# Fo non-alcoholics, how would you react to not being able to drink again? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 14, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019 "2010-04-14T02:38:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/121 "2010-04-15T19:13:13Z")
> [@Maeglin](#): > > Lord no, I don’t eat it in front of her. I could if I really wanted to, but that’s too much of a dick move. Even for me. > > She’s Japanese, too, so no one in her family understands why she won’t eat sushi. Oh man, that’s the worst. “Wait, sushi causes blindness and a host of other maladies? Nope. Just don’t buy it.” > [@Anaamika](#): > > I drink a glass of homemade sangria nearly every day throughout the summer. In the winter I have some Bailey’s with my coffee now and then. I’d be annoyed and a bit bummed. I’d certainly do without it, but it’s a treat to me and I’d miss it. Okay, you’re OBVIOUSLY going to have to post the sangria recipe now! ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/122 "2010-04-15T19:17:19Z")
I hardly ever drink these days. I used to enjoy the usual college-age getting flailingly drunk with buddies stuff, but I’ve moved on. If, for some reason, I was never able to drink again, I’d be a little sad at the complete loss of the opportunity, but, practically speaking, it would make very little difference to my life. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/123 "2010-04-15T20:11:37Z")
It’s bugged me when I couldn’t do it. I’ve been on meds that meant no drinking, and I’ve been pregnant. I would much rather have the choice than not have the choice. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/124 "2010-04-15T20:50:08Z")
I’d be pretty annoyed. I’m just now starting to like beer as much for flavor as for its effect. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Rosetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Green\_Rosetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Rosetta)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/125 "2010-04-15T21:52:52Z")
I’d be downright pissed off. I don’t drink with dinner, or at home, but I do go out to bars about twice a week, sometimes more if I have a few days where I don’t need to be up early. It’s my main social spot (one bar in particular; I’m not really into bar hopping or clubbing.) I give up alcohol for Lent every year and it is really, really tough- I still go to the bar but I drink diet Coke, and it’s no fun. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/126 "2010-04-15T21:58:30Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I drink a glass of homemade sangria nearly every day throughout the summer. In the winter I have some Bailey’s with my coffee now and then. I’d be annoyed and a bit bummed. I’d certainly do without it, but it’s a treat to me and I’d miss it. Sangria? 🙂 Watcha puttin’ in it? ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/127 "2010-04-15T22:26:54Z")
About the only thing I drink is beer, and about the time I drink beer is when I play golf. And I rarely play golf anymore. Along with rehabbing an injury, I had differing views with the my (old) country club management so I basically quit the game. If my doctor me that I couldn’t drink again because of health reasons, it would be no skin off my teeth. If I ever start playing again, I’d probably miss it. ---
**Author:** ![Sonnenstrahl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Sonnenstrahl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonnenstrahl)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/128 "2010-04-16T00:00:15Z")
> [@mrklutz](#): > > Case in point: the classic “Do you drink alone?” test. Why, yes. Yes, I do. I also sleep alone, eat alone, watch TV alone, sometimes even go to movies or dine out alone. I also do most of the above with friends. It doesn’t mean I have a problem – it just means I spend a lot of time alone. Heh! When I drink alone, I tend to have a beer or two, or a glass of wine or two. That’s my alcohol consumption for the week, too - I don’t do that every night. But take me out drinking with friends? I have a hard time saying no and can easily put away a bit more than is wise. So clearly, drinking in pubs with close friends is the evilest way to consume alcohol, and everyone who disagrees is a closet alcoholic. 😛 I would be very disappointed if I were unable to drink ever again. I like the taste of beer and wine, and I very much enjoy the feeling of a slight buzz. That’s all there is to it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/129 "2010-04-16T00:31:12Z")
> [@Maeglin](#): > > My wife is going on seven months pregnant. If she could safely eat sushi by ripping out my still-beating heart and dedicating her life to Huitzilopochtli, she would give it some thought. I’ve only managed to have sushi two or three times in the past six months, so I honestly wouldn’t blame her. Having met both of you, I am finding this image perhaps a little too hilarious (say hi to her for me, OK?). As for the OP, I have a glass of wine, max two, a couple of times a month, usually when I’m at someone’s house for dinner. It’s not a big part of my life (I think I didn’t even have two whole drinks at my own wedding), and I’ve been drunk a total of twice in my life, only one of those intentionally (I joke that I get drunk at strict eighteen-year intervals). I’d be mildly bummed - I do like a glass of wine, or the occasional girly drink, as a treat - but I’d deal with it. Having to give up sweets, or chocolate, however - I think I’d lose the will to live. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/130 "2010-04-16T01:35:35Z")
> [@Desert\_Nomad](#): > > Since I don’t drink, no worries. Alcohol is a contributing factor in many of our social problems. Both my father and father in law were/are alcoholics and at least in my dad’s case, it wrecked the last decade of his life. I’d welcome prohibition again… but seeing as that won’t happen, I think living in the Middle East is good enough for me. You’d welcome prohibition, eh? Because that worked out so well last time, no doubt… Also, the person with years-old beer in the fridge, is it next to the years-old milk? Throw that shit out. I have a drink or two nearly every night, and very rarely more than two. I enjoy both the flavor and the effects of alcohol. It’s a habit, sort of like the Internet, and I’d be annoyed if I had to give either up. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/131 "2010-04-16T03:26:29Z")
I would still be able to enjoy NA beer for the taste but I would miss the relaxing qualities of an occasional drink. It wouldn’t be the end of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/132 "2010-04-16T04:41:49Z")
