I never got into it and I feel like I'm missing a huge social part of my life. I've tried alcohol and it just tastes bad. Maybe if I had enough to get inebriated I'd feel different, but so far nothing about the experience of drinking has been good. Also I grew up around Baptists who don't have drinking in the culture, so maybe that's part of it? My parents never had alcohol in the house and there was never beer/wine at family gatherings. I never even saw a full glass of beer in person until I was like 23.
Bars are too loud and there's too much expectation to drink, parties have the same problem, drinking at home alone sounds sad. I go to concerts and I'm the only person without a huge glass of beer. People hand me drinks and I'm like "nah" and they get mega confused.
What do I do
Is this the opposite of a problem?
If you don’t like it, that’s cool, don’t force yourself to like it for social pressure (you know what that’s actually pretty decent advice for everything in life). Knowing what you want and what you don’t is a sign of self assurance, that is the hallmark of cool. If people don’t respect you for that, you don’t need their respect.
In alcohols favour (or drugs in general) getting a little out of control and vulnerable with a group of people is a pretty strong way of building bonds with those individuals, there are theories that that is how early societies and groups gained trust and cohesion. Re: the taste, it takes a while to develop an appreciation for alcohol, however a cold cider or beer on a hot day is unbeatable, wine accompanies food like nothing else, and whiskey in an evening after a gig or with friends round a campfire just hits right. But that’s my personal opinion. I don’t really drink with friends to get drunk any more, my life has moved past that now, however I still drink circumstantially for taste/refreshment/pleasure just I have one or two now, not as many as I can. I think that’s come with maturity (and age’s negative affect on a hangover! I used to be able to party all night and be up at 7 the next day for work, today I need a half/full day to recover from a big night!). But I have imbibed for years and will continue to for the foreseeable, it’s a pleasant activity for me and ingrained in many cultural and social events I enjoy and participate in, you’ll take my pint after a long days hiking over my cold dead body!
All this said, I’ve been in Muslim countries with no alcohol at all for months and had just as good a time. I’ve also in my youth been to alcohol and drug free raves and had wild nights.
Alcohol is literally poison, there is no safe amount, and even in moderation it’s high calorie, kills brain cells and depletes nutrients from your body. If you drink more than you can handle it encourages regrettable decisions and leaves you vulnerable. It’s also addictive, habit forming and for many it’s ruinous to health, personality and those you love. Which is to say, if you don’t want to drink, don’t. It’s probably bad, and you can do fine without it.