Same for me.

I always was curios and learned early and in detail about all of the negative effects of alcohol. Damage to organs like the brain and the liver for example. So I decided to avoid it. Seeing my friends with hangover and making really bad decisions whiled drunk only enforced me. I also had two friends who at some time asked me to look after them and stop them if they drink to much (one after he a night where he desperately tried to call a taxi with his wallet ^^)

Pressure to drink was strongest in early university. But I always found easy ways to diffuse it. If they went on for an hour and somebody said “Come on, just one sip” I did that and took just one very little sip. (I also dislike the taste of alcohol and I guess its the same for anybody who hasn’t consumed much, only cidre was somewhat ok in taste) Or one time I was on vacation with a few friends and they played a drinking game. I participated and drank a whole glass of Water when it was my turn. Everybody had fun.

After the first two years (nearly) everybody accepted my stance and now every friend just knows it and respects it. When our bigger friend group travels to a hut in the alps I can safely ask anybody of my friends to mix me a cocktail and can be sure it will be an non alcoholic one. I also had the great luck that the love of my life never tried alcohol.

One thing I noticed: Often my friends or more often parents say to try some dessert e.g. Tiramisu, It doesn’t taste after alcohol at all. I take a little bite and taste it very strongly. I still don’t know if that are moments where they downplay it or where they really don’t notice it.

In whole I may have drunk less than half a glass of alcoholic things in my life (I have tasted beer, wine, Cidre, 2-3 cocktails and the tiniest bit of Becherovska)