How many people don't drink or smoke?

That reminded me - in those few social occaisions to kinda blend in I did order rum and coke (the only thing I knew to order !) and would just sip on that, LOL - it is amazing the effect drinking has on some people !!

im exactly the same way…nice to meet you! Sometimes I feel like im the only other person in the world who does not drink or smoke in the slightest…

I don’t smoke- my parents smoked until I was about 7, and I’ve just never really wanted to start. I don’t mind when others smoke around me, but if there’s too many people smoking in one place (like a bar), I usually leave. The worst part is smelling my clothes when I’ve been around smokers- they smell stale, and I usually was them twice before wearing them again.

Drinking- I will have a drink once occasionally, but I don’t get drunk anymore. Last time I did, I whacked my head against a wall a few times, which made the hangover worse in the morning. It took about 3 days to come right again, and I though “Well, that was pointless.” Usually, the hardest I drink now is pear cider, because the smell of spirits makes me feel queasy. I also put Sherry in my Christmas trifle, but other than that, people still joke around that I’m “such a grandma”. But it doesn’t bother me :)

And I understand having a love of wine glasses- I absolutely love champagne flutes. I usually put them on tables around the house and put chocolates or sweets in them.

Yeah… binge drinking frustrates me to no end. Sure, I’ve done it a few times, but I’ve grown up and learned from my mistakes. Half of my college class would go out every weekend and get so drunk they couldn’t remember what had happened. Because I didn’t, I was labelled “uncool”, and they bullied me something shocking- note that these are students studying to be primary/elementary school teachers. Not exactly leading by example…

Social drinking, by all means can be fun. But drinking to get drunk? I worry so much when I see girls (and guys) completely out of it- they’re putting themselves in a prime position to be taken advantage of. My friends and I had rules when we went out:

1. Go in a group of at least 3
2. Carry drug test swizzle sticks (in case you think your drink may have been spiked)
3. Alternate alcoholic beverages with soft drinks or water
4. Keep an eye on each other!

Maybe we were a bit uptight, but none of us wanted each other to end up in a dangerous position. I really wonder if half these kids will find it so “cool” to be drunk when something bad has happened, only they have no recollection. It’s sad, but it happens.

I have tried one cigarette in my life… I couldn’t stop coughing and right then and there, I decided that it wasn’t for me! Not that I had intentions of making it a habit in the first place, I just wanted to see why people did it, and it didn’t help me understand it AT ALL! :) I’ve also NEVER tried weed either and some people find that so hard to believe!

I do drink on occasion though, I like mixed drinks and the only beer that I will drink is Corona with lime or that new Miller one that has lime and salt! I would say I drink maybe once a month if my husband and I go to a party or something (or, if I’m at a restaurant and want to try one), but I don’t get wasted at all anymore (I’ve had a couple of experiences where I swore off drinking, lol, but now, I just do it in moderation!)! My favorite mixed drinks are the ones where there is not much of an alcohol taste as well, and I like the chocolate and coffee ones the best!

I only smoked cigarettes a short while. I started smoking cigarettes when I was 12 but quit at 14 when I signed up for high school track and field. Our T&F coach had a policy that if you were ever seen smoking you were automatically off the team. A teacher saw my older brother smoking while doing a March of Dimes walkathon and he was kicked off the team even though he was their best miler. I thought the policy was completely unfair but now I’m glad for it since I quit smoking before I was hooked.

I drink alcohol socially or with food sometimes. I like a glass of Chianti with my Spaghetti and I’ll have a beer or two with Tex-Mex or Pizza. I even brew my own beer when I have time. I’ll have a Gin and Tonic at parties and every now and then I like a shot of wiskey. I’ve cut way back on my beer the last few years because I’m trying to loose weight; it is the calories I’m avoiding rather than the alcohol.

I don’t think that light or occasional alcohol is bad and like lexicon said, it might even be beneficial.

I don’t drink or smoke I think that its dumb and that if you want any chance at a life at all than you shouldn’t be “playling wiht fire” even by expirementing! so go you!!

Well, I’m pregnant so I DEFINITELY can’t smoke or drink, but even before I was I never done it, because I just wasn’t into.. but EVERYONE I know does it!

You’re not alone: I’ve tried alcohol but never really cared to have ever again. I don’t smoke either. I have no idea why someone could smoke after knowing the horrible consequences. It’s great that you’re secure enough to tell your friends no. A lot of my peers can’t…

Nope haven’t smoked in my life..

I have had a beer or six going to college but seldom drink at all these days.

I enjoy a glass of wine every now and then but thats about it…

I am also a grape juice fan and yes I also drink it from a wine glass..lol..

