What should my first drink be?

[Shookone88]

Hi guys I'm 24 and have never tried alcohol before. In my experience with past relationships, I can tell my partners think I'm too boring for not partying/drinking (some have told me this). Well I'm single again and I want to meet "the one", but I really just want to fit in and be an enjoyable person to be around. I don't know why I struggle with this so much.

I don't drink because my parents are alcoholics (my dad died from cirrhosis), but I think the avoidance is actually causing me more frustration and stress.

If I go out this weekend what should I ask for and how do bar tabs work? Do you pay up front or after?

[Falcon16]

I would enjoy a nice beer or ale (I'm partial to the British ales, including Irish ales). Distilled spirits can creep up on you if you have a lot in a short amount of time. Have something to eat too. Don't go out with a mindset just to get smashed (I've done that and it's always a bad thing). With a tab, you pay after.

[tombastep]

I don't drink because my parents are alcoholics (my dad died from cirrhosis), but I think the avoidance is actually causing me more frustration and stress.

If I go out this weekend what should I ask for and how do bar tabs work? Do you pay up front or after?

When it comes to paying, you can either pay right up front for each drink or you can tell them to put it up on a tab and pay at the end of the night. I usually just pay up front and leave a dollar tip each drink just because I don't feel like calculating a tip, especially if I am a bit tipsy.

As for what to drink, I would stick with beer and just ask the bartender what is preferred or what he/she thinks is good. I would stay away from dark because that is definitely an acquired taste. Also I would stay away from any generic beer such as budweiser/miller etc, it's cheap for a reason. And you can try mixed drinks but for a first time drinker it's best to be careful with those because they can be deceiving.

[TheLyingGame]

I hardly ever drink, which makes me a total lightweight. A few drinks and the rooms spinning and i'm lying on the floor wishing i was dead.

Alcohol just really doesn't seem to agree with me.

I think the only alcoholic drink that hasn't made me sick is;



Go figure.

But if i was you, I would try something with a low alcohol content.

[Acanthophis]

The first time I ever drank was when I was 16 and I had like 5 shots of vodka. I don't suggest trying anything higher than 10% since it's your first time... If you ask the waiter/waitress for a recommendation for a first timer, they'll give you some good ones. Just let them know.

[palbert]

Your parents are/were alcoholics and your dad died of cirrhosis. And you're 24 and never had a drink and want to start. I would seriously rethink your decision.

[Beachguyj]

If both your parents are alcoholics chances are you are one too but don't know until you start drinking, so better not to start.

At most bars in clubs there are no tabs you hand over money, or nowadays debit or credit cards when you are served the drink. Tabs are usually only run if you at a restaurant at a table or at a table in a lounge.

If people know why you don't drink and still encourage you to, then you need to find new friends. Drinking does not make you less boring. It just takes away your inhibitions if you overdo it. Some people are mean drunks, some are happy drunks, the best people are not drunks at all.

Going out to drink is also expensive and if you drive you have to worry about getting a DUI, you can get one without even feeling buzzed.

[bankside]

Because you don't drink but you want to try, and because of your family history, this will go a lot better if you set some limits in advance. Even if some people find them boring - especially because some people might find them boring! Anyone who pressures you to drink to fit in is an ass. And I drink and have been to plenty of nights out with friends not all of whom drink and it caused no problems for anybody… So rethink why you want to start drinking. Don't do it to fit in. But don't be afraid of it either.

If you do decide to try it, set some limits. No more than 3 drinks a night. No more than 2 times per week. Whatever you feel right about as long as it follows reasonable health guidance. That way, you don't have to worry about whether it's okay to have another one, or whether you can handle another one, or whether someone else is proposing a toast and they try to refill your glass, or whether this will be the drink that starts damaging your liver. If you set your own cut-off point, you can just say you're done for the night and ask for water.

My limits are I don't ever want to throw up from drinking, and I don't ever want to have to leave my car parked somewhere because I overdid it. I'll share a bottle of wine with someone, but if I do I only have a maximum of one other drink serving. I only want to drink a maximum of 3 evenings a week. So that makes it really easy to say "no thanks," I don't even have to think about it, but I can still go out and have a good time.

[fastfoot38]

Bottled WATER

[G-Lexington]

Your last.

I'd order something sweet and fruity, rather than going for something heavy-duty like a dark ale or a shot. And I'd make sure that would be the last one you had that night.

