[AshSimmonds]

...my longest streak was 6 weeks in February...

Don't drink and drive Deloreans.

[amgsl55]

my longest streak was between the ages of 16 and 25

all I drink these days is 1-2 glasses of wine a month, usually over a nice steak

Never seen a point in overly drinking, the headaches and the time wasted always seemed pointless to me

[futurism]

I have never knowingly tasted alcohol in my life.
People tell me I must of in cake or something, thats probably true. But I have never had a beer, wine, or anything like that.
I dont have a specific reason, its certainly not a religious thing as most people assume it is.

But theres been a definite downside, especially when I was younger. Social activities of Australians in their teens and early twenties are largely seeing who can get the drunkest.
I missed out on that, and have virtually 0 people I can count as friends.

It seems to me most peoples friends are people they socialized with during that period of their lives. Even once they are older and wiser and make the decision to not behave in that manner anymore, if you didnt make friends then, you never will.

Me myself and I are now off to enjoy a pepsi max.

[PA]

I have never knowingly tasted alcohol in my life.
People tell me I must of in cake or something, thats probably true. But I have never had a beer, wine, or anything like that.
I dont have a specific reason, its certainly not a religious thing as most people assume it is.

But theres been a definite downside, especially when I was younger. Social activities of Australians in their teens and early twenties are largely seeing who can get the drunkest.
I missed out on that, and have virtually 0 people I can count as friends.

It seems to me most peoples friends are people they socialized with during that period of their lives. Even once they are older and wiser and make the decision to not behave in that manner anymore, if you didnt make friends then, you never will.

Me myself and I are now off to enjoy a pepsi max.

Yet you can play the Guitar. 

[dodger]

I missed out on that, and have virtually 0 people I can count as friends.

That says a lot, I often thought if I gave up I'd have no mates left because like it or not many friendships and made and maintained over a drink.

Not good really, but that Australia for you.

[futurism]

Yet you can play the Guitar. 

It might be the main reason I dont drink, I was in a band that played in fairly sizeable venues from about the age of 16, the other guys in the band were in their 20's.
Substance abuse amongst everyone (except me) was high. No doubt drink was the main substance, but as it often does amongst musicians, one thing led to another and 2 of my bandmates eventually died from heroin.

But alas, it was a very long time ago now, and im starting to sound like a preacher!

MHH - its impressive that you travelled all over Greece recently with your family and didnt drink.

[CortinaD]

I have never knowingly tasted alcohol in my life.
People tell me I must of in cake or something, thats probably true. But I have never had a beer, wine, or anything like that.
I dont have a specific reason, its certainly not a religious thing as most people assume it is.

But theres been a definite downside, especially when I was younger. Social activities of Australians in their teens and early twenties are largely seeing who can get the drunkest.
I missed out on that, and have virtually 0 people I can count as friends.

It seems to me most peoples friends are people they socialized with during that period of their lives. Even once they are older and wiser and make the decision to not behave in that manner anymore, if you didnt make friends then, you never will.

Me myself and I are now off to enjoy a pepsi max.

I wouldn't say its a downside. All of the roosters that where in my level at uni who's life ambition was to blow the highest reading in the pub before going to a uni lecture went no where and fast and a true friend of which I have less than 5, never had an issue with me not drinking. They would have their beers and I would have a softdrink. I have never been to a night club, I never been to a pub for anything other than a meal / pokies

So all in all a similar situation to me mate.

Only had alcohol two times in my life, one sip of an illusion at my best mates 21st and a shot of blue label at the birth of his first child. Didn't do anything for me

[j15]

I have never knowingly tasted alcohol in my life.
People tell me I must of in cake or something, thats probably true. But I have never had a beer, wine, or anything like that.
I dont have a specific reason, its certainly not a religious thing as most people assume it is.

But theres been a definite downside, especially when I was younger. Social activities of Australians in their teens and early twenties are largely seeing who can get the drunkest.
I missed out on that, and have virtually 0 people I can count as friends.

It seems to me most peoples friends are people they socialized with during that period of their lives. Even once they are older and wiser and make the decision to not behave in that manner anymore, if you didnt make friends then, you never will.

Me myself and I are now off to enjoy a pepsi max.

I am in the same boat as you. I have never had alcohol before, and I don't plan to in the future either (purely as a personal decision, there is no religious motivation, although I am religious). I wouldn't say that decision has left me with 0 friends.

I would however say that for my generation (I'm 22), my observation is that alcohol is the primary conduit through which many people socialise, and without it they wouldn't really know how to have a good time or engage with people in their social life.

On many a night out/night in/party etc that can make me a bit of an outsider (especially on the not rare occasion when someone embarks on trying to figure out why I don't drink). I don't think it has left me with no friends though, but it has to me meant that I don't have the deepest of bonds with alot of my mates because you don't share in the drinking culture with them.

[dodger]

A few people here with reduced circles of friends because they don't drink.

Time for soberfacebook.com ? or a grog free dating site ? or grog free anything ?

There must be a demand.

[mhh]

Parties are a different experience now.  I've learned a few things.

- you can have fun when others are drinking and you aren't.  You find yourself loosening up with them.
- you need to keep moving or you'll be bored to death by someone telling you the same thing 5 times
- you can drive home without a worry; in fact, you can drive anywhere, anytime.
- you don't need to stay as long, in fact you enjoy it more if you don't.
- people will tell you stuff they shouldn't when they've had a few.
- most people can't function socially until they've had a few (which is a shame when you think about it).

I'd never say I've given it up but I'm in no particular hurry to try it again. I have more respect for the potency and danger of alcohol than I ever had before so it is a bit scarier now.