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motiontodismiss
Joined: 18 Dec 2011
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 Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
Or get a car. That's a pretty good excuse. |
\
They'll give you money to hire a designated driver and shove the alcohol down your throat. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Works with most casual dinners though.
Besides being able to avoid drinking, a car is just....convenient. |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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No amount of peer pressure can make me drink soju these days. I just tell people straight that soju is utter filth and there is a reason why it only costs a dollar per bottle. That usually works for me.
Beer on the other hand... |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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| cj1976 wrote: |
No amount of peer pressure can make me drink soju these days. I just tell people straight that soju is utter filth and there is a reason why it only costs a dollar per bottle. That usually works for me.
Beer on the other hand... |
I guess that might work...but not very savvy if you want to maintain some kind of healthy relationship...insulting people for what they drink is often akin to insulting their religion.
Telling people that you are taking liver medication is one of the best I have ever heard...and it is well respected...more than the religion one...especially if/when neither are true. |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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| The Cosmic Hum wrote: |
| cj1976 wrote: |
No amount of peer pressure can make me drink soju these days. I just tell people straight that soju is utter filth and there is a reason why it only costs a dollar per bottle. That usually works for me.
Beer on the other hand... |
I guess that might work...but not very savvy if you want to maintain some kind of healthy relationship...insulting people for what they drink is often akin to insulting their religion.
Telling people that you are taking liver medication is one of the best I have ever heard...and it is well respected...more than the religion one...especially if/when neither are true. |
Just a bit of tough love. That stuff isn't fit for such regular consumption. |
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JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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| cj1976 wrote: |
| The Cosmic Hum wrote: |
| cj1976 wrote: |
No amount of peer pressure can make me drink soju these days. I just tell people straight that soju is utter filth and there is a reason why it only costs a dollar per bottle. That usually works for me.
Beer on the other hand... |
I guess that might work...but not very savvy if you want to maintain some kind of healthy relationship...insulting people for what they drink is often akin to insulting their religion.
Telling people that you are taking liver medication is one of the best I have ever heard...and it is well respected...more than the religion one...especially if/when neither are true. |
Just a bit of tough love. That stuff isn't fit for such regular consumption. |
I used to think that but after drinking it several times (a couple of bottles each time) and making sure there's plenty of mixer to wash it through the liver it doesn't go down so badly after all.
NOTHING like Absolute but not the drain cleaner I first thought it was. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 2:09 am Post subject: |
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| mcloo7 wrote: |
| Yaya wrote: |
I took a year off from drinking and it was an eye-opening experience. I went to company dinners without drinking and my coworkers for the most part respected me for it. I did do an air toast on toasts but oh well.
After a year passed, I limit myself to two units per night. I travel quite a bit around Southeast Asia but I no longer go beyond a little tipsy.
I will say, however, that to truly succeed in Korea, you might have to have a few brewskis with people who will bring you business and stuff. I think the church groups are better with this but well, Korea is a drinker's paradise. |
Do you mean to succeed as an ESL teacher, or as a Korean businessman? Did your year of not drinking hurt your job situation or prospects? Thanks for the insight. |
Being your hakwon boss's drinking buddy never hurts, does it? You'll have his ear and stuff, though I hope it doesn't wreak havoc on your health.
As for business, however, I'd say drinking can be important. The thing is, I nurse my beer now and how important the person I'm meeting is will determine how many I have. Many deals are concluded at the high-end hostess bars and stuff (I know, it's friggin' 2012 and this stupid culture remains). Koreans say Korea is changing but I say it hasn't even begun to change enough. |
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spaceman
Joined: 12 Jun 2009
Location: South South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:01 am Post subject: |
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| In my 3+ years living here, I've never once been pressured to drink. I've been at my current school 2 years, and noticed that virtually no one takes a drink at all at the work dinners. A sip of beer, maybe, and perhaps a few bottles of soju drunk between 50 people. I always have to give the signal toward my glass to get someone to refill it, and even then, everyone is so straight, I feel the guilt come on. I wish for once some coworkers would let loose so we could let our guard down. My work dinners are horribly boring because nobody's guard ever comes down, especially not mine. And frankly, sitting on the damn floor for 2 hours would be a lot easier after a few drinks. |
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KimchiNinja
Joined: 01 May 2012
Location: Gangnam
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| Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
| As for business, however, I'd say drinking can be important. The thing is, I nurse my beer now and how important the person I'm meeting is will determine how many I have. Many deals are concluded at the high-end hostess bars and stuff (I know, it's friggin' 2012 and this stupid culture remains). Koreans say Korea is changing but I say it hasn't even begun to change enough. |
Yep, drinking is mandatory for business; nobody is gonna sign the papers because of a lame Powerpoint presentation. Hard booze, girls and fun = signage the next morning. 
And I've seen enough boring Powerpoint presentations in my time, personally I think the Korean's are onto something great. |
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hang10
Joined: 11 Nov 2007
Location: Asia, Twice the sex half the foreplay
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| Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 10:29 am Post subject: Re: Not drinking in Korea |
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| mcloo7 wrote: |
| Hi, if you're someone who has quit drinking and doesn't intend to start again, meaning not even having one drink, what's life like in Korea? Are you ever pressured by a boss to drink, without any understanding of why you would choose to not drink, or can nondrinkers get by ok? Thanks. |
Best get off that wagon and join the deadly soju crowd. It will do wonders for your social life and kill off your nice innocent liver.
If you refuse, expect to be marginalized, ostracized and watch your benefits disappear!
Welcome to Korea! |
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hang10
Joined: 11 Nov 2007
Location: Asia, Twice the sex half the foreplay
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| Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 10:36 am Post subject: |
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| spaceman wrote: |
| In my 3+ years living here, I've never once been pressured to drink. I've been at my current school 2 years, and noticed that virtually no one takes a drink at all at the work dinners. A sip of beer, maybe, and perhaps a few bottles of soju drunk between 50 people. I always have to give the signal toward my glass to get someone to refill it, and even then, everyone is so straight, I feel the guilt come on. I wish for once some coworkers would let loose so we could let our guard down. My work dinners are horribly boring because nobody's guard ever comes down, especially not mine. And frankly, sitting on the damn floor for 2 hours would be a lot easier after a few drinks. |
You are the problem, why not order a couple of Sojus and pay for them!!!! go figure. Another penny pincher. |
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hang10
Joined: 11 Nov 2007
Location: Asia, Twice the sex half the foreplay
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| Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 10:40 am Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
| mcloo7 wrote: |
| Yaya wrote: |
I took a year off from drinking and it was an eye-opening experience. I went to company dinners without drinking and my coworkers for the most part respected me for it. I did do an air toast on toasts but oh well.
After a year passed, I limit myself to two units per night. I travel quite a bit around Southeast Asia but I no longer go beyond a little tipsy.
I will say, however, that to truly succeed in Korea, you might have to have a few brewskis with people who will bring you business and stuff. I think the church groups are better with this but well, Korea is a drinker's paradise. |
Do you mean to succeed as an ESL teacher, or as a Korean businessman? Did your year of not drinking hurt your job situation or prospects? Thanks for the insight. |
Being your hakwon boss's drinking buddy never hurts, does it? You'll have his ear and stuff, though I hope it doesn't wreak havoc on your health.
As for business, however, I'd say drinking can be important. The thing is, I nurse my beer now and how important the person I'm meeting is will determine how many I have. Many deals are concluded at the high-end hostess bars and stuff (I know, it's friggin' 2012 and this stupid culture remains). Koreans say Korea is changing but I say it hasn't even begun to change enough. |
Ho Ho Ho......... I hope it never does................ and please "nurse my beer" OMG are you gay! |
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SeoulNate
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa
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| Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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| northway wrote: |
| Yeah, if you're someone who really likes alcohol and wishes to avoid it, Korea is quite possibly the worst place in the world to be. At the same time, I've generally found that Koreans, though really into drinking prowess (females often included), are highly unlikely to force the issue if you tell them you don't drink. If you're straight with the people in question and just tell them that you haven't had a drink in x number of years and don't enjoy drinking, you should be fine. |
+1
If you are a recovering alcoholic, Korea will be dangerous for you.
If you simply choose to not drink, you will be fine. |
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Quack Addict
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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| I've been alcohol free since 2003. I have lived off and on in Korea for 8 years. The drinking culture is huge but I pass. When offered I refuse. I'm a big boy. There is nobody here in Korea that can 'make' you drink. I have actually recieved many compliments from women teachers who 'wish' their husbands didn't drink. Alcohol free in Korea can be done. Cheers. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 9:00 am Post subject: |
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| hang10 wrote: |
| Yaya wrote: |
| mcloo7 wrote: |
| Yaya wrote: |
I took a year off from drinking and it was an eye-opening experience. I went to company dinners without drinking and my coworkers for the most part respected me for it. I did do an air toast on toasts but oh well.
After a year passed, I limit myself to two units per night. I travel quite a bit around Southeast Asia but I no longer go beyond a little tipsy.
I will say, however, that to truly succeed in Korea, you might have to have a few brewskis with people who will bring you business and stuff. I think the church groups are better with this but well, Korea is a drinker's paradise. |
Do you mean to succeed as an ESL teacher, or as a Korean businessman? Did your year of not drinking hurt your job situation or prospects? Thanks for the insight. |
Being your hakwon boss's drinking buddy never hurts, does it? You'll have his ear and stuff, though I hope it doesn't wreak havoc on your health.
As for business, however, I'd say drinking can be important. The thing is, I nurse my beer now and how important the person I'm meeting is will determine how many I have. Many deals are concluded at the high-end hostess bars and stuff (I know, it's friggin' 2012 and this stupid culture remains). Koreans say Korea is changing but I say it hasn't even begun to change enough. |
Ho Ho Ho......... I hope it never does................ and please "nurse my beer" OMG are you gay! |
No, I ain't gay but you seem mentally disabled. |
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mcloo7
Joined: 20 Aug 2012
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| Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Quack Addict wrote: |
| I've been alcohol free since 2003. I have lived off and on in Korea for 8 years. The drinking culture is huge but I pass. When offered I refuse. I'm a big boy. There is nobody here in Korea that can 'make' you drink. I have actually recieved many compliments from women teachers who 'wish' their husbands didn't drink. Alcohol free in Korea can be done. Cheers. |
Thanks. Do you ever get any pressure from bosses? |
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