| heather87
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So i've been able to avoid going out /drinking in the last week (i'm on day 8 of phase 1) because I've been studying for an exam. But the test is today, so now everyone is goign out for drinks and such tonight and there's really no way that i can avoid going lol. So just looking for some presonal advice here --- i'm obviously not going to break phase 1 for alcohol ( i would do it for cookies goddamit but not alcohol lol). If i can't say i'm not drinking because of south beach (realy nto worth opening up that can of worms with all of my friends), what are the better options (assuming they will probably be annoyed i'm not drinking bc its a big night out to a fancy club)
1) say i'm not in the mood to drink. order diet soda instead
2) go and get my own "drink" but just get club soda aka "vodka soda" lol
3) tell my friend let's do what we used to do and save money by buying just soda water and adding our own alc . then just not adding the alc...
i know this is a really stupid question, but I really don't want to bring up thewhoel south beach thing if i don't have to, but we're all 21 so it's assumed that we're going to drink when going out--especially at clubs and especially in london.
So, ignoring how ridiculous this is (considering their my friends and it shouldn't matter), what do you guys think is my best option so that I can still go out and enjoy myself instad of being a hermit alone at home? |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:02 am |
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| ladybugnessa
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well i'm a 48 yr old american and if i don't want to drink i don't drink.
how about.. "my tummy is upset, i'll stick to soda water tonite" |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:51 am |
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| rosenkilde1
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Hi there
I am in London too and can relate completely - the Americans have a very different way of going out, but I know what you're saying.
However being a bit older than you I have no problem saying I am on a diet and not drinking if I don't want to. Problem is I do quite often want to... haha.
Why don't you say you're detoxing? Everyone is detoxing now and again and it is a very valid and quite cool thing to do right?
Let me know how you get on, I am only on day 3 and trying to stick to it too.
Pia |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:36 pm |
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| DebbyC
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| how do Americans drink different? Just curious? I see bars and pubs with kind of the ame eye...of course, I see drunks with a jaundiced eye being in the business I'm in - so I'm getting more and more adverse to drinking anywhere except in the comfort of home unless using a taxi or designated driver who really is NOT drinking... |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:48 pm |
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| rosenkilde1
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I lived in the states for a year, and drinking was not a regular thing the way it is in London. In London you literally cannot meet up with friends if alcohol is not involved. A bit stupid but lots of fun.
You tend to always meet friends in bars and pubs here, whereas in the US it was just as often in a coffee shop or even at home. |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:50 pm |
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| DebbyC
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rosenkilde1 wrote: I lived in the states for a year, and drinking was not a regular thing the way it is in London. In London you literally cannot meet up with friends if alcohol is not involved. A bit stupid but lots of fun.
You tend to always meet friends in bars and pubs here, whereas in the US it was just as often in a coffee shop or even at home.
well, I know plenty of people who can't go anywhere or do anything that alcohol is not involved. After seeing autopsy reports and pictures....I don't see why anyone bothers.... but that's my personal take. I'd be very very sad if the only way my friends and I could have fun would be over alcohol. But being old emergency room nurses - we kind of know better |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:53 pm |
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| rosenkilde1
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| Well now you know that London is prob not for you then :) |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:54 pm |
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| iDuckie
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I, much like DebbyC, am having a difficult time grasping that people in London simply drink all the time with their friends. This simply is NOT true. While a lot of people do it, a lot of people do not do it. And, it's not fair to say that London is not "good" for someone simply because they do not drink, or drink often.
As for the OP, it's better to either say "I don't feel like drinking tonight" or to be honest. If they are your friends, they will understand. Simple as that. |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:13 pm |
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| ladybugnessa
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iDuckie wrote: I, much like DebbyC, am having a difficult time grasping that people in London simply drink all the time with their friends. This simply is NOT true. While a lot of people do it, a lot of people do not do it. And, it's not fair to say that London is not "good" for someone simply because they do not drink, or drink often.
As for the OP, it's better to either say "I don't feel like drinking tonight" or to be honest. If they are your friends, they will understand. Simple as that.
and if they don't maybe it's time to make new friends.
this comes up over and over and over again.... so apparently it's a big problem.... |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:19 pm |
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| rosenkilde1
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It is.
Different culture I suppose.
PS I am not English :) |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:21 pm |
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| Lady T
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rosenkilde1 wrote: It is.
Different culture I suppose.
PS I am not English :)
VERY different culture! IMHO, the attitude about drinking is also very different. When I tell people here in the States that I don't drink, it's no big deal. In England, I'd tell people that I didn't drink and would get looked at like I'd just committed a crime :shock: Sometimes it seemed that us non-drinkers were defiitely in the minority, lol. I LOVE the British, though. They are good people! |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:15 pm |
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| Lady T
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iDuckie wrote: I, much like DebbyC, am having a difficult time grasping that people in London simply drink all the time with their friends. This simply is NOT true. While a lot of people do it, a lot of people do not do it. And, it's not fair to say that London is not "good" for someone simply because they do not drink, or drink often.
As for the OP, it's better to either say "I don't feel like drinking tonight" or to be honest. If they are your friends, they will understand. Simple as that.
Have either you or DebbyC ever lived in the UK? Just curious. |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:25 pm |
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| AirborneWife03
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I live in Germany and people meet up for drinks all the time. The difference is that here they have a beer and chat but in America people get totally wasted. Its as normal for social functions to revolve around drinking as it is for them to revolve around food. There is just a different way of living in Europe than the states.
OP- Just drink some bubbly water & lemon. Tell them you're just not feeling like alcohol tonight. If they don't understand then you probably should just stay at home next time. It shouldn't matter to them whether you're drinking, it should matter that you're there. |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:28 pm |
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| DebbyC
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Lady T wrote: iDuckie wrote: I, much like DebbyC, am having a difficult time grasping that people in London simply drink all the time with their friends. This simply is NOT true. While a lot of people do it, a lot of people do not do it. And, it's not fair to say that London is not "good" for someone simply because they do not drink, or drink often.
As for the OP, it's better to either say "I don't feel like drinking tonight" or to be honest. If they are your friends, they will understand. Simple as that.
Have either you or DebbyC ever lived in the UK? Just curious.
This conversation always ends up in the toilet [are you surprised?]. No, I have never lived in the UK - have never even had it on my list of places to go if I were multi billionaire.... I still, and this is my own opinion, find it odd and somehow sad, when someone says that all social activity must revolve around alcohol. KWIM |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:35 pm |
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| DebbyC
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AirborneWife03 wrote: I live in Germany and people meet up for drinks all the time. The difference is that here they have a beer and chat but in America people get totally wasted. Its as normal for social functions to revolve around drinking as it is for them to revolve around food. There is just a different way of living in Europe than the states.
That's a pretty sweeping generalization
Maybe its the class of the place...but I see very few people getting "totally wasted" at the kinds of places and with the kind of people I hang out with. In fact, I can't remember when I saw my last real drunk - oh wait, I can too remember, at a military function.....back in the day when I was a 'dependent wife' - it really was kind of rampant in that group |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:44 pm |
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