I rarely drink, but I’d be annoyed, because I like having a drink every now and then, and there are several drinks that I quite like. I mean, I could give it up, but I think it would suck. (I will admit though that I’m a sleepy drunk) However, I’m much, much more pissed about having to give up caffeine, which triggers my seizures. It completely sucks, especially since my meds make me extremely sleepy. But it just isn’t worth it. ☹ (Strangely, alcohol doesn’t bother me. Maybe because caffeine is a stimulant?) ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/133 "2010-04-16T06:30:52Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > On a smaller scale, an individual chocolate fan would be really annoyed if they were told they couldn’t have chocolate, even if their weight is good, teeth are fine, and there isn’t any other major reason why it’s really problematic. So that’s the thing. If there weren’t any reason or problem at all, it would seem odd to ask people about it. For instance, if I remember eating strawberries once a week fondly, but just haven’t done it in a while, I probably wouldn’t be asking anyone if I could go back to eating strawberries once a week. On the other hand, if they gave me a rash (even occasionally) and people around me had to put up with my complaining about it or even having to look at it, that’s a reason I might ask people if I should start eating strawberries again. But again, I guess I’m not the best person to ask these kinds of questions. I don’t eat cheese, ice cream, chocolate or steak. I don’t drink alcohol or coffee (and never have). According to some of you, I’m already dead. 😛 I didn’t have any trouble giving up any of these, even sometimes against the objections of others, and don’t miss them enough to go back to ingesting them on a regular basis since all of them give me one reaction or another. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/134 "2010-04-16T07:14:50Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > I don’t eat cheese, ice cream, chocolate or steak. I don’t drink alcohol or coffee (and never have). According to some of you, I’m already dead. 😛 No, even zombies like head cheese 😛 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/135 "2010-04-16T10:14:11Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Where I would perhaps disagree with you is, I think the person doing the drinking is not a reliable judge of the relative obnoxiousness of their behavior while drunk. If the non-drinking person finds the drinking person obnoxious while drunk, the drunk person is in no position to argue that their behavior is perfectly reasonable. You’re conflating “being drunk” with “enjoying a couple of pints”. Sure, drunk people are pretty much all annoying to varying degrees, but someone who can easily tolerate one three three pints without impairment is _not drunk_. The way you describe your situation, your wife does not distinguish between one or two beers and roaring pissed. Either that, or you get roaring pissed without realising it - in which case you have more of a problem than me and my buddies. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/136 "2010-04-16T11:41:39Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > Having met both of you, I am finding this image perhaps a little too hilarious (say hi to her for me, OK?). Ha, very funny. Without her sushi, though, she’s a gremlin who’s been fed after midnight. I don’t think I’ve been to Veneiro’s since you’ve been in town. So I’d appreciate it if you’d visit again. I could use the excuse. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/137 "2010-04-16T15:53:01Z")
> [@Maeglin](#): > > I don’t think I’ve been to Veneiro’s since you’ve been in town. So I’d appreciate it if you’d visit again. I could use the excuse. Well, since my grandmother died, I don’t have quite as many things pulling me into town (plus, since getting married, I have to split vacation time between the two families). But I’m sure I’ll get back there eventually. However, with a pregnant wife, you need an external excuse to go to Veniero’s? ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/138 "2010-04-16T18:26:28Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > But again, I guess I’m not the best person to ask these kinds of questions. I don’t eat cheese, ice cream, chocolate or steak. I don’t drink alcohol or coffee (and never have). According to some of you, I’m already dead. 😛 I mean this without offense, but are you allergic to any of these things, or lactose intolerant? And if not - again, I’m being serious - what do you _eat_ exactly, especially when celebrating? A celebratory meal for me has at minimum two of those things, often three. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/139 "2010-04-16T20:46:28Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > No, even zombies like head cheese 😛 Man, I can’t catch a break! 😛 OK, according to some, I’m past dead. 🆒 > [@lindsaybluth](#): > > I mean this without offense, but are you allergic to any of these things, or lactose intolerant? And if not - again, I’m being serious - what do you _eat_ exactly, especially when celebrating? A celebratory meal for me has at minimum two of those things, often three. Yes. I’m lactose intolerant, chocolate is a migraine trigger for me, which means that I won’t get a migraine every time but often enough for there to be a pattern. And meat makes me feel nauseous often when I ate it. It’s odd because I use food as a reward often. I’ve found substitutes that I like, but fresh food is good too. A nice fresh, ripe peach is a nice reward. When they’re out of season, there’s frozen stuff. Tofu curry is a great meal for me. But almost any food that I’ve had at a nice time has nice associations with it that makes it a nice reward. And it helps that I don’t get sick after eating it. What people eat as something good for a celebration varies by country and culture. That’s why the OP is less understandable to me. If I decided not to eat or drink something for some reason, I don’t think I’d be mad, especially if it had the potential to make me feel sick or inconvenience me in any way. If someone else decided for me, I wouldn’t be mad about the thing, I’d be mad about the control someone else took from me. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Poster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019/140 "2010-04-16T20:48:51Z")
I’d just move to a different intoxicant. Were that impossible, I honestly don’t know what I’d do. I’m actually completely wasted this very moment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fo-non-alcoholics-how-would-you-react-to-not-being-able-to-drink-again/536019.md?page=8)