Non drinker in an Irish pub
#1
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Non drinker in an Irish pub
Oh dear, my husband and I are going to Ireland and for medical reasons cannot drink alcohol. Does that make us party poopers in the pubs? What do non-drinkers drink?
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Soda, usually. Pubs do stock various kinds of pop-Coke, Lilt, etcetera, or possibly orange juice. I can remember seeing little line-ups of pop bottles on the bar, so you can see what they have. Not drinking in a pub is a little unusual, but I wouldn't think it likely to be a problem. Just don't order cider. It will be hard cider and contains alchohol. Shandy is sometimes a drink made with lemonade and beer (better than it sounds) and sometimes is in the title of a soda flavor "Rock Shandy". Perry, although you don't see it much, is also alchoholic. Have fun!
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As others have said, it's not a problem. I often drink water when I am going to drive home -- but it's a circumstance where I would pay for bottled water rather than ask for tap water, which is usually given free.
Bar staff might not like to be asked for tea or coffee in the evenings in a busy establishment. in fact, many houses do not provide hot drinks in the evening.
Bar staff might not like to be asked for tea or coffee in the evenings in a busy establishment. in fact, many houses do not provide hot drinks in the evening.
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Ha! I wondered much the same thing. My husband and I are going to Ireland for our belated honeymoon in late April, and I don't drink at all because I loathe the taste and way alcohol makes me feel. My husband? A beer and hard liquor fanatic -- blame it on having a father from the Emerald Isle. It'll be...interesting...
#13
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My Irish Mother-in-law always orders tea in Pubs even in the evening...can't imagine anyone in Ireland EVER thinking it odd to drink tea at ANY hour at all...maybe in spots catering to a very young crowd or disco? or maybe in Cities? they could be too busy to be bothered?? never found that to be the case though...and...they would always be polite about it anyway and REALLY would not think it odd to order tea even at 10pm. Otherwise, no one at ALL would think it odd to order a Coke...there's all kinds of big news right now about the change in the drink-driving law and no-tolerance limit...so I have been with many people ordering non-alcoholic drinks in the past month.
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Bilbo, in the US cider is almost always non-alchoholic. It is pressed, unfiltered apple juice that is refrigerated and often pasteurised as well, instead of being permitted to ferment. Good cider is brown, mildly sweet, and has a crisp apple taste. Bad cider is golden, very sweet, and is basically apple juice. Neither kind is carbonated. Many americans would assume that cider was non-alchoholic unless told otherwise.
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I've had Schwepp's Lemonade in Australia. I imagine it's the same in Ireland, essentially 7Up that's a little less syrupy.
Tea is also a good choice.
I know Ireland had good fresh juices in restaurants but don't recall about pubs. Definitely don't order cider because it is fermented.
Remember to order at the bar rather than waiting to be served (unless you are in a lounge). While most people order pints at a pub. It's not a requirement.
Tea is also a good choice.
I know Ireland had good fresh juices in restaurants but don't recall about pubs. Definitely don't order cider because it is fermented.
Remember to order at the bar rather than waiting to be served (unless you are in a lounge). While most people order pints at a pub. It's not a requirement.
#18
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Not to worry! I didn't drink either not because I couldn't but because I'm a "Margarita" drinker and they are very hard to find in Ireland!! I don't care for beer and your only other choice is hard liquour. But I had the time of my life! The most friendly people in ALL my travels (including in America) are the Irish! Absolutely, wonderful, warm people, who are genuinely outgoing fun people.
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Side note, in Canada cider is alcoholic as a rule,, and I was most dissappointed to discover that it is difficult to find it in Europe, ,it is so refreshing on a hot day. We have apple, pear, peach, nectarine and berry ciders,, very yummy.
I think there is an alcoholic cider from France ( I imagine in the Calvados region) but I don't know what they call it.
As for pubs and drinking, what is that drink that is beer and lemonade?
I think there is an alcoholic cider from France ( I imagine in the Calvados region) but I don't know what they call it.
As for pubs and drinking, what is that drink that is beer and lemonade?