There's enough to do in life that you don't have to worry about defining yourself by the things you don't do. But I totally get that people might misunderstand and think you're judging them. I think it's because a lot of former drinkers and addicts define their whole life by their sobriety. Good for them if it works, but I've always thought it was kind of sad they didn't have anything else.

I go through phases with alcohol. My father was a paranoid schizophrenic alcoholic who I never got to know, so for a long time I avoided in entirely. Then I tried some and felt elated, energized, relaxed, happy... That sense of is this how normal people feel? No wonder they're not depressed... Then I was scared by how good it felt. It took me a good ten years to realize I wasn't an alcoholic.

Now, if there's booze in the house I'll have a couple drinks every night until it's gone, and then do without for months because I hate shopping so much that a stop at the liquor store is more trouble than it's worth.