I don’t drink for personal reasons and I really find it challenging to be a non-drinker in the IB world. Every team dinner, team happy hour, client outing, MPs, etc. is always alcohol focused, and I’m almost always the only person not drinking. I generally consider myself to be a pretty mature, self-assured kind of guy and I’ve always been fine in terms of still being engaged at these events, but sometimes it still gets to me to be the ONLY one always sober. I have a brother in tech and the culture there is not nearly as alcohol-centric. How have others dealt with this?
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Just stick to your guns, I don't think there's necessarily a strategy to follow here....I have plenty of colleagues who don't drink for personal or religious reasons, believe me nobody is looking at you and wondering why you don't have a beer in your hand....just go to the events, make conversation, don't be awkward and nobody thinks twice about it
You will be surprised how much pressure is there from peers and seniors to drink.
lol the amount of muppets who clearly don’t enjoy drinking/clubbing but do it just to fit in is crazy
saw plenty of fellow interns rave about going to the club just to sit on the sidelines
You’ve obviously never been to a club before. There’s plenty of dudes who just awkwardly stand there and do nothing but look at their phones.
I quit drinking 2 years ago. I don't think anyone cares. Just say that "I don't really drink alcohol." No one cares. If things get too sloppy, then leave. At that point no one will notice. Don't make it a bigger issue than it needs to be. I had Sikh and Muslim friends in IB who didn't drink, and it was never an issue. Since I stopped drinking, also not an issue professionally.
I have several colleagues, including senior ones, who don’t drink for various reasons and it has never held them back. I don’t think you’re as “self-assured” as you think you are. Sounds tough but get over it and save yourself the unnecessary stress.
Fair point and certainly something for me to reflect on
Club soda with lime. You’re welcome
Try mocktails if they have them. Nobody will be able to tell the difference unless they ask what you’re drinking
No, it’s not. You’re just self conscious about it, no one cares if you don’t drink. Put a Diet Coke in a wine glass trump style if you want to look the part
Shoot up in the bathroom before u guys leave
Order a sparkling water/tonic + lime, and tell the bartender to make it look like a drink.
My MD doesn't drink
You'll live longer than the rest of us so there is at least one upside
Never seen anyone being given a hard time for this. This is most likely all in your head and you just need to get over it.
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