Non drinkers in Cork and other ponderings

boringteetotal

Hi, just wondering any non drinkers in Cork?

Im female 22 and haven't drank in nearly four years now. Practically lost a whole group of friends over it, but it was worth it.

Took me a while to realise the pub and club scene wasn't for me at all.

This board is a ray of light and a refreshing alternative to the grimy, dingy Irish booze culture.

No judgement on drinkers but man I just hate the stuff.

Its such a cliche to get pissed, or to be so drunk you can't remember the night. Where is the fun in that?

Are Irish escapists? Will the recession fuel an increase in alcohol consumption? Do we drink to get laid? Do we drink to fit in? Are we poor socialisers without drink? Where do the questions end?!

IrishPegasus

Why are you calling yourself "boringteetotal"?! Im the same age and aint boring (at least i dont think i am)!

boringteetotal

Seemed like a good idea at the time of registration...

Dagmar

Lets just call it ironic for now...;)

Definitely a historic element to the boozing here. I met a caoch driver on the Cork-London coach who said that he would never bring any friends to his house to socialise it just wouldn't happen. They would always go to the pub and meet on level ground as it were.

Now the 'affluent materialist' Ireland has arrived certain groups of folk like to show off their homes and the whole dinner party culture has arrived. Pubs are closing down hastened by the smoking ban (hooray) and the tightening up on drunk driving. (double hooray)

Although I am not in favour of legislation I do feel that things have improved in this area a little but it take a long while for society to move on...

taram

I'm 22 and a non-drinker in Cork too! Hello! ::waves:: I love the club scene, but for the mad cheesy dancing I can get away with when everyone else around me is out of their mind on drink.

Fabio

hahaha!!! Fair play Taram!!! I try that myself but can never escape the fact that it still is crap dancing haha!

In general I don't like clubbing in Cork, I'm sure of the point of it unless you ain't drinking but then again perhaps there is but I have yet to find it.

Pubs I don't mind but it depends on the pub!

Fabio

hahaha!!! Fair play Taram!!! I try that myself but can never escape the fact that it still is crap dancing haha!

In general I don't like clubbing in Cork, I'm sure of the point of it unless you ain't drinking but then again perhaps there is but I have yet to find it.

Pubs I don't mind but it depends on the pub!

LULU007

I absolutely love clubbing in Cork!!
I love this country to bits, the atmosphere is so cool that it doesn't matter if you're drunk or not! I don't drink either and I still have good fun anytime I go out with my drunk friends!
Music is usually not great and it's a rip off to pay 15euro to go to the Qube but like Taram says it's good fun to dance and the most important is to have fun with your friends wherever you are

Sapsorrow

hi boringteetotaller, I'm a 23 yr old girl too and although i drink the odd time it's rare during the year. I'm based in cork too and it's hard to get to know people without going to the pub, but after years of caning it in galway as a teenager I'm just sick to death of it all now. I'm into growing veg and cooking and my pets and stuff like that now and i love it, maybe you should give that a go if you like the countryside and get an allotment or something!

Dr.Millah

Same boat here, 19 year old student. Who doesnt drink. And is not to mad for the clubbing scene. Get asked to alot of partys and the likes, but rairly go because there 99% of the time piss ups which are actually quiet boring if you dont drink.
Never really liked the scene at all.

I dont beieve in the idea that all social events have to somehow revolve around drink these days.

And on the clubbing side of things, i never got it. Just never clicked with me at all and i still cant understand how its so popular. I would much prefer a modern "venue" that had a very chilled out atmosphere light music with couches and tables, in which socialising could be done etc.

Utopia i guess? :P

leahyl

Hi I'm a 23 year old living in Cork and I'm not a non-drinker but i very rarely drink. Was NEVER into the pub/club scene and I remember my mum saying when i was like 18/19 - you'll get into it soon but I knew i never would.

I don't like goin to clubs really but I love music and stuff. I love dancing say at a wedding or something or somewhere where you are surrounded by people you know but when it comes to clubs and you are (usually) surrounded by people you don't know and who are getting hammered - sorry i hate it! There's something about clubs - it's just a very false environment you knw what i mean - like everyone's trying to be something they are not (mainly due to the drink!)

Love going to the cinema and going for dinner

Don't mind goin to the pub once it's not too crowded and you can actually hear what your friends are saying!

Having said all that I'm not trying to preach and I'm not against alcohol but there are loads of other things you can do to socialise besides goin to the pub:) but usually the pub always seems to end up being the only thing:D

Well that's my two cents!:D

FGR

I used to get the same speech when I was 17/18 as well, leahyl. I then thought it would be a great idea to try it anyway and later decided it definately wasn't for me. It would be great to see more venues for non drinkers in Ireland though. I think it would boost overall happiness of people if they had something else to do aside from drink! For me, in particular. I could never see the fun in standing in a large crowd, sober, with my ears being blown off and everyone else having the time of their lives!

