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Deicide · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:53 pm Post subject: Alcohol and the Japanese...

I do not drink alcohol ever for personal and health reasons....will this be a problem in Japan?

Like a Rolling Stone · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 872

Deicide · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:22 pm Post subject: Re: Alcohol and the Japanese...

callmesim · Joined: 27 Oct 2005 Posts: 279 Location: London, UK

I very rarely drink and this has never been a problem. Even when out with students who are often salarymen.

Just tell them you don't drink and they'll leave it at that.

kdynamic · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan

You'll be fine. Just don't judge others for drinking because many people here drink a lot. Say you don't drink, and that will be that.

shuize · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 1270

Agreed. If you say you don't drink, no one will hassle you. But if, on the very unlikely chance someone does, just tell them your doctor advised against it.

Eva Pilot · Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:17 am Post subject:

I don't drink, and I just say so. I have had no hassles thus far.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Eva, but you're in causeway Bay, aren't you?

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

that being said, not drinking won't get you too bothered, but you may be less popular at drinking parties, for obvious reasons.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Coming up on three years of sobriety and avoid drinking situations but people are always trying to get me to drink. Found myself at a work-related party and when it came time for the toast I had the glass to my mouth with my lips closed but enjoyed the aroma. After that, I always made sure to request a non-alcoholic beer from a staff member well in advance.
Sad thing about a lot of people here is that they can't have a conversation without drinking.

Eva Pilot · Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:18 am Post subject:

Dr Disco · Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:21 pm Post subject:

In Korea it was almost a rule that I had to drink with the boss...that really was a pain.

Glad to hear that Japan is different. For the love of Buddha, I can't understand why some people would be so offended for wanting to avoid alcohol for a few nights. Strange. Rolling Eyes

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

It's not really a problem to not drink, we sometimes go out with coworkers that often just have a coke or something.

Eva, so you just post from there (HK), but don't live there? And what is seedy about HK (not anymore seedy than Japan, that I can see)?

Gone Asiatic · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Japan

sushi · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Posts: 145

What about the saki bit. Do co teachers(co workers or whatever) come over to you and poor the stuff into a glass for them and into a glass for you and pretty much force you to drink to be social. Do you get backed into a corner sometimes so that it's a little awakward for you to get out of the situation. Sometimes saying your allergic or that's against my principles isn't something your always comfortable saying given the circumstances.