Non-drinker in the pubs
 

Going to London and Northern Spain for the first time this summer. Have made all the arrangements for travel and lodging. We will be staying at the Pelham Hotel in London, the Parador de Hondaribia in San Sebastion, and Avienida Palace Hotel in Barcelona.
My question is as a former drinker will I still be