Meet me at the drinking post.

August 10, 2010 10:02 AM

I swear we've seen these Askme questions dozens of times before, but I can't find them. I'm looking for those posts about not being able to drink and how to cope with it.

Not necessarily about alcoholism, but it wouldn't hurt (since I'd really like to drink but can't). Specifically tactics on how to enjoy yourself when everyone is drinking, and what to tell people when you refuse a drink and they ask questions. I know I've seen them, so where are they? My searching has failed me.

posted by two lights above the sea to MetaFilter-Related at 10:02 AM (10 comments total)

Have you tried the alcoholism tag?
posted by griphus at 10:07 AM on August 10, 2010

The sober tag is helpful too, usually you'll find one good thread that will link to a few previous ones.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:10 AM on August 10, 2010

Search terms: nonalcoholic, "non alcoholic" (tag, tag)

Words like "alcoholism" and "sober" (as tags or search terms) are going to be underinclusive since many questions ask about ways around alcohol in social situations without saying, "And it's because I'm an alcoholic and need to stay sober." If the OP doesn't bring this up, the answerers usually won't. Also, there are many reasons someone might want to avoid alcohol that don't have to do with alcoholism.

Possibly of interest:

Strategies to cut down on social drinking?

What is your favourite non-alcoholic refreshment?

No thanks, I don't drink. Um, what's wrong with that?

What are some good non-alcoholic substitutes for my evening martini?

What are some options for non-alcoholic drinks at a fine restaurant?

Club soda is a drink, too, isn't it?
posted by Jaltcoh at 10:28 AM on August 10, 2010 [2 favorites]

Also, though there have been a lot of questions in this category, it sounds like you could ask a question that would give you exactly what you're looking for. As you can see from the above links, there are many different angles on this (fine dining, dating, evening martini, etc.). It's good to look through the archives for similar questions, but you can post your question without making sure it's never been asked before.
posted by Jaltcoh at 10:33 AM on August 10, 2010

Jaltcoh: You are a Metafilter God. Those questions are really helpful. Thank you. I had to quit for medical reasons, so if I feel the need to, I will ask my own question.
posted by two lights above the sea at 10:56 AM on August 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

I like to tell people I'm Mormon.
That moment where they think I'm serious and then feel awkward about the drink in their own hand is priceless.
posted by phunniemee at 11:04 AM on August 10, 2010

I like to tell people I'm Mormon.
That moment where they think I'm serious and then feel awkward about the drink in their own hand is priceless.

Heh, I was On A Mission one year for Halloween which resulted in the awkwardest house party ever. Priceless indeed.
posted by carsonb at 11:13 AM on August 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

I enjoy lying and I was once out at a bar and had no money so I spent an evening telling two young men how I wasn't drinking because I was in AA and had a 30 day chip or something, constructing my story mostly from details gleaned from that Simpsons episode where Barney trades in an AA chip to Moe for a drink. It was pretty entertaining until they had a few and started to try to convince me to give up sobriety and get wasted with them. Then I just started to feel bad for humanity, which to be fair is how most of my night outs end.
posted by ND¢ at 12:10 PM on August 10, 2010 [8 favorites]

Heh, I was On A Mission one year for Halloween which resulted in the awkwardest house party ever. Priceless indeed.

Holy Crap? That was you. My housemates and I threw a big halloween party at our house in Toronto in, 2003 (or was it 2004?) and a friend of a friend of a friend showed up in that costume. Because very few people knew who he was, there was a lot of "That's a costume, right?" as people awkwardly handled their drinks or less legal intoxicants.
posted by 256 at 7:38 AM on August 11, 2010

Awesome! But that wasn't me, unless the house party I went to in Tucson somewheres around 2001 had some weird time/travel device/portal installed. Did your friend of a friend of a friend pass out silly little tracts they made for the occasion?
posted by carsonb at 7:24 PM on August 11, 2010