I use to drink a lot- constantly actually I’ve smoked cigarettes but I’ve absolutley HATED the taste. it never made me relax.

now I just cant stand the smell, taste, look …everything about alcohol. (as well as other illegal things)

and I feel a lot better about myself now that I avoid all that junk

I’ve actually thought about trying to have a glass of wine before bed everynight or every few nights or something. I have trouble sleeping, and I’ve heard that it can help. My problem would be finding something that didn’t taste too alcoholy (lol), and just something that I would like. It might have to be just like medicine, just get it down so it can do it’s job. :)

I’m only 15 and I’ve honestly never been offered or been around either alcohol or cigarettes. I have strong convinctions in this area and if I ever drank or smoked I think I would become the biggest hypocrite in world history. It’s disgusting and revolting and I have no plans for ever using either. I just hope my convinctions hold up as I get older.

Well I am the total opposite to all this - I have smoked since I was 9 and have recently just quit and it is going well (yay) but I have been drinking alcohol (mainly alcopops since I was like 12 and spirits from 15 when I went down to the nightclubs. Beer is alright - not much difference sometimes but I totally love San Miguel - you can really taste the difference in that one! I do binge drink on occasion but not like the ones that get bad press. There isn’t anything wrong with it, it keeps me happy as long as I have it under control.

LOL, I did all my drinking and smoking between the ages of 15 and 17. And that was about a hundred years ago. Lately I’ve discovered Australian red wine and will pick up a bottle of it once every couple of months. I can’t tell the difference between a $20 bottle of wine and a $70 bottle, so I get the cheaper one and enjoy sipping on it while I’m preparing dinner.

I grew up in a house of smoke - dad smoked a pack a day or more, and sadly paid the price as he turned 50. When I think back to the 70s and 80s I cannot believe how things were. Offices full of smokers, board rooms with thick heavy smoke hanging in the air, a pack of cigs and a lighter in front of EACH PERSON… Insane and revolting.

“In 1997, researchers at the University of Wisconsin concluded that purple grape juice also reduced blood clotting. Another study by researchers at University of California at Davis, confirmed the findings that non alcoholic red wine contains the same antioxidant profile as red wine. However in a 1998 study, Japanese researchers found that while grape juice still had antioxidative benefits, it did not significantly lower LDL cholesterol levels compared to red wine.”

(Taken from the Yale-New Haven Nutritional Advisor)

It’s still in debate however, so we could see studies change this information soon.

With consumption of food and alcohol, I’m of the opinion that no food is really bad, if it’s in moderation. Too many times I’m seeing kids of younger and younger ages feeling guilty about that chocolate bar they ate, because it’s “bad for you”. It’s leading to more and more kids with eating disorders and self esteem issues, from what I’ve observed.

amblessed: Yeah, it’s a pain, but I think it’s better we have definate research and testing on these things, so we can assess the pros and cons. Maybe with grape juice having less antioxidants than red wine, we could couple it with something with lots of antioxidants. Grape juice and dark chocolate anyone? :P

rnealw: I dunno about it being a waste of health. Yes, binge drinking is generally not beneficial to health. However, a glass or red wine a day has been proven to help improve cardio-vascular health. I’d rather do that than waste money on Lipitor prescriptions (a cholesterol reducing drug which is linked to causing type 2 diabetes in people who take it), and end up with more heath problems down the track.

I must say, I do enjoy a pina colada- mainly because, you can’t taste any booze in it. It’s almost like a pineapple and coconut flavoured slushy. Mmm…

Yeah, my dad used to do “traffic light” jellies in wine or parfait glasses, only at Christmas. A handful of candy canes looks really nice coming out of a champagne flute.

Beer- sometimes the mood hits me, sometimes it doesn’t. The most I drink is, like, one or 2 alcoholic beverages a month. Mainly because any booze that actually tastes okay is way more expensive than a can of cola.

Amblessed: Do you know that I’ve never even tasted beer before? I know I sounds weird or something. Everyone I know says that beer tastes bad and is an acquired taste, so I knew I wouldn’t ever drink enough to “acquire” the taste so I just didn’t.

The drinks I have tried have been mixed drinks…and I’d way rather have them without the alcohol. lol. One of my friends asked me, well whats the point of the drink without the alcohol? Well, the point is, it tastes BETTER to me. :)

Plus, I get free entertainment by watching all the people getting wasted around me. lol, just kidding –I don’t go to bars, but its amazing what people will do in their own homes when they are drunk.

a glass or red wine a day has been proven to help improve cardio-vascular health. concord Grape juice does the same thing. . . without the alchohal.

