Non Drinkers?

[FortuneRose]

I'm a non-drinker.  I don't care for the taste...  in fact, my 1 year wedding anniversary just rolled around on Monday and we were given a bottle of apparently very expensive champagne at our wedding to drink for our anniversary  (I don't know wine and champagne...  I just know the bottle says....


Champagne
Brut
Perrier-Joue
Fleur De Champagne
1995


and it is a pretty handpainted bottle.  ANYWHO.....

Our anniversary rolled around and we pulled out the bottle, poured a flute and well... I only took a sip for our toast.  I didn't want the rest.  I didn't like it at all.  UGH

Fortunerose,

A couple of points which may be helpful here - Not everyone who drinks, can drink anything.  There are a lot of folks who imbibe on occasion who have problems with some forms of alcholic drinks.  In this case the term *Brut* is key - it indicates a relatively dry wine as the base, which points to low sugar and high acidity.  Some people do not handle this combination well (including my wife).   My wife does drink, but has a sensitive stomach - dry white wines (including Brut Champagnes) turn her stomach, but sweet white wines are OK.  If ( and only if) you do want to see if something appeals to you, you might want to try a sip of a sweet German white wine (a Reisling or maybe an Auselese).  Mind you, this is only if you want to try it.  I have no desire to push you to drink if you do not want to.

The other point is that no responsible drinker is going to hold it against you that you don't drink, so long as you don't make a big deal about it.  In a toast to the bride, you can raise the glass to your lips, not drink a thing, and no one's going to check the level of your glass when you set it down.  Heck, if possible see if you can get tonic water in your glass rather than champagne, and I can assure you, nobody's going to raise a fuss.  I drink, but I also drive and that means I spend a lot of time during the second half of parties with a glass of tonic water or straight Coke in my hand.  No one has ever questioned me, or even looked cross-eyed.  Believe me, you don't have to drink booze to be part of the party.  No one, whose opinion you should care about, is keeping score.

Thats good to know..  I had no idea it was dry...  yup, that would probably explain why I didn't care in the very least for it.  It wasn't very fruity so I just tasted the bitterness of it.  I would be interested in finding a fruitier wine or champagne to try...  I'll have to remember those you mentioned!

[Frederic]

FortuneRose,

If you are looking for a sparkling wine (a champagne substitute) try a white or rose Lambrusco.  It is sweeter, and a lot easier on a sensative stomach - just so long as you remember that its just as strong as the champagne. 

[Dayna]

Also an Asti Spumante such as Balletore (spelling?).  I'm rather fond of the rose.

Dayna

[Charlotte Rowan]

I've only drank once this season at Fest, and I prefer it that way. I get tired enough being out in the sun walking around all day without adding to that with alcohol. Plus I don't like beer, and wine isn't really the best to drink at Fest. I like mead, but I think it might have made me sick last year so I'm a little afraid of it...

[Knevolin]

My girlfriend is a former addict and now works in alcohol/drug abuse counseling.  She doesn't drink at all, and because of her, I choose not to either.  It hasn't hindered our faire-fun in the least; we're still free to engage in our other addiction: shopping!

Besides, the biggest thing about faires for me is the joy of getting decked out in arms and armour and tromping around as a Celtic warrior all day.

It's just as well... I'm such a sucker for Ren-women... what few inhibitions I do have are there for a reason!   

[Angelhood]

I never drink during faire hours at a faire I work....alcohol and firearms don't mix. As we demonstrate both canons and pistols it's just not something we do.

Even when I do go as a patron to a faire....I drink very minimally. Heat, walking all day....nah, I'd rather be hydrated. After hours drinking or at parties, I drink some, but I haven't been drunk in many a year and plan to keep it that way.

[Cyron]

i do drink, however i also call myself a non-drinker or a light drinker.. i will have 1 maybe 2 beer or ciders at faire, but its the same when i go out with friends to bars.. no more then 2 and i dont do shots period.. after that is all pop and water the rest of the day/night as i am the dd every time for the last 4 years.. but 2 or 3 times a year i do have a few occasions i drink heavily, and 1 is always planned as its a yearly event, no not my birthday.

that being said its not cause i dont like to drink or have a problem with it cause i like it alot.. especially if its a white russian, my favorite drink.. but i basically grew out of it.. there was a 1 year time period back when i was 19-20 that i drank at least 3 beers or liqour drinks literally everyday for 361 days.. got boring.. and i prefer to be the dd so my friends dont get stupid and try to drive, which they have and it has never turned out good.

it does get annoying though being bugged about not drinking with them all or not wanting to partake in a swig of this or that, that they might have with them though but its all good.

[Cormac]

A sip of bubbly for a toast at a wedding or a single shot at a wake is it for me.  I am a bit surprised at the number of folks that do not partake.

[Rosekrystal]

Another non-drinker here! Just never developed a taste for it.

[Bugsy]

Faire is the only place I do drink!  (or other ren-like gatherings)

Only if the kids aren't with me.  And I can have about 2 woodchuck ciders or Arbour Mists before I'm done.  I like the euphoria, especially at faire, because I'm usually extremely shy.

But other than that, I don't drink at all.

[Hoowil]

I used to start my day with a double shot of 151, a cigarette, and a joint, then getting out of bed. That was a long time ago, and I really didn't care for the direction my life took at that time. I can still drink a bottle of wine, or a number of beers and get all warm and fuzzy.
Now, I have a drink maybe four times a year, and multiple drinks once or twice. I've had a mead at faire once or twice in the last few years, but one will last me a good long while. At the earlier faires of the season around here, meads now even readily available (all beer and whiskey).
Ah, well... its more fun to just make and taste.

[Damien Ryan]

I am definately not the one to pick for a D/D after a faire hehe..i think i tried every alcohol they served over the weekend at PRF...and was know at the pub by the end of the day LOL!

[shadowcat546]

Hi everyone ! 

Nice to see I'm not so alone in being a non-drinker / light drinker.
I drink about 3 / 4 times a year.  Usually sweet / fruity drink (Amaretto sour, 1/2 of a wine cooler, 2 sips of Long I. I. Tea)..of which I don't drink much, because I want to remain clear headed.  Like when I used to go to the bar, I"d go to dance/socialiaze.  I need my wits about me.  So I stick to Coke, orange juice, cranberry juice, water (can't stand beer).  I don't drink at Festival.  I have a 45 minuter ride home on the freeway, which I want to do sober.  I wouldn't mind loosening up my (sometimes) nervousness/shyness with a sip of liquor....but not a lot.  I don't want any  secrets to come out.
(and I wouldn't drink in our hot/ humid Michigan weather, either.)

Happy summer !........---Shannon---------------The Colonial Peddler

[Aniroaldawen]

I'm a non-drinker.  Just don't see the appeal.  However, I love drinking songs, especially when sung by the Jolly Rogers! :-) Drop of Nelson's Blood, Beer Beer Beer, One For the Road--all great JR drinking songs.  I always toast and "participate" in the drinking with my water bottle during Faire shows!

[TiaLD77]

Helloo, another non drinker here, well a non drinker at faire usually. My Local faire only serves Beer (YUCK) & most wines served at other faires are never sweet enough.
If out & about, I do imbibe usually a mudslide, or something fruity. When I get the constant giggles I quit.