Or just “I don’t do drugs”, or “I don’t do recreational drugs”?
Or “I don’t smoke weed” and “I don’t drink alcohol” when they come up, separately?
I wouldn’t generally say it at all unless I’m in a situation where I’m offered recreational drugs such as cannabis or alcohol.
My understanding is the term ‘straight edge’ might be more well known than ‘teetotal’, but neither are completely known by everyone.
I take straight edge to mean not doing any recreational drugs. However I read that straight edge can have punk culture connotations that some people might maintain are part of it. Like I might meet a punk straight edger who claims I’m not really straight edge unless I have connections to the punk scene. They also apparently often claim you need to be vegan to be straight edge, I am vegan though coincidentally but not for reasons relating to straight edge culture.
Teetotal I believe most often means abstinence from simply alcohol, but can be used to mean abstaining from all recreational drugs (I think). It may be more well known as just not drinking alcohol. For example teetotallers often still smoke weed.
Apologies if I misrepresented any of these terms.
If “no, thanks” is not treated as a complete sentence, you’re in a bad crowd. Doesn’t matter if it’s beer with the coworkers or MDMA at a trippy cuddle party. “No” requires no further elaboration.
If you feel like discussing your reasons, feel free to bring them up. But you should not have to. If your “no” is not accepted about drugs, get out – because those people are in the habit of rejecting people’s “no” on other things, too.
And by the way, this rule is just as important, maybe more so, for people who do choose to take recreational drugs sometimes. Just because I’m okay having a beer in one context does not oblige me to do shots with your buddies.
Yea, they get a “No, thank you”. If they persist after that they get a “Fuck off”. I don’t owe anyone an explanation. Fortunately my friends I go out with will back me up if anyone gets pissed about my attitude.
I find that adding an “…anymore” adds a lot of baggage that’ll make people drop it and accept your choices
It’s a situation where the label carries a burden. How often does it come up that you need a prepared response? No judgement, but If you’re thinking this much about it you might be hanging out with the wrong crowd. “No thanks” should be enough, and being pressured further into doing something you don’t want to do is a red flag. I don’t think either label is going to help you.
Or “I don’t smoke weed” and “I don’t drink alcohol” when they come up, separately
That ones your best choice.
Eh, just a plain ol “nah, it’s not my thing” has sufficed whenever I’ve been offered a hit.
Don’t be weird about it and they won’t either.
