Moving on from drinking alcohol

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

I am curious, when you're out with friends don't they drink a beer and encourage you to have a beer??



I completely understand how someone could not drink but usually others will encourage you to and if you don't they will want to know why. What do you say?

In high school I was everyone's DD. I was one of the most popular kids in school. I had a kid pick on me when I was a junior and 2 senior football players beat the snot out of him. So I was never peer pressured because I never judged anyone and would pick up anyone if they called me. I bailed out a lot of people.

So even as I got older I just said no thanks and ordered a water or a Sprite. If someone would peer pressure then they aren't really my friend. I don't think I have to explain to anyone why I'm not having a beer. But I never did the whole peer pressure thing. I joke about it with gaming but in real life, I do my thing not what others want me to do.


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[mgoblue]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

In high school I was everyone's DD. I was one of the most popular kids in school. I had a kid pick on me when I was a junior and 2 senior football players beat the snot out of him. So I was never peer pressured because I never judged anyone and would pick up anyone if they called me. I bailed out a lot of people.

So even as I got older I just said no thanks and ordered a water or a Sprite. If someone would peer pressure then they aren't really my friend. I don't think I have to explain to anyone why I'm not having a beer. But I never did the whole peer pressure thing. I joke about it with gaming but in real life, I do my thing not what others want me to do.


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Yeah, no one really cares that I usually don't drink when I'm out with people. I will occasionally, but as you get older it's not a big deal I've found

[kehlis]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

Peer pressure is a high school thing. I've never seen an adult try and pressure another adult who doesn't want to drink into drinking.

[ODogg]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

In high school I was everyone's DD. I was one of the most popular kids in school. I had a kid pick on me when I was a junior and 2 senior football players beat the snot out of him. So I was never peer pressured because I never judged anyone and would pick up anyone if they called me. I bailed out a lot of people.

So even as I got older I just said no thanks and ordered a water or a Sprite. If someone would peer pressure then they aren't really my friend. I don't think I have to explain to anyone why I'm not having a beer. But I never did the whole peer pressure thing. I joke about it with gaming but in real life, I do my thing not what others want me to do.


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That's pretty cool, maybe part of my problem is I got a reputation at a young age for a drinker and now it's just expected of me from my friends.

[ODogg]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

Peer pressure is a high school thing. I've never seen an adult try and pressure another adult who doesn't want to drink into drinking.

I don't mean peer pressure so much as "omg you HAVE to drink" but rather the "hey man, have a beer with me, what do you want?" type thing. I suppose it is peer pressure but I didn't mean like high school as in high pressure "you're a nerd if you don't drink with us" sorta thing.

I think of course, some of it is self-imposed to fit in as well. And then like I said above, having a reputation for being a drinker as well..

[mgoblue]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

I don't mean peer pressure so much as "omg you HAVE to drink" but rather the "hey man, have a beer with me, what do you want?" type thing. I suppose it is peer pressure but I didn't mean like high school as in high pressure "you're a nerd if you don't drink with us" sorta thing.

I think of course, some of it is self-imposed to fit in as well. And then like I said above, having a reputation for being a drinker as well..

I would make a joke about keeping weight off, or the cancer stuff....after all that honestly probably better for your body to not be a heavy drinker, so that could be a good thing to blame if it helps, you know?

[dubcity]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

Peer pressure can be indirect, for sure.

[ODogg]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

I would make a joke about keeping weight off, or the cancer stuff....after all that honestly probably better for your body to not be a heavy drinker, so that could be a good thing to blame if it helps, you know?

You read my mind, I've basically been saying "I'm trying to lose some weight so I'm holding off until I can lose some more.." and that is usually good enough tbh.

Like I said, part of it comes from my own inner voice saying "oh hell, everyones drinking a beer, a beer won't hurt.." which it won't but then like I said, usually once I start that train it picks up steam pretty quick....

[mgoblue]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

You read my mind, I've basically been saying "I'm trying to lose some weight so I'm holding off until I can lose some more.." and that is usually good enough tbh.

