If someone invites you over for drinks, do you let them know you don’t drink?

Is this an important meeting? If yes, then I can tolerate a bit of alcohol even though I don’t drink. A sip or two will do just fine, for the sake of formality. I was taught that it’s never wise to refuse food/drink offerings during business/promotional meeting as you might offend your boss/prospective employer, you eat/follow what your host do.

I don’t provide alcohol when I invite people to my house so they have no choice. I have fresh water, tea, coffee, and juices. All they have to do is to pick one, and it’s rude for guest to request a particular type of drink.

I always have a few non-alcoholic options available that I offer casually along wine or beer or whatever.
I also offer coffee or tea, I have both.

Yes, it would be polite to mention that you didn’t drink alcohol when you accepted the invitation.

(I’d take two or three firken of water in each of six jars in case I changed my mind).

As a hostess I’d like to have the info for seating but we offer everyone non and alcoholic beverages. My sister is actually the only person who ever took offense at my audacity of asking her and her bf. Like mad there was alcohol. Smh

I drink when I’m in the mood, but I don’t know in advance so I dont mention anything ha!

No one has ever invited us over just for drinks.

To clarify, the most recent was friends of ours, a couple, who invited us for “drinks at their house tomorrow at 7:00.” My impression was it would just be us 4. It didn’t occur to me it might be a get together of several people. It wasn’t worded that way, but possibly there will be others.

I told her we don’t drink much alcohol in my response to her email, while also saying how happy I was to hear from her and would love to see them, etc. I was very unsure whether to mention it. Then I asked this Q.

@canidmajor I would think most people have other options. What I’ve found though is people who are “drinkers” who think every social gathering should involve some sort of alcohol, sometimes find it very odd when others don’t drink, and they make things uncomfortable.

We recently went to dinner with a couple who at the end of dinner were saying, “we have to go out drinking one night, you must drink sometimes.” It practically turned into high school. They are in their late 30’s. I know the invitation for tomorrow is nothing like that, but it’s just an example of how it can be.

I haven’t had to deal with that kind of attitude since my early 20s when we all partied.

Yes, I would let them know. I know some people might find it shocking others don’t drink, but if you don’t like the stuff, you certainly shouldn’t be pressured into doing it. My late husband was one of those people, he always thought every time we went out or got together with friends, we had to drink. I just wasn’t into that, I’m still not.

Did he have an actual drinking problem AshlynM?

I’m sorry, @JLeslie, I misread your Q.
I don’t tell people, I assume that most people do what I do (as I mentioned above) and have other things available. I have never had anyone have a problem when I have refused alcohol for whatever reason.

@Dutchess_lll None that I saw, but I have no idea what he did when I wasn’t around. I only saw him drink when we were out together, and with friends,

If one is invited over just for drinks, decline the invite. No need to make a big deal out of it.

^^ “Drinks’ is generally just short hand for “we won’t be giving you substantial food.” I don’t think there’s any need to decline the invitation or to say anything much. I also don’t see a big problem is saying, “We’re not big drinkers but we’d love to come over.”

That’s basically what I wrote, we’re not big drinkers, but would love to see you.

We can’t make it tomorrow night, so I offered “tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday night.” Today is Monday. She wrote back inviting us for tomorrow afternoon for coffee and German cake. They’re German. I don’t drink coffee either, but that’s not something I’ll menfion.

@JLeslie Hopefully stollen, its sooo good. Have fun!

Yes.
Unless I get invited by Bill Cosby.