Peanutbuttercheese Thu 04-Jan-18 12:17:41

What the op is saying and paperdoll is giving an example is how the let's drink always mentality leads to it being totally normal and expected all the time.



I have read many threads on here where women are newly pg but don't want to share the information but they have a big night out soon. So because they know people will ask, cajole, berate them for no alcohol and try and make them drink they often lie and say they are on antibiotics. That's the issue just nice regular folk out for a do with work, old school friends getting together, Mums from school having a drink. They will question and you stand out as a non drinker. But because these people aren't sat on a park bench drinking special brew it's all nice and normal.



Adults often share their drinking stories. The UK when I was young appeared very straightlaced in some respects alcohol loosens those laces it alwqys has it means people with hidden unhappiness can lose themselves for a while and bring on what is really a not genuine happiness and freedom they can't feel when sober. For some with alcohol addiction issues it's really a coping mechanism and keeps them alive while also slowly killing them.



If you don't drink you stand out as different, I have always felt different so I'm perfectly happy to not give in to societal expectations. If people think less of me because I'm not drinking I don't care but many worry about what people think of them.