Or just “I don’t do drugs”, or “I don’t do recreational drugs”?
Or “I don’t smoke weed” and “I don’t drink alcohol” when they come up, separately?
I wouldn’t generally say it at all unless I’m in a situation where I’m offered recreational drugs such as cannabis or alcohol.
My understanding is the term ‘straight edge’ might be more well known than ‘teetotal’, but neither are completely known by everyone.
I take straight edge to mean not doing any recreational drugs. However I read that straight edge can have punk culture connotations that some people might maintain are part of it. Like I might meet a punk straight edger who claims I’m not really straight edge unless I have connections to the punk scene. They also apparently often claim you need to be vegan to be straight edge, I am vegan though coincidentally but not for reasons relating to straight edge culture.
Teetotal I believe most often means abstinence from simply alcohol, but can be used to mean abstaining from all recreational drugs (I think). It may be more well known as just not drinking alcohol. For example teetotallers often still smoke weed.
Apologies if I misrepresented any of these terms.
If “no, thanks” is not treated as a complete sentence, you’re in a bad crowd. Doesn’t matter if it’s beer with the coworkers or MDMA at a trippy cuddle party. “No” requires no further elaboration.
If you feel like discussing your reasons, feel free to bring them up. But you should not have to. If your “no” is not accepted about drugs, get out – because those people are in the habit of rejecting people’s “no” on other things, too.
And by the way, this rule is just as important, maybe more so, for people who do choose to take recreational drugs sometimes. Just because I’m okay having a beer in one context does not oblige me to do shots with your buddies.
What are these trippy cuddle parties and where can one find them?
Asking for a friend obviously
Yea, they get a “No, thank you”. If they persist after that they get a “Fuck off”. I don’t owe anyone an explanation. Fortunately my friends I go out with will back me up if anyone gets pissed about my attitude.
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I find that adding an “…anymore” adds a lot of baggage that’ll make people drop it and accept your choices
“Not since… The incident…”
“What happened?”
“I don’t talk about it… anymore…”
It’s a situation where the label carries a burden. How often does it come up that you need a prepared response? No judgement, but If you’re thinking this much about it you might be hanging out with the wrong crowd. “No thanks” should be enough, and being pressured further into doing something you don’t want to do is a red flag. I don’t think either label is going to help you.
Or “I don’t smoke weed” and “I don’t drink alcohol” when they come up, separately
That ones your best choice.
Eh, just a plain ol “nah, it’s not my thing” has sufficed whenever I’ve been offered a hit.
Don’t be weird about it and they won’t either.
agreed. a good stoner doesn’t force anyone to smoke (although they may accidentally hotbox the room) and just wants everyone to be at their ideal level of high, even if thats not at all.
Just say no thanks. No need to tell them that it’s a life long choice.
Just state it clearly without buzz words.
“Sorry, I don’t (drink/smoke/whatever - just fill in the blank).”
Alternately, no is a complete sentence: You don’t owe anyone any explanation.
Don’t say “sorry”. You have no reason to apologize.
If you’re in a party or other social event keep a drink with you, water or whatever you like. When someone offers you something just bring your glass up and say thanks, im fine. 9/10 times people are going to be cool with that. Someone might ask you what are you drinking, being honest is the best imo, you can start a conversation about it. Do not say things like “I don’t need alcohol/drugs to enjoy a party” it’s sounds condescending and like you’re moraly superior, you are not. If someone asks if you already tried, say yes but you didn’t really like it. If they try to pressure you, just leave, they are shitty people.
Anybody worth talking to won’t care what you call it friend.
Could probably say that you’re sober 15 years. People tend to be more understanding of people in recovery
I don’t smoke and barely drink. I don’t even like caffeine. I don’t need labels about it. It doesn’t make me a teetotaler or straight edge. I like cookies and ice cream more than any of that stuff!
I actually think it can be harder to communicate moderation. I have a friend who’s a recovering alcoholic and when he says “I don’t drink” he rarely gets any pushback.
Whereas I do drink sometimes, and even get drunk very occassionally, but can go weeks without it. Some people have trouble with the idea that I drank one time they saw me but are choosing not to the next time. It’s a bit like the way some straight or gay people can’t wrap their heads around the concept of bisexuality… “which one are you? Straight or gay? Teetotal or drinker?” 😂
I had good luck with just “not tonight” as someone who drinks extremely infrequently
I used to do a lot of drugs in my 20’s (not so much anymore) and never once did I see someone actually try to convince someone to do something they didn’t want to do.
Like others have said, you’re in the wrong crowd if people are making a huge deal out of this. I wouldn’t trip out on labels.
Straightedge is a punk subculture, so if you’re not into the music then I wouldn’t use the term.
I personally go with: no thanks I’m still on probation from the last time I used the stuff and beat a man mostly to death.
