Poll: Is it okay to not drink/smoke at a party?

[Cheery Lunatic]

Well social norms does make it hard to refuse a beer at a party.
I recommend just getting a cup and pretending to chug it. They'll be so drunk, they won't really noticed.

I personally think it's ridiculous, but what can you do? I commend you for sticking to your guns though.

 

[DannyJBeckett]

Of course it's okay. You don't need to be pissed off your face to have fun.

Equally so about smoking. I have nothing against smokers, and I think constant calls to ban smoking outright are frankly forceful, but to think that you need to smoke at a party is ludicrous.

 

[LongAndShort]

Speaking as a frequently drunken arsehole:
WUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!

Speaking as someone who even when drunk, doesn't really mean it and often has to explain himself to somewhat over-defensive friends, of course it's alright to not drink or smoke, as long as your honest (few things worse than someone who doesn't like drinking or smoking but says they do, to fit in) and aren't arrogant about it (one of those worse things are those people who get all superior and smug cause they're the only sober ones at a party and try and make everyone feel guilty about it).

I would say your mate was out of line for continuing to try and pressure you, than getting mad when you refused, but drunk's do as drunk's do. I'd be interested in his attitudes towards it all when sober (if he remembers).

 

[RUINER ACTUAL]

Sure, why wouldn't it be okay, but why wouldn't you?

 

[kingpocky]

Well, if you're high or drunk you tend to say/do a lot of things that sound stupid to anyone who is not similarly intoxicated. Thus, it can feel like anyone around you who is sober might be feeling awkward, which can make you feel awkward as well. However, some people can actually be around people who are drunk or stoned and enjoy themselves while sober, so as long as you trust that they're not feeling put off, you shouldn't bother them. Conversely, if they are put off by your stupid behavior, it's their right to go to another party.

 

[Stalk3rchief]

Depends on how you are socially. Personally, I'm very withdrawn anti-social... unless I drink. So if someone manages to drag me to a party I'm going to drink lest I look like a fool.

 

[Nieroshai]

At my friend circle's RP sessions (Pathfinder RPG) some drink and some don't. Some there are underage and we make sure they don't get any. I don't just because I don't, as well as a fear I won't be able to coherently play the game if intoxicated. I'm creative, but easily distracted.
For the group, alcohol is just a drink. We bring Pepsi and lemonade too. Pizza though... if you don't eat pizza you can get the hell out!

 

[Gaiseric]

"If you are my friend you'll chug this beer with me."

Btw, Your friend sounds like an asshole boyfriend... like "If you love me, you'd have sex with me..."

Haha! Now that you mention it he actually did say "If you love me, you'll chug this with me."

 

[Gaiseric]

Ok, you can't put an option for 'pansy' and not expect us to go with that one

I expect plenty of people to vote Pansy.

 

[TheEldestScroll]

dude you were in the right. you never have to drink or smoke if you don't want to. i'm pretty sure they taught that stuff in fifth grade haha.

some people have a hard time learning things i guess.

 

[Smurf McSmurfington]

Yeah, it's okay to not drink or smoke at a party, I just don't see why one wouldn't...
Parties tend to be boring as hell if my wits are with me, people are boring enough as it is, and when drunk most of 'em get even less interesting, but to fool yourself into thinking they aren't completely dull and you're not wasting your time is in fact a good thing, temporarily, 'cause atleast a fair amount of fun is generally to be had at parties. That is not always the case, however.
Plus I do enjoy drinking(not constantly obviously, nor too much, just enough, and just occasionally, when I do go out) and smoking(high quality tobacco, high quality papers and decent filters, not the regular pack rubbish), but that's just me, and therefore doesn't apply in this particular case.

 

[Kargathia]

Let me get this straight: you're seriously expecting your friend to act reasonably while drunk?

Good luck.

 

[Dogstile]

Yeah, its completely fine.

Although I voted pansy, because real men drink! You sir, are not a real man.

Spoiler

if anyone took that seriously, please, give me credit. I'm not that much of a dick

Also this

Let me get this straight: you're seriously expecting your friend to act reasonably while drunk?

Good luck.

 

[JohnnyDelRay]

Although I was happy to get blitzed at every party (except when driving), I would never put pressure on anyone to get smashed or not. I might offer, but I wouldn't get pissed, be persistent, or generally be an ass if they refused. Except for that one time on leaver's week, I think I might've gone a bit too strong on some poor individuals. But other than that, no.

I'm married now, and my wife doesn't drink *at all*, which keeps me on the straight and narrow, which I'm also a bit thankful for helping me grow out of that phase. Well, most of the time anyways. I still like to get a bit munted every now and then, especially when I see my brother which isn't too often.

To answer the OP, nah, you don't have to do whatever anyone else is doing, I preferred getting drunk at people's houses though rather than at bars, so I was on the receiving end of it too quite a lot, and it annoys the hell out of me, reason why I don't do it to others.

 

[Hungry Donner]

There's no need to drink or smoke, and if people can't accept that volunteer to be a designated driver next time. (Or you could just tell people that, if they're drunk enough they're unlikely to check up on you.)

 

[Foxbat Flyer]

You dont have to drink/smoke to be there, I once went to a friends birthday party, and they all wanted me to drink, after many times saying no, they kept persisting that i drink, to which i said, "screw you all, im going home" (I even took the birthday cake with me)

Oh, and Captcha 'heyHung symbols' awesome

 

[Arina Love]

why would you want to poison your body? i never drink alcohol or smoke. if you don't want to do it then don't do it, simple.

 

[Slayer_2]

I don't drink alcohol or smoke(weed or cigarettes) and I don't go to parties that often, but yesterday I went to my friend's welcome home party(he just finished his Army training). When I got there he was drunk and kept trying to get me to drink a beer with him even though he knows I don't drink. Every time he would talk to me he would say, "If you are my friend you'll chug this beer with me.", or something like that and every time I'd say no. After about an hour of trying he gave up and got mad at me. Even the other guests looked at me funny when they'd offer me something and I turned them down.

So as a guy who doesn't get out that often, my experience last night did nothing to encourage me to go out to more parties(to many people trying to get me to drink). Is it okay to not drink/smoke at a party? Was my friend just being a drunk ass? Or would I need to go to parties with people less likely to make me feel out of place?

I do it all the time, I love parties, and sure sometimes people get weirded out, but screw them. I've got drunk maybe three times in my life, and I've been to at least... I dunno, 50-100 parties? I'm just throwing a number out there, I don't keep tally, but I'd guess it to be around that.

 

[uzo]

I don't care if someone else doesn't drink/smoke. I care if I'm not, because I start getting a bit 'testy' when I cannot unleash the inner Irishman!!!