I have never been drunk because I don’t drink.
Yes, I don’t drink alcohol because I don’t like how it makes me feel. I have never been drunk myself, but I have seen plenty of people drunk as hell, and it does not look fun at all. This is not FOMO.
What is so fun about drinking until you’re stumbling, acting foolish, throwing up everywhere, and suffering a hangover the next day?
In my friend and family group, I am always the sober one. The designated driver. The babysitter making sure nobody does something they will regret tomorrow. I’m the one handing out sobering remedies and holding hair back while someone pukes up their dinner.
Just because I don’t drink does not mean I hate every alcoholic drink. Some are tolerable for me. I love pina coladas and mudslides. You barely taste the liquor, they taste good, and I can finish a glass without feeling tipsy or worse.
If you drink, live your life. But drink responsibly and don’t ruin the vibe. People came out to have fun, not to babysit you.
For my fellow non-drinkers, there are options now. Over the weekend I went to the liquor store for some wine, and guess what I found in the wine aisle? Stella Rosa’s non-alcoholic wine line.
Is it basically sparkling juice? Pretty much. But you can drink a whole bottle and wake up with zero regret. That’s a win.
Stella Rosa rolling out a non-alcoholic line tells me they’re paying attention. Later millennials and Gen Z are drinking less, or not at all, and more restaurants and bars are catching up with non-alcohol options to match.
Sobriety isn’t a punishment. It’s not something I’m missing out on. It’s a whole lifestyle, and it comes with its own drink menu.
Non-drinkers, I want to hear from you. Drop your favorite non-alcoholic drink or mocktail in the comments. Let’s build the list.