Dr Millah is onto something. Business venture, perhaps?

leahyl

Yes perhaps we should set up our own coffee shop!

Seriously though if there were more coffee shops around Cork I bet they'd be really popular - like the only place i can think of which isn't a pub and does coffee and hot chocolate at night is Tribes and there's only so many times you can go there

Btw "boringteetotal" was reading your post there about almost losing a whole group of friends because of you not drinking! I can't believe that - some friends....

I don't think it's just the drink thing that's an issue with me - i'm just not into crowded pubs/nightclubs - i just can't enjoy myself

Sapsorrow

should maybe consider setting up a teetotalers group in cork, arrange cafe crawls and other day/afternoon events?!

FGR

Why not add group trips to the cinema as well? Shame the city center cinemas are gone.

Sapsorrow

we got the kino though and that's way nicer than a regular cinema

boringteetotal

All I know is we need a revolution!

I guess looking at all your replies there is hope and alot to do if we just look. Photography, cinema, bowling, cafes, pets and YES vegetable growing! Im off to the shop to get carrott seeds. I'm serious.

Sapsorrow

good stuff, although i think it's a bit early for carrots, try lettuce, kale, onions, spring cabbages or garlic!

boringteetotal

:DNice one!

Sapsorrow

no worries always ready to help with any gardening queries you may have if i can! hope they grow well for ya!

boards virgin

Greetings to all those who share similar views as myself I am a 21 year old male and am looking for an alternative to the pub and club scene as is mentioned above i am stationed in the Dublin region just looking for any suggestions about how to get involved really thanks!

leahyl

Hello fellow corkonians - I'd be interested in meeting up to go to cinema, for tea etc non drink related activities - I'd like to meet new people cos i find that because i dnt like goin to pubs and clubs and am not much of a drinker (I do like the odd west coast cooler though!) i dnt really get a chance to meet new people (not that i would if i did go to pubs on a regular basis!) It'd be nice to meet people that are on more or less the same wavelength as me and do something different like - i dnt know hillwalking or something! Or day trips to interesting places in Cork - anything! Hopefully we can sort something out in the New Year!

Happy Christmas to everyone:D

badabinbadaboom

Im a non-drinker in cork, im 20 and really dont like the pub and club scene. From browsing this forum Im quite suprised at the amount of non drinkers about the same age as myself who are around

FGR

Anyone still game for this? May as well get a head count. If we can get five or six and perhaps even a mixture of male and female together we'd be doing well! For sometime say around January..? Work shifts/College hours permitting.

Why the mixture? To look good of course!

Pi^2

Story, I'm 19 and I don't drink alcohol. And I try my best to prevent my friends from drinking to no avail. They're always like "you're having so much fun and you're not even paying for it", and i'm all like "if you even tried it just once you'd understand" but the thought of being in the city after say 9 o clock (pm mostly) and not being hammered doesn't register with them.

Anyway,I'm not really into pubs or clubbing but like I still go out and I feel I can talk to anyone cos at least 50% of them are drunk. And i'll be honest with ye, I do think I am better than these people when I see them falling all over the place. So like, my confidence sky rockets into the realm of cockiness when I'm out.

I dunno what I'm trying to say here really. I think I'm trying to say even though I have never drank alcohol I'm still a prick on a night out because everyone else is **** faced.

Rant over

kingtut

There is bowling taking place this Thursday and Friday in Cork City for anyone who is interested........

Check out the "Cork Social Events" thread in the Cork City forum for further details. All are welcome!

Cork City Forum Link:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=478

Social Events Thread Link:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=58676499#post58676499

rmkfda

Hi all,

I'm moving to Cork next Tues from England, I look forward to meeting some of you guys at the next meet up. I'll be happy to arrange some stuff when I get over and get a feel for the place.

*rach*

cantdecide

rmkfda wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm moving to Cork next Tues from England, I look forward to meeting some of you guys at the next meet up. I'll be happy to arrange some stuff when I get over and get a feel for the place.

*rach*

Welcome to HELL!!!! I'll be at the next meeting of the non-drinkers support group too. Be warned- We cry a lot. Think Fight Club!!

kingtut

Hi everyone. I have two questions I would like to ask.

1) Have you had any meetups yet?
2) Are people who drink but do not need to in order to have a good time and who are more than happy to go for weeks without drink (aka me) welcome??

I would like to attend the next meetup if you accept people described in my second question....

Thanks

rmkfda

cantdecide wrote: »

Welcome to HELL!!!! I'll be at the next meeting of the non-drinkers support group too. Be warned- We cry a lot. Think Fight Club!!

Nice! I always wanted to meet Meatloaf.

King tut, personally I think non-drinkers group should include anyone who for that particular meet up or whatnot isn't gona drink and get ratted! Don't think it should be a puritanical anti drinkers club.

*rach*

The M

Nice post