…

I think this applies much more as you get older. Recovery from a few pints used to take a few hours out of the following day in my early twenties. In my early thirties it takes a few days.

That's a good point, I hadn't thought of that... I am 34 now, so perhaps that's why the effect seems so pronounced.

Re: Poll: Are you a drinker or a teetotaler?

#112

Post by smoyer »

blktiger wrote: post #79
smoyer wrote: post #70

I checked teetotaler but in an effort to be truthful, I'll state that I do drink very rarely (amounting to perhaps one or two glasses of wine a year). I don't think that makes me a "social drinker" but I also don't want to drag down a celebration by being "that vocal objector" (would you refuse to toast with champagne at a wedding?).

I find most people don't really see that as a problem. You probably already have another drink to use nearby.

True ... and often weddings will have sparkling grape juice available if there are children at the reception. I guess I also don't see drinking the champagne as a problem but when a business acquaintance has spent a thousand dollars on a bottle of wine to celebrate a milestone, he might in fact be offended that you're not even tasting "his favorite wine".

Re: Poll: Are you a drinker or a teetotaler?

#113

Post by dingaling »

Dewie wrote: post #75
diggan wrote: post #3

I wouldn't say I'm a heavy drinker since I mostly drink one beer per day but since it's the only option for me, I guess I'm a heavy drinker according to this poll.

The poll seems coloured/biased towards binge-drinking cultures. To say that someone who has a glass of beer with his dinner on most days is a "heavy drinker" sounds ridiculous.

> To say that someone who has a glass of beer with his dinner on most days is a "heavy drinker" sounds ridiculous.

Drink Aware tells me that eight cans of Coors Light per week ( a baseline I chose ) is 12 units.

http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/understand-your-drinking/unit-ca...

The UK recommended limit for men is 21 units per week. So you'd be just over halfway there, which doesn't give much leeway for any social events.

Re: Poll: Are you a drinker or a teetotaler?

#114

Post by notdonspaulding »

JohnnyBuffalo wrote: post #105
aroberge wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The following comment/observation could be about anything - not specific to drinking. You wrote "I was forced ... to resume drinking...". No you weren't. You chose to do so. You may feel that you were pressured by other people to drink but I would bet a huge amount that no one tied your hands and used force to feed you alcohol. If you ever need motivation to refuse to drink, re-read the rest of your post and you shou…

Let's step back a second and use a very clear observation. This is like saying to someone overweight - why don't you stop eating crappy food. Look at the mis-information, man. Additionally, social "norms" force a lot of cultural influence to do so. This falls in line that America is a "drinking" society. Go watch Ken Burn's Prohibition just a fact of record. I haven't even touched on the addiction aspects, because I…

No, this is like replying to someone's statement "I was forced to eat unhealthy foods." by pointing out that they are shifting the responsibility of their actions onto their circumstances and surroundings. Those may have an influence on you, but the best way to see change in your life is to accept responsibility for your actions and bring them in line with your goals.

Re: Poll: Are you a drinker or a teetotaler?

#115

Post by bithush »

icebraining wrote: post #40
bithush wrote: post #13

Tee-total. Male 30 living in London, UK. I used to drink in the teens but gave up at 18. Not had a drink since. I also don't do any drugs so no weed for me.

Not even prescribed ones? :)

Well I will take needed prescribed drugs :)

Re: Poll: Are you a drinker or a teetotaler?

#116

Post by nobodysfool2 »

lovelearning wrote: post #52

I'm a teetotaler. At every social gathering - be it work or relatives - somebody asks me the inevitable question "but why?". I never have a good answer. I have no idea why I'm a teetotaler, I just am. I did try alcoholic drinks exactly 3 times in my life, and didn't like anything about them. I think drinkers - even the casual ones - hate teetotalers.

I used to binge occasionally, and used to regularly drink. I met a woman who doesn't drink, so I decided that I wouldn't either. I've had a few drinks since then, mostly in her presence and usually not more than one. I can say that I quit four years ago, but the last drink I had was about 8 months ago. Yea people think I'm weird if I tell them I don't drink, but I really don't care. And after I quit I was amazed at the amount of advertising for drinking is in everyday life, and how embedded it is into american culture. I don't miss waking up with a hangover.

Re: Poll: Are you a drinker or a teetotaler?

#117

Post by xmstr »

unfamiliar wrote: post #100
lovelearning wrote: post #52

I'm a teetotaler. At every social gathering - be it work or relatives - somebody asks me the inevitable question "but why?". I never have a good answer. I have no idea why I'm a teetotaler, I just am. I did try alcoholic drinks exactly 3 times in my life, and didn't like anything about them. I think drinkers - even the casual ones - hate teetotalers.

In my experience there are three groups of teetotalers. There are the ones who don't drink and don't have a problem with other people drinking. The people who are genuinely in this group, you don't even notice they don't drink. Drinkers have no quarrel with this group. The second group are very vocal about their disapproval and are constantly telling you you shouldn't drink etc. They are irritating but can be ignored…

I have to add one group to your list, people who can't drink because of health issues or use of prescription drugs to treat health issues. I've been one of these persons for over a year now.

Group 4: "I would love to but I can’t. I’ll just have a glass of water (or a near-beer) instead"

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