What's the cool way not to drink at a bar?

[Umbran]

Another cool way not to drink at a bar - go with group of friends for whom "cool" is not determined by alcohol consumption.

 

[Ry]

It's harder when you don't know people. This stuff tends to occur in the context of local meetup events. The last thing I want to be is "twenty minute conversation about the merits of alcohol consumption"-guy.

 

[megamania]

As a designated driver. I have generally gotten my soft drinks for free at bars when I'm the designated car-guy for a bunch of friends, and I get a goodly amount of respect from the bar staff.

Ditto

 

[LightPhoenix]

One of my friends it a bartender, and he says they usually love the sober people because they're not obnoxious drunken idiots. Also, soda is usually free at bars, regardless of being DD or not. Like everyone says, don't make a big deal out of it, just order soda and no one will care.

 

[Tewligan]

That may be so in the OGTTB game. but GTTB 2nd Ed. has a new race. the Designated Driver. They can't lose unless they commit an alcoholic act. then they lose their Designated driver status until they atone.

GTTB 2e destroyed my sense of wonder. I hope they drop the Designated Driver class when 3e comes out - until then, I'm keeping my original game. OGGTB is the one true game - all others are pale imitations.

Oh, and to give actually USEFUL (maybe...) input, I just can't imagine that being in a bar and not drinking would be any sort of a problem if you're with adults who aren't total mouth breathers. Order a coke, and if someone says anything about it for some bizarre reason, just say "I'm not drinking", and sip your coke. If they ask you why, the most you need to elaborate with, if you choose to, is "I don't want to." That's it. I think you're probably worrying about this a LOT more than anyone else will, though.

 

[Piratecat]

I think you're fine if you just smile and say "Thanks, but I don't drink. I'll come hang out, though." No one will give it a second thought.

 

[Numion]

Snort coke in the bathroom.

 

[Jeysie]

I'm going to echo the thought that unless your friends are a bunch of jerks, it shouldn't be a big deal. If you can pull out the Designated Driver card, so much the better. (I don't drink *or* drive, so, heh. )

Forget the Coke, though. Root beer is so much better. Plus, if your friends like to go to a privately-owned bar , they might have the quirky *good* root beer stuff. (I haven't had any "indie" root beer in ages... )

Peace & Luv, Liz

 

[Glyfair]

I used to go to a bar on a semi-regular basis to play trivia games with some friends. Since I wasn't interested in drinking I just got a soda and that was it.

Of course, what was trickier was that I don't drink soda. I think that period of time was the only in the last 20 years when I had more than one soda a year (I will drink it if I'm thirsty and there is absolutely nothing else).

 

[jaerdaph]

Go to the bar the night before. Get really drunk and belligerent and start a bar room brawl. Get banned for life so when you show up the next day, you can't drink at the bar.