Comments on: The Irish Question: what do you mean you don’t drink?! You must be pregnant

By: Orla

Orla — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:59:39 +0000

After 1st year in college I didn’t drink, I just decided that it wasn’t worth it and that I had a better night when I was sober. I could remember what happened, drive us all home and still enjoy my night. I don’t consider myself in anyway boring on a night out. I didn’t drink on the night of my 21st and it was the best decision I’ve ever made! I had an absolute ball and the mammy was sure I was locked due to my dancing and antics! Nowadays I do have the odd drink, but it doesn’t bother me either way! I know I can have a good night with or without it, but sometimes I just can’t face another orange juice!!

By: Breige

Breige — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 19:52:57 +0000

that reminds me, on the subject of coffees, hot chocolate etc. I remember once being in a pub at around half 9 and they wouldn’t serve me hot chocolate as they had cleaned the machine. I was really annoyed over it, as it was the only thing I wanted to drink and I wasn’t in the mood for fizzy drinks. I wish more things like that were available in pubs

By: Emma McGoldrick

Emma McGoldrick — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 19:19:24 +0000

Well, I’m 18 & a non-drinker by choice… I know it may sound ridiculous that I’ve been a non-drinker for about 4 years or so, but 14 is round the time when most of my year were beginning to drink a LOT . I just don’t see the point in it, I don’t like the taste, and I don’t like the fact that it can make people go from nice, to a “falling-all-over-the-place-acting-the-maggot-getting-with-anything-that-moves” state. And I totally agree, people also call me “dry” or “boring” not drinking…its ridiculous! Now, I have had a drink or two, and my parents aren’t the type to say “YOU BETTER NOT DRINK” , they’re fine with it and would rather me tell them. I think the fact that people who don’t drink are viewed in a negative light makes young people feel like they have to, otherwise they’ll be the one sticking out…sad but true! Haha, dreading what people will reckon of me in uni next year, ah well! =P

By: Kitty In The City

Kitty In The City — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 18:35:17 +0000

A friend of mine was off drink for a couple of months, living in London. She was in some fancy place one Sunday lunch and ordered a virgin cocktail. The waiter put vodka in it. She guessed straight away and he admitted it, saying he didn’t think she was serious, didn’t all girls drink (He wasn’t English). She was pretty upset, spoke with the manager, got lunch for free. She really should have made more of a fuss about it, but was too upset at the time. Quite shocking.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 16:27:34 +0000

I used to have a very bad drinking habit. I would down an average of 6 shots of vodka or gin a day (and I’m a 5 ft/1.524 tall woman), I eventually started experiencing shortness of breath and dizzy spells whenever I drank. So I understand what you mean when you say you got tired of the hangovers. I’m also a nicer person when I’m sober.

By: Alice

Alice — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:19:11 +0000

Oh don’t get me started. I am an Asian person. I can’t digest alcohol very well. Example, I was black out after half a glass of champagne in a black tie charity benefit and made a fool of myself in a lovely dress.
But when I said I can’t drink to Irish people, they don’t get it and we usually get into the ‘go on go on go on’ thing. So now I just say I have allergy. I used to say asthma which I actually have, but some people will still go ‘go on go on never heard alcohol has anything to do with asthma…’ well, actually it does! Alcohol is one of the trigger! Where do these people come from? Geez! Now I say allergy, seems to be working out ok so far…

By: Therese

Therese — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 07:28:24 +0000

I live in Australia, another country well known for being big into drink (probably coz it was laregly founded by Brits and Irish!!). But the suburb I live in has loads of late night cafes and it’s so nice to walk home after the cinema or a meal and see people sitting outside on the path, having coffees and hot chocolate and maybe A beer and just enjoying themselves. Granted the weather helps as it’s usually nice and warm, even at 11 at night but even when it’s miserable, the cafes will just put covers and heaters out and the crowd will still be there. I think alternative places to go has to be the key to stopping the drink culture in Ireland, a lot of the time especially in smaller towns, there’s sod all else to do for anyone who HAS to go out to have fun. I’ve always been happier being home with friends, having meals etc and I’ve been considered boring for doing so but wasting half the weekend with a roaring head isn’t my idea of fun.

By: bernie c

bernie c — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 23:35:41 +0000

This is just a great topic..I dont drink to get hammered ever and when I was pregnant I never drank, when the babies came along all four of them in Five years I found I was off the drink for a very long time ,when I did find the time to go out for a few drinks after baby number4 I found I was only able for 5 bottles of cider max any more and I would be sick all the next day tired and hungover I would have to get up with the kids at the usual time and do the usual stuff with them etc its just not worth it I have no problem going out and not drinking depends on the night its great having your car to drive home when you want and not depend on anyone else also its nice to go out and have a few I now drink a glass or two of water in between each drink and find that helps with the hangover.
Home drinking is also another issue which is not talked about much ,a lot of people now open the bottle of wine now mid week and its not unusual to be offered a glass of vine if you visit someones house a bit like the cup of tea from yesteryear when I told someone I never drink at home ever they looked at me strangely but its just not my thing I think its great you not drinking Karen fair play to you.

By: OutOfTheGame

OutOfTheGame — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 21:50:31 +0000

I have never been a big drinker; it doesn’t agree with me- more than 2 drinks and I just feel poisoned, for up to 2 days!
I can enjoy a glass of wine with a meal, but if I’m going out with friends I have begun to order non alcoholic drinks like juice and sparkling water with crushed ice, or a big glass of still water with lots of lemon and lime.
I have always found coke too sweet and diet drinks make me gag, so sometimes I order a coke AND a fizzy water and then dilute the coke, instantly giving it that lovely the-ice-has-melted flavour haha

By: red razors

red razors — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 10:01:55 +0000

I love me a drink but i’m just as capable as anyone of going out on the dry. Over the years i’ve been both a drinker and a non-drinker, at first when i was at college because i am really picky and got sick of the lack of choice [that lasted until smirnoff ice was invented], later because i had no job and no money. Then i still went out every week, but i spent hardly anything bar my club entrance fee and my car was right outside the door. It was great! I’m now jobless again and by and large don’t drink most of the time. I’ll save for a night out every few weeks, and i really enjoy it, but other than that i don’t particularly care and neither does anyone else. I’m amazed at all these ppl who are persecuting non-drinkers, i’ve never experienced it. Or maybe i just didn’t take it as seriously? Every now and again someone will say “ah go on” but that’s the extent of it and noone ever pushes hard about it. Noone has ever called me a dryballs or said i was a religious freak over it.

Maybe i just have a good social group? Variously among my circles of friends, there are never-touched-it drinkers, used-to-drink-but-gave-it-uppers, moderate drinkers and occasional drinkers, and occasionally heavy drinkers. Noone cares about anyone else’s choices. I’ve had bad nights out drunk and fantastic ones out sober, and vice versa.

I think the way money is now, a lot more people are happy to cut back on their drinking [myself included] so it’s not as big a deal among our generation. Teenagers mystify me though. Four of us kids in my family all managed to scrub along with a little illicit drinking [although bushing with just a few bottles of woody's would be laughed at today] but never went mad or anything, certainly nothing on the scale of what teenagers now do. I was 19 before i even got properly drunk. It just never really held THAT much interest for me. I have no idea how teenage drinking has gotten so hardcore in just a few years.