Lex

[loveguys72]

If the guys you hang with think you're boring for not drinking, you need to find new guys to hang out with. I don't drink simply because I find the taste of alcohol, any alcohol, vile. Given your family history, I'd stick with something non-alcoholic. You don't need to be buzzed to have a good time.

[BreakTheIce]

OMG!! Finally I meet someone else who is a drinking virgin at 24. Well so was I, until I finally lost my drinking virginity like 2 months ago. And apparently I had a really bad choice of first drink.

I basically was on a date with this guy who has a minibar at his place. He went to get himself a drink and asked me if I wanted something. I decided to try some Tequila. I swear, I had a hangover for like 3 days after that. I did not like Tequila at all. The next weekend we went to a bar and I had shots of Vodka, which I think tasted better than Tequila.

Then like a month later he introduced to me sake. It is my favorite alcoholic drink now even though I don't drink much at all and I don't hold drinks well (I'm a very light drinker, or at least that's what my friends say).

For a long time I was really curious about what alcohol would taste like and all, and how it would feel to be drunk. But after trying it out I don't get the appeal at all. I basically don't see it as a big deal. I was just curious about it. I don't drink anymore, but just wanted to try to get it over with.

[Ganoderma]

If people know why you don't drink and still encourage you to, then you need to find new friends. (...). Going out to drink is also expensive and if you drive you have to worry about getting a DUI (...).

^^^^^^^^^ This. I don't drink alcohol, and I ahave never done it. Beachguyj is right: anyone who is encouraging me to drink it not one of my friends. Friends know that I don't drink, and they are used to it. I would advise you to find people who don't push you to start drinking alcohol. I also support the advice of Palbert. Rethink your decision, and rethink again. What's wrong with just drinking soft drinks?

Loads of people don't drink alcohol (or only a very, very limited amount).

[RazorzEdge88]

Six shots of bourbon or GTFO

[floridaboy]

1. Whiskey and publix sweet tea
2. Whiskey and lime(the lime cuts the hard taste while still gets you the hard liquor inside you
3. Rum rusher/runner(coconut rum with a bunch of fruit juices)

[Essex Boy]

Your reason for not drinking at all (parents alcoholics) is more compelling than your reason for taking it up (to 'fit in'). Maybe you could drink something that looks as if it might be alcoholic so people won't keep saying, 'Go on, have a real drink!'. No-one can tell if a glass of plain tonic water or ginger ale has gin or whisky in it. Can you get elderflower cordial where you live? Maybe not in bars, but it does look like white wine and I think it's very drinkable.
By the way I'm not a teetotaler, I'm advising you as a member of the don't-do-as-I-do,-do-as-I-say club.

[Nishin]

This works for me: when I want to control my drinking, I will have a drink first, then wait for 1 full hour before a second glass (that's the time it takes for alcohol to reach its strongest in your body), that helps me control at what point to stop.

Like Bankside I do not ever want to reach the blowing chunks point, something that can't really be described to an alcohol virgin, it is not only vomiting, it's the whole world spinning and making you sick and you want it to stop but it doesn't stop, and you fall and hurt yourself, engage in risky behaviour etc...

Just remember you DO NOT want to go there, be careful because alcohol will probably have you feel inhibited, joyful, talkative and give you the feeling that you are in control when you'll eventually reach a point where you're actually NOT in control anymore... and that's where it turns bad.

This said I'm all for drinking a little every once in a while like for everything else, all it needs is moderation/responsible use, which will be learnt with experimenting and probably making mistakes as well... given your familial history you'll have to be extra careful (some believe alcoholism/addictions can have a genetic component) but you sound pretty aware of this so I trust you not let others bully you into drinking some more when your brain says you should stop.

Someone said dark beer is an acquired taste, i think actually any beer is an acquired taste, so I'd suggest you sip some in your friend's glass to see if you like the tastes (drink it while it's fresh, warm beer gets bitter and disgusting) or you could try with something sweeter like a cocktail or bubbly like champaign, here again pay attention to the fact that sweet alcoholic beverages can be tricky because the sugar hides the taste of alcohol and you might get drunk easily because of drinking more or faster...

Do drink on an empty stomach.

[Beachguyj]

Someone said dark beer is an acquired taste, i think actually any beer is an acquired taste, so I'd suggest you sip some in your friend's glass to see if you like the tastes.

I agree beer tastes good, but it doesn't taste good.

[rareboy]

Your parents are/were alcoholics and your dad died of cirrhosis. And you're 24 and never had a drink and want to start. I would seriously rethink your decision.

I would tend to agree, although my own father was a functional alcoholic who ultimately managed to control his drinking with only a glass of wine each day.