Like I said, part of it comes from my own inner voice saying "oh hell, everyones drinking a beer, a beer won't hurt.." which it won't but then like I said, usually once I start that train it picks up steam pretty quick....

It took me a little while for my brain to register that I didn't really want/need to drink and a lot of it was social convention. I grabbed onto the fact that I hated losing a day to a hangover, so that helped me move on a bit. My weekends were too valuable to stay on the couch all day.

[ODogg]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

It took me a little while for my brain to register that I didn't really want/need to drink and a lot of it was social convention. I grabbed onto the fact that I hated losing a day to a hangover, so that helped me move on a bit. My weekends were too valuable to stay on the couch all day.

Yes exactly right...that's where I've been heading for awhile. I guess you do things out of habit and never really question them. Like I said, my wife has been complaining for a bit but it didn't really make me rethink anything, if anything it made me more want to drink just to not be controlled.

But recent events, including my health and her father passing has made me re-look at things and although I don't want to say I'm done with drinking I do want to make it a very, very rare occasion like most "normal" people who don't binge drink every Friday.

Part of it that has helped me is I got a new work-from-home job and I set my own hours and getting up early on Saturday and Sunday has allowed me to get in some OT there and I can't do that if I'm hungover.

So when all else is said and done, the almighty dollar is always a pretty good motivator to go along with everything else...

[mgoblue]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

Yes exactly right...that's where I've been heading for awhile. I guess you do things out of habit and never really question them. Like I said, my wife has been complaining for a bit but it didn't really make me rethink anything, if anything it made me more want to drink just to not be controlled.

But recent events, including my health and her father passing has made me re-look at things and although I don't want to say I'm done with drinking I do want to make it a very, very rare occasion like most "normal" people who don't binge drink every Friday.

Part of it that has helped me is I got a new work-from-home job and I set my own hours and getting up early on Saturday and Sunday has allowed me to get in some OT there and I can't do that if I'm hungover.

So when all else is said and done, the almighty dollar is always a pretty good motivator to go along with everything else...

Sounds like a smart plan....I'll have a couple beers sometimes with a dinner out or something, but a bit change was that I never really get tipsy or binge drink....that's where it gets crazy.

A drink here or there isn't bad unless you have a serious problem, and then that's different.

[Cusefan]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

good for you OD, You never hear people say "quitting alcohol was the worst decision i ever made" so quitting or heavily cutting back is probably a good thing. I have cut back considerably over the past 5 years or so, i only drink craft beer now and will only have 1 or 2 a week. I still occasionally will party like im 18 but thats only 2 or 3 times a year. Alcohol played a big role in my fathers death and im not looking to go down that road.

I will say however that If i could smoke marijuana without fear of losing my job I would in a heartbeat. If my dad smoked weed like he drank alcohol, there is no doubt in my mind he would be alive today.

[seasprite]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

I drank like a fish in college and while I was in the Navy. I am 38 now and just dont drink as often as I used to. I may a have a few on the weekend, but my body cusses as me if I even think about drinking during the week.

[ODogg]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

I drank like a fish in college and while I was in the Navy. I am 38 now and just dont drink as often as I used to. I may a have a few on the weekend, but my body cusses as me if I even think about drinking during the week.

Yeah I did that a few times in my 20's and after going to pick up some shrimp for my boss on April 16th (she worked as a tax preparer) and stopping by the road side to throw up out of my car because I'd drank too much vodka the night before I vowed never again on a weeknight and I have stuck with that every since. Never drank alcohol again on a work night after that.

I think I'm fortunate enough to have some boundaries and be able to work within those boundaries. Eventually my goal would be to just completely abstain from it but for now I'm just happy to limit my intake to a "reasonable level" when I drink socially.

One thing I don't miss is spending so damned much money on the good booze...it's really an expensive habit. I'm always puzzled by people who are alcoholics and don't make good money, I have no idea how they even afford it to be honest..

[PhilliesFan13]

Re: Moving on from drinking alcohol

I am 30 and also do not drink ever. Never been drunk a day in my life. I was never peer pressured either. I just always stayed away from that scene.

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