ONE WOMAN'S EXPERIENCE

“I’m a non-drinker, and I get a lot of responses from acquaintances and people I’ve just met (my friends know that I don’t drink booze). Some people say, ‘Oh lighten up!’ But there’s nothing dark about me when I’m out. I have been told, ‘Let your hair down. Have a drink and join the party.’ But I’m at the party (some people would say I am the party). I love to be around people, I find it natural to smile and talk and listen and sing and joke and laugh and dance. I love party games. I like to stay up late. I live for good conversation. I’m a bon vivant and raconteur. I just don’t drink booze. I’ve also been asked, ‘Why don’t you drink? Are you an alcoholic?’ by people

I don’t know. Eh, if I were an alcoholic, I wouldn’t confide in you, inappropriate stranger. Even if they don’t ask if

I’m an alcoholic, a lot of people ask, ‘Why don’t you drink?’. There is an assumption that I should explain myself. I always want to ask, ‘Why do you drink?’ not because I care, but to make the other party realise how odd it is to be asked to justify your choice. I never do, though. But it’s as unnecessary and personal a question as ‘Why don’t you have children?’. My strategies for not having these conversations include waving my car keys around, which, luckily these days most (but not all) people accept as a valid reason not to drink. I also find accepting a glass of whatever’s going and putting it down is a neat strategy if you’re not up for the conversation about not drinking.” – Mary Kate O’Flanagan, screenwriter and script consultant