The thing that's always bothered me is the way people who are drinking try to talk the non drinker into drinking. I like to drink. My wife drinks or not- she can take it or leave it. When she's not drinking people are always trying to get her to drink and seem dissappointed somehow when she asserts that she can have a good time without getting drunk. Recovering alcoholics have it pretty rough too with this. Unless they quit going out altogether, they're always going to run into the awkward situation of someone pressing them to have a glass of wine etc for dinner or whatever- "one glass want hurt anything".
I knew an Irishman in Germany, he was recovering alcoholic. His profession- Irish Pub owner. I don't know how he did it. Maybe seeing the drunks in his establishment worked as negative (or positive) reinforcement.
So true. I drink, but respect people who don't (perhaps because my family is about equally divided between drinkers and non-drinkers, with both groups containing wonderful people and both groups containing losers). I have noticed that many drinkers, for whatever reason, become indignant and snotty when someone mentions they don't drink. There is absolutely NO live and let live attitude.
Being a supporter of the individual, I applaud this kid for being willing to take the barbs he knows are coming in order to stand up for something he believes in. Good for him, and it's no skin off my nose.
It works both ways, you know. The above article, a perfect, self-rightous example.