I know that I have developed a frighteningly high tolerance for wine, but still drink like a European.

If I were the OP, I would also be very careful about starting to drink. If you don't miss it and have no reason to drink except for peer pressure, then it is a waste. If, on the other hand, you have a taste for good wine and really enjoy the aspects of drinking, then start there.

Whatever you do, don't start with dirty vodka martini's.

[Ryuukie]

You might want to try a drink that's mixed with orange juice or soda, such as a screwdriver (OJ and vodka) or a rum and Coke. I think any alcohol, even beer, is an acquired taste. Start with at least half of what you already know.

[star-warrior]

My dad was an alchoholic too, poor guy, but he worked his butt off, and claimed it sustained him

I tried larger first - Skol, tasted bitter and I hated it. I tried wine, too sour and left the palate with a strange feeling. Tried dad's brandy, awful stuff, found his drambuie, never again, he didn't like it either. Tried some Cointreau, not bad... Tried some Ouzo yuck, aniseed flavour ew! Rum and cola, I found tolerable. I don't drink, but if I had to choose today, then rum and cola, or a Baileys.

I guess everyone is different. I prefer being towards the tea-total end of the scale. That shaoxin wine in the kitchen is for my special spare-ribs recipe only. Honest!

[M10000]

Pee

;-=) <---- looks like Hitler

[looseliam]

Your parents are/were alcoholics and your dad died of cirrhosis. And you're 24 and never had a drink and want to start. I would seriously rethink your decision.

Came to say the same thing.

If you're out with friends and want to look like you're drinking, have the bartender give you a glass of coke with a lime or tonic with a lime.

If the bar has different glasses for alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks tell the bartender to use the booze glass to keep up appearances - he'll understand.

[Nishin]

Why would someone want to "look like they're drinking" ?
How childish is that?
If you don't want to do something, just don't do it and f*****g have some integrity, man up to making your own decisions and standing by them... honestly it is a seriously fucked up way of thinking that a few posters here demonstrate... what next? If his friends sniff cocaine or pop whatever pills he will have to sniff flour or pop jelly beans to accommodate peer pressure??

[JohannBessler]

I don't think you should drink at all, due to your family history.

[borg69unimatrix]

You want to start drinking from peer pressure, even knowing first hand the effects??

Seriously???


Gawd... now *I* need a drink.

Drinking won't make you 'cool', or more interesting, or fit in.

I hate you for making me quote my grandmother, but...

"If everyone was jumping off a bridge, would you ??? "

[zoltanspawn]

For me, alcohol is great stuff. It's pleasurable to drink, it's delicious and offers horizons of learning and creativity. In fact, right now I'm sipping a Buffalo Trace mint julep. Yum.

Like many of the above posters, I don't think you should drink.

[cityboy-stl]

Trust me on this one. Once I let the alcohol genie out of the bottle putting it back in was the most difficult thing I've had to do in my life and the road to getting there the most painful. Seriously, I was 24 like you when I had my first drink and starting later makes no difference. My family history is similar to yours. The first drink was like lighting a fuse on a long burning time bomb. It's your choice but my advice would be to read up carefully on the symptoms and progression of alcoholism first so that if you decide to do it, you'll be more educated. As we say, it is cunning, baffling and powerful.

By the way, I had my 13 year AA sober birthday on Saturday.

[birddog7]

Bottled WATER

I agree, best answer totally...

[M10000]

THere is a new drink (shown on Anderson).
A woman pours alcohol over her body and they sell the alcohol. Will there be a guy's version? time will tell

[JohannBessler]

Trust me on this one. Once I let the alcohol genie out of the bottle putting it back in was the most difficult thing I've had to do in my life and the road to getting there the most painful. Seriously, I was 24 like you when I had my first drink and starting later makes no difference. My family history is similar to yours. The first drink was like lighting a fuse on a long burning time bomb. It's your choice but my advice would be to read up carefully on the symptoms and progression of alcoholism first so that if you decide to do it, you'll be more educated. As we say, it is cunning, baffling and powerful.

By the way, I had my 13 year AA sober birthday on Saturday.

I'd like to add to this, if I may.

Several years ago, the actor Jeff Trachta came to the hotel. I found him a very nice man. When he was offered a free bottle of champagne, he politely refused.

Later on, I conducted some research on him, and found that he never drinks, not at any time, nor at any place. In fact, he has never had one single drink in his life.

He made this choice because he had severe alcoholism in his family.

I think we can learn from this experience. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.