Alcohol and celebrations

[Sexy Strawberry]

One of my best friends is celebrating her birthday on Saturday and of course, they will want to drink. I used to drink a glass or two of alcohol before on special occasions but now I don't because I don't see the point:
a) alcohol has as many calories as butter
b) it tastes like hell
c) you don't notice any special effect unless you drink a good amount of it, so if you're going to drink a glass you're not getting any "fun" of it
d) if you actually get drunk, they you have fun for a while and on the next day you feel like crap
I've given up on chocolate and chips and all those things because I want to lose weight so it would be kind of dumb to go and drink alcohol when I hate how it tastes.
Of course, in this alcohol-centered society where people have to drink everytime they're celebrating something they won't understand that I don't want to drink alcohol... so I've just told my friend that I won't drink alcohol and she's like... whaaat! won't you drink a glass to celebrate my birthday?
I honestly don't get the point!!! :wait: Sorry but I just had to share...

[Csara]

LOL! For the past 8 1/2 months I have been to many celebrations where I'm the only one not drinking. First I thought it would suck to be the only sober person around a bunch of drunkies but if they are good friends and don't act stupid, there's really not much difference. I still am able to have a lot of fun. I'm sure you will too. :)

I won't disagree with how much calories drinking can add to your diet, but I will, however, have to playfully disagree with you on your other points :D ......

1. Alcohol doesn't taste like hell to everyone. I really enjoy a good margarita, glass of red wine and even a beer........not to mention sangria and plenty of other cocktails. When my baby is born, I am looking forward to having a drink! :)

2. As far as noticing "special effects" - one glass of wine goes straight to my head and I'm so mellow. Same thing with cocktails once in a while. The less you drink (in frequency), the less it takes for the alcohol to affect you. Yeah, yeah, I'm a lightweight. :D

3. I feel like crap almost every day when I wake up anyway so there's not much difference unless I got myself silly drunk and yeah, that sucks the next day - but sometimes the fun the night before is worth it when you don't have anything pressing to do. Then the next day can even be fun - DH and I used to go out for a big greasy breakfast and then just chill out all day, laying around and watching tv or movies. Those days are great, IMO. :D

:lol:

[meliz]

hee hee. SS, can't totally agree w/ you, as I am a bit of a lush, and do so very much love to drink red wine. But I admit that I often think, "how much chocolate could I have had for this amount of calories??" And I also can no longer do it to excess-- when you get old the hangovers hit you harder. Damnit.

That said, I totally respect your decision...and you should just ignore anyone who tries to talk you out of your convictions. It all makes perfect sense. If you don't enjoy it, if you are trying to lose weight, why bother? I am sure your friends will understand too. I have lots of friends and colleagues who don't drink for an array of reasons and they seem to have fun at all the parties just the same.

As for your friend who is celebrating her bday ... toast her birthday with your pop, water, or whatever you are drinking, then buy HER a birthday drink to celebrate. I am sure that will make her even happier. (It would work for me:))

[rdy2rac with]

I have spent just about every celebration drinking pop while others drank alcohol. I haven't quite figured out what my "drink-of-choice" is so I just drink what I like Pepsi. A real friend will not care what you are drinking but enjoy that you are there to honor her.

[nisha]

AMEN! I never did see what all the hubub was about!!! :D

[Sexy Strawberry]

Hehe I admit I took it a bit to the extreme, I love baileys for example, but it's so sweet that with a little shot I have enough... LOL C, wine has the same effect on me, I just need a glass to get drunk, but I hate how it tastes :p
Meliz that's a good idea, I'll buy her a drink... :D

[MandiDawn]

I too am a bit of a lush and love the way my drinks taste, and I usually don't feel bad the next day (usually :p )

My sister had never drank, I don't think she ever will. She didn't even have a glass of champange on her wedding day. She just hates alcohol - it's never been a big deal to anyone, she just has water and has just as much fun as everyone else. Outsiders do think it's strange though - most just can't belive that she don't drink.
Just be yourself - and don't make a big deal out of it, and others won't either.

p.s. - sometimes I like my sober friends better since they are my DD (yes, I"m an evil girl :drink: )

[Sydneyp]

I never drank alcohol at all until I was nearly 30, and then only rarely - perhaps twice a year, one drink.

Most of my friends did get drunk, but after asking, they really never cared that I didn't drink. I was always a designated driver they could count on, so that was a bonus. I didn't make it a big deal so they didn't either. Strangely, the only one it really bothered is my b/f, the swede. Swedes are seriously uptight about alcohol, and my not drinking much apparently felt like an accusation.

One of my goals since coming to greece was to become a moderate drinker because there is tons of evidence saying it helps reduce the risk of heart attack - since I have PCOS, my risk is fairly elevated. There is a link between moderate drinking and CRP (inflammation marker) level.

[Anniet222]

Sometimes I have a drink when I am out--sometimes I don't. Most of my friends have a couple drinks, a few of them have more. No one seems to care what anyone else does. I never felt odd when I wasn't drinking in college, with a couple of exceptions. I think an individual should always do what feels right for that individual and not apologize to anyone for it---however they also shouldn't condemn others for what they do.

[Sexy Strawberry]

LOL the party was on Saturday, I didn't drink any alcohol... I had fun but it would have been much more fun if I had had a drink because they all were completely drunk... of course, next morning I was feeling perfect and the rest were in pain... so it was not that negative lol

[ZenaMarie24]

Im lovin my Long Islands ... I work hard and a Friday night occasionally with my friends isnt hurting me - in fact, I welcome it! Hard alcohol isnt all that bad actually (calorie wise) - just a tip! :nod:

[IUgrad02]

Yeah, I'll have to admit I enjoy drinking with friends! We love to go out on the town and have fun. I know those days are probably numbered since we're all moving on and having families. But, for now, when we can meet up (which is about 2-4 times a year), we like to hit the bars. We only usually go to IU to meet up, so those bars are so familiar b/c they are from college.. it makes me so sad to think about how those days are over!!! Anyway! We also go to Chicago now and then bc friends live there now, and it's very fun to go out there.

I have no problems with casual drinking with friends. I welcome it as well. I don't usually feel that bad the next day, and I generally enjoy the taste of the drink b/c I get things like Amaretto Sours(YUM) and frozen drinks with little umbrellas. :)

BUT! I totally understand your point of view, and if you don't want to drink, it's totally fine! I have friends who go out with us and don't have a drop - but we still dance and have fun. It's not b/c they are the DD either, they just aren't interested sometimes. Last time we were in Bloomington, 2 of the five of us didn't have anything besides water the whole evening. No one even commented. That's a decision that is only yours, and everyone else should respect it!!! :nod:


Good conversation!