I’ve tried everything but heroin because I believe life is about experience. I got emphysema when I was 23, from smoking cigarettes likely, but the meth probably helped that too.

Sobriety is also a choice; an experience. The old arguement that you’ll die sooner if you smoke, drink or do drugs is a dumb arguement. Consider your life while you’re alive. Smoking decreases the quality of life; your sense of smell, taste, and touch are all affected negatively. Drinking only diminishes your common sense and drugs…well, drugs are more of a personal thing. A healthy dose of poison is still poison, but sometimes necessary. The key to life is moderation.

Out of curiousity, it would be interesting to see how many people do smoke, drink, or do neither. But the human potential movement is upon us, and being a non-smoker says something about you. Being a non-drinker says something about you. Being the same as everyone else, also says something about you.

My advice is try it or don’t, but always stand up for your indivuality and your right to choose for yourself.

I don’t smoke - what on earth is the point?

But I do drink wine. Most people in France do. It’s sociable to have a glass over the family meal or with friends, and we are surrounded by vinyards, so everyone is interested in the process of making, selling and tasting wine. I’ve almost never seen anyone badly drunk here, however. I am really impressed by how the French ‘consommer avec moderation’ (which means what you think - ‘consume with moderation’).

They drink with their familes and across age barriers. and it’s OK to get a bit merry when you’re next to your granny, but you’re not going to go further than that, really, are you? They think they have a problem with drunkeness in their society, but I think that’s very sweet and naive of them. They’ve not seen Britian’s current binge drinking culture…

are you looking for a real statistic? anyway me personally…no ‘devil may care’ I guess?

Texaskimmie, I’m not sure wine helps you to get a good night’s sleep. More than one glass makes it harder to get up in the morning, that’s true, but I’m not sure it actually gives you a sound night’s sleep. People in France drink herbal teas to help them sleep at night - is it camomille that’s meant to help with sleeping?

I’ve been smoking since I was 17.

I’ve been drinking since I was 16.

I’ve been intaking since I was 16.

I’ve tasted it before and I honestly have no idea what the catch is. I prefer drinking mountain dew or root beer.

NO DRINKING OR SMOKING FOR MEE

Did you ever get a definite answer on this question? I don’t drink or smoke either, and sometimes I feel like I must be the only one.

I like drinking but I dont like smoking its gross I tried it once and didnt like it

I like drinking but I dont like smoking its gross I tried it once and didnt like it

I don’t.

Some people think this is odd as if I am not manly enough so I say “ It just like having a beard or a silly haircut - I used to smoke and drink as a teenager but I GREW OUT OF IT “

That is an excellent put-down, especially if the guy is wearing a beard (lol).

However, facial hair apart ( which is only a tease) am I saying that smokers and drinkers have not outgrown the habits they acquired when young ?

Sure looks that way - and if it shames someone into giving up then this has not been a wasted comment !

Are you saying that you think 50 percent of people do not drink or smoke?

50-50

I don’t drink or smoke but im only 13 so I don’t know if that really says much.

I don’t smoke or do any drugs. In Canada the drinking age is 19-years-old… I’m 18, so on occasion my parents allow me to have a drink or two, as long as I’m with them in our house. My parents don’t drink or smoke so I’m never in that type of environment really unless I’m outside… them yucky smokers.

Wow, thats a great idea about putting chocolates or sweets in the wine glasses. I’ll have to try that. I usually serve layered deserts in my wine glasses or champagne flutes. Everyone usually really likes it, because it is different than just putting it on a plate or in a bowl. I’m glad to know I’m not the only “grandma” out there. lol :)

I dont drink or smoke at all:)

Can you type that with an Irish Accent?

vodka and lemonade and a packet of B and H silver or sovereign

I do not. They are both very disgusting habits to get into.

I don’t smoke or use any kind of illegal drug. I figure I’m screwed up enough already. I don’t drink alcohol at all really unless you count the occasionally tiny bit of wine they give you free at a restaurant (because I’m diabetic). Again, I don’t need anything to make my brain any weirder.

I gave up on both up years ago as a waste of time, Health and money.

That describes me too - just never started smoking - although when I was 8 or so, we tried these long slender things off a vine (I think it was - called them Indian Cigars) - tasted terrible and produced a LOT of smoke if you inhaled deeply, LOL - never really started drinking either - only time I tried, when I was in Germany in the military, after a softball game it was very hot and all they had was bottles of cold beer - didn’t like the taste but that coldness was great ! - today, neither, so you’re not alone :-)