The obnoxious non-drinker(s) in your life thread

[FirstAidBrewing]

Howdy All,

OK... for the most part I keep my personal opinions (religion, politics, lifestyle choices) to myself for the sole reason that I don't care to have unnecessary drama in my life. However I've been pushed a bit too far this week when it comes to my homebrewing hobby and appreciation for/love of beer. Want to see what your experiences are like and if they are similar...

I started homebrewing with my dad and for a long time it was a way for us to bond before it grew into the big hobby for me that it now is. So there is sentiment attached to homebrewing for me.

This week I had my boss make the following statement about alcohol/alcoholism: "if you do something every day, you have a problem and need to self-examine." Well then I guess I'm addicted to food, sleep and working. And as far as alcoholism goes, my wife's parents divorced due to it and I've also lost close family due to it, so I'd say I have a pretty good idea of what alcoholism is...

Another co-worker claimed that alcohol was a waste of money... this coming from the person that think nothing of dropping $200 is one go at the gun range and owns more than a dozen guns the majority of which he's never even shot). Second disclaimer, I am also a gun owner, so I think I can properly compare the money spent in that department.

Ugh... I just couldn't take it anymore and had to vent.

Your turn. Who in your life is on a major soap box about not drinking?

 

[Homercidal]

My family is pretty good. I was raised in a Baptist church so you can imagine our belief system was fairly limiting: NO alcohol (grape juice for communion), NO dancing (unless God moved you to), no Swearing, etc.

I was also raised by my friend's family because I spent a lot of time at their house. They had a much lower attachment to church. None, in fact. That is where I first tasted beer, liquor, swearing, etc. (Still don't dance, never cared to.)

I can still remember my mom's voice of disappointment when she found out I drank beer. It seemed so strange to hear her say it, even though I KNEW she was against it. I don't have a drinking problem and never thought of it as being a problem, just thought of it like I'd think of appreciating a good steak or something. I never brought up how much worse it was fr his health that dad smoked.

Anyway, cut to the future where now my niece, who was raised in another Baptist church, was headed of to GR with a boy to go Swing Dancing. WHAT?? My sister said their church was more relaxed on some things! LOL!

Now my mom probably isn't thrilled that I still drink beer. I don't expect her to. But I think she's come to terms with the fact that for me making beer is a hobby and I'm interested in it for much more than getting drunk. I think that after a while she has seen that I don't come home from work chugging cans of beer, sitting on my ass, kicking the dog, hitting the family, etc.

Who knows, maybe she has more experience with alcoholism in her childhood. If so, I never heard about it. But you have to know that sometimes what seems like unreasonable beliefs are born from a valid prior experience that might have affected someone in a very negative way.

 

[b-boy]

My ex-boss was a holy roller.

He was rabid about drinking. He tried to eliminate any possibility of alcohol being present whenever he could. Things like company picnics and other company outings. Once he sent an employee back to the hotel when we were on a business trip because he had 3 beers. The guy was like 28 years old and it was after hours. It was a little embarrassing, and ridiculous. I made it a point to drink in front of him whenever possible.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Years ago, I was cooking for my then girlfriend & her family. Her ultra religious mother came into the kitchen while I was making a champagne mushroom sauce & proceeded to have a fit about there being kids eating & alcohol in the food. I calmly explained that the alcohol was evaporated by the heat during cooking, She didn't believe me & forbade the kids to eat any of the mushrooms or sauce. She wouldn't touch it either & was obviously angry about the fact that I had dared to cook with wine and/or brought wine into her house. She glared at me for the rest of the evening. Later that night I banged her daughter on the hood of my car right there in her driveway.
Regards, GF.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Ahh, the always exciting "rebelling against strict upbringing" poon...