Why I Don’t Drink

I’m probably the only 22 year old that has never had a sip of alcohol (other than one time at an overseas religious communion.) My parents both drink and so do many all of my of age cousins. However, once again I’m the black sheep of the family. I don’t feel comfortable “relaxing” myself and possibly getting to the point of making myself sick.

At holiday gatherings when asked is I want a glass of wine or a beer, my answer is always, “I don’t drink.” Those three words seem to be get forgotten every time and what follows is an uncomfortable silent tension for a few seconds before someone changes the topic.

I’ve had the opportunities to travel a lot in my life. Some of these places have been in Europe, which has a lower drinking age law than the US.(Instead of 21, like in the US, it’s 18.) My first trip over the pond was a mission’s trip just after I had turned 18.

Now, it’s not your typical mission’s trip where I was a missionary working in churches and trying to convert people. That’s not what I did during my time. I went for two months a an ESL teacher for a couple family summer camps in Prague, Czech Republic.

I remember the first night I arrived at the pension myself and the other teachers were staying at until we went to the first camp. The pension was also a wine bar, which isn’t an uncommon thing. However, during that first night, one of the older teachers, who had lived in Prague for a few years, said to me, “You know that the drinking age is 18 here right?” My response was, “Yes, but I don’t like to drink.” One of the other teachers said, “Trust me you’re going to want a drink before we leave here.” We laughed at her statement before going about our night.

Let’s fast forward about two weeks later. We had finished the first camp and were spending the weekend with one of our local contacts. He was a former mayor of Prague and had spent years as a pastor. During the time I was there, he was a temporary pastor at a church in Kutna Hora, a tourist town about 90 minutes outside of Prague. He had invited the teachers to attend his communion service that Sunday, most of us went.

He told us before that they used wine, not juice, and we all had to drink from the same cup. I, myself, am a part of the Baptist Church. So even though I could have just acted like I took a drink and passed the cup on, I couldn’t do that do to my beliefs and values.

That is where I had my first and only drink.

So, now back to the part of why I don’t drink.

Naturally, my anxiety makes me apprehensive about doing something new. I’m also the type that if I’m out to dinner I continuously keep taking sips of my drink. When you put those two things together, it makes sense why I’m worried about unconsciously getting myself to a point where my anxiety runs me in front of other people. Maybe it’s because I’ve also see far too many people act out when they’ve had close to one too many.

I don’t know the exact reason. But the reasons I’ve mentioned are reasons I’m willing to talk about publicly.

Just remember that the next time someone “of age” refuses a drink, don’t pry or make the situation uncomfortable. Just remember it for next time and move on.