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

[Mark Chance]

For guys, the only ways to not look cool while drinking at a bar is to order a drink with an umbrella and/or to use a straw while drinking.

 

[Merkuri]

Double post. See real post below.

 

[Merkuri]

My dad is a recovering alcoholic (been sober for about 20 years now, I think), and if he's pressed he usually says that he's allergic to alcohol. It makes him dizzy, uncoordinated, and give him a big headache the next day. Of course, this is the normal reaction that human beings have to alcohol, but only some people (especially if they are already drunk) catch that.

I'm usually truthful when pressed. I claim alcoholism in my family, and that I was headed in the same direction as my father when I did drink, so I don't anymore. And, as other people have said, I always volunteer to be the designated driver whenever we go anywhere that serves alcohol. Most of my friends are more than happy to let me drive so they don't have to worry about what they drink.

I think, as others have said, that just not making a big deal out of it is probably the best way to go when going out with people you don't know well. If they ask you about it then you could just say something like, "I don't drink, but I'm okay with other people drinking." I think a lot of the time people feel uncomfortable drinking around somebody who doesn't drink because they feel the non-drinker is judging them, like they're a Sunday School teacher or something. If you say right out front that you don't have a problem with drinking in general they'll be more inclined to take, "I don't drink," as an answer.

 

[Lewis526]

If your friends are decent humans, they'll be grateful for a safe, free ride home. The only bad thing about staying sober is that you have to put up with all the drunk people. That's why you should always tip well.

 

[Umbran]

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... )

I wish. Harpoon breweries, known for their beer here in Boston, makes a darned nice root beer. Do the bars carry it? Nope.

 

[Aeolius]

Belly up to the bar and scream "My system is starved for ammonia!!".

They will not serve you.

 

[Tewligan]

When you all get together at the bar, announce to your friends "Oh, just FYI, alcohol gives me explosive and uncontrollable diarrhea." They'll BEG you to just have a coke!

 

[Lord Zardoz]

The fun thing about the free drinks for designated driver is that they often do not ask if you can even drive. I have no drivers license and I have gotten free pepsi a few times anyway.

Anyway, it depends on who / why your at the bar. If your with people you know you and they know you do not drink, they just will not care. If your friends are a bunch of frat boys or hard partying types, they will probably harass you. But aside from the people your there with, the only people who will care is the server, if there is an X drink minimum.

For awkward, you just cannot beat going to a strip club for someones bachelor party if you do not drink. But since I barely care what my friends think of me, the opinions of a couple of servers and strippers hardly matter.

If all else fails, try carrying a large, licensed, and unconcealed firearm. Guns generally give someone an air of being a bad ass.

END COMMUNICATION

 

[Seonaid]

What everyone else said (particularly about the judging bit), but I will also add: if it's for a meetup-type event and you don't know the people, it'd probably be a good way to find out if you'd get along with them. If they react badly to your not drinking, that says something about them. :shrug: I never have any issues with not drinking. I just don't drink.

 

[Agamon]

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.

Soooo...you're saying this is a good way to pick up hot waitresses?