Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions

Subject: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: Bedubya
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 12:06 PM

I am an American who plays a bit of Irish music and is considering a trip to Ireland. Doing some session playing would definitely be on the agenda. Problem is neither the wife nor I drink anymore and we are not sure about Irish pub-goers' attitudes toward non-drinkers. If someone were to offer to buy a drink, is "Sorry, I don't indulge" an acceptable response or would someone be offended. Here in the States, where the penalties for being caught driving drunk are far worse than they were a few years ago, ordering a Coke in a bar is no longer a cue for snickering. Input on Irish attitudes from genuine Irish or Yanks whove made the pilgrimage would be greatly appreciated.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 01:34 PM

I wouldn't worry. I don't drink any more and never had a problem anywhere. A few surprised reactions yes! But a problem no.

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: GUEST,chanteyranger
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 05:40 PM

I've seen musicians there sessioning with their glass of soda water in front of them. I've seen one of Ireland's greatest fiddlers play pub gigs with a bottle of non-alcoholic apple cider as his drink of choice. From what I observed as a visitor, I don't think it would be a problem for you. My own experience was when I sat in on a session at Nagle's pub in Ennistymon, Co. Clare, a listener and town resident bought a round of drinks for the players, basing who gets what on what kind of drink each player already had in front of them. He saw my almost finished glass of soda water in front of me, and put a fresh glass of it in front of that one. I think it's understood that not everyone drinks alcohol.

Best,

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 05:47 PM

Well, there's naught as queer as folk right, so no matter where you go you'll find differences so broad that one can safely say that people, all over the world are mostly the exact same... They are different...

;-)

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 05:52 PM

I think you'll have a great time, and no-one will take offence if you simply say if asked'Mine's a tonic thanks', or whatever. I always drink soft drinks and have never had so much as a raised eyebrow. Now if you're not willing to stand a round occasionally, that might be a different matter.

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: GUEST,Brían
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 06:43 PM

I don't drink and I don't think most of the musicians notice. If someone asks me for a drink, I just say, "I'll have a(your favorite non-alcoholic beverage here)". People seem to notice much more if you can raise your voice in a song("Croch suas é!") or play a tune. Tell us about your trip, Bedubya. Go n-éirígh an bóthar leat!(May your road be successsful). Brían.

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: vindelis
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 07:12 PM

Panic ye not. One thing that nobody has mentioned, is state of some Irish roads. I don't drive, but I certainly would not drink and drive in Ireland. Also a lot of the pub entertainers either stay 'on the wagon' or get the wife to drive them home after the event. Go out and enjoy yourself.

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 07:40 PM

If it's your style to say "Sorry - I don't indulge," my guess is that you will indeed get up people's noses pretty fast. There are less judgmental things you could say, as suggested by other posters. I was on the wagon for about eight years in Ireland, with never the slightest problem. And there is a far better choice of non-alcoholic options available now (usually including tea and coffee) than there was in the 1970s.

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 07:57 PM

No problem in the world. There's always been a lot of people in Ireland who don't drink, and that includes musicians. I've never been in a bar in Ireland that didn't sell non-alcoholic stuff, and many sessions have some people just drinking water. There are some great Irish bottled waters, much better than soda water.

Aside from anything else, you can lose your licence for driving when you are over the limit, and a lot of people find the easiest way to keep out of trouble is to stay of the drink when they are playing, because it can be hard keeping score.

And noone's going to make a thing about it - provided you don't make a thing about it yourself, and imply that other people shouldn't be drinking.

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: chordstrangler
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 08:19 PM

First of all can I say that the fact that you don't drink alcohol will not affect your welcome in any Irish pub. Come'on, we are not that bad.

But if you would like to gain brownie points the best thing is to say something like: "I'm sorry, I can't touch the stuff anymore. It plays hell with me".

With those few words you will touch a chord in the Irish psyche which will, in all probability, stand you in very good stand.

Come over here sober and enjoy yourself.

Best wishes

Mickey

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: BK
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 10:34 PM

Drinkin' wasn't the problem for us in Ireland a few years ago; We (& particularly me, the would-be singer) simply can't BREATHE, let alone sing, in tobacco smoke & the only sessions we encountered were, without exception, in a heavy fog of tobacco smoke. I could barely breathe in the other end of the room!

Other than that, Ireland was wonderful & the people so friendly it blew us away! Good Luck

Cheers, BK

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: alison
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 10:41 PM

not drinking isn't a problem.. but I agree that the amount of smoke can be.......

a session I was at at home last year.. they kept giving the players drinks..... not a problem I asked for my usual.... all of us had a pint glass of black liquid in front of us.... all the others were Guinness.. mine was diet coke............. after the first request it was assumed that coke was what I would continue drinking.... and each time a round came in .. it was there....

as someone else said.. just be careful how you word it.... when they ask what you're having.. tell them... "a coke/ water / orange please"......

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: Troll
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 11:25 PM

Stand your round, raise your voice and no one will care. Chordstrangler is right about the best way to establish yourself as a non-drinker. I usually just say,"No thanks. I've taken the pledge." I have a couple of smartassed ones that I use after I've gotten to know everyone."I quit smoking and drinking to have more time to chase women. It worked! I caught one." Or," The Good Lord gives a man a certain amount of alcohol to consume in his lifetime. By the time I was forty, I'd drunk mine and three other peoples. I couldn't find anyone who was willing to give thiers up so I had to quit."

troll

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: Terry K
Date: 21 Apr 01 - 03:34 AM

Now where on earth did you get the impression that the Irish are big drinkers? Next you'll be saying the Scots like a drop or two as well. The very idea!

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 21 Apr 01 - 04:50 AM

Nobody will worry if you don't drink alcohol.

And if you get some neurotic alcoholic trying to feed you drink you don't want, look at him or her with mournful eyes and say "I don't drink *any more*" - this is code for "I can't drink because I'm a raging alcoholic and if I sniff a cork from a cider-bottle I'll be dead in a ditch with a barrel of vodka within a day".

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: Bedubya
Date: 21 Apr 01 - 06:05 PM

Thanks to all for your comments, and for doing a bit of myth dispelling along the way. Now, having helped me overcome that psychological hurdle, I don't suppose there's anything ya can do to help talk the boss into an extra week's vacation and a nice raise to help finance the trip, is there?

Bruce

Subject: RE: Non-Drinkers & Irish Sessions
From: Sabine
Date: 23 Apr 01 - 03:46 AM

I never had any problems sitting in a session and drinking coke or sparkling water! I usually have a pint and then two glasses of water. Otherwise I'll get so fluted that I'm unable to play and to sing *g*.

Regards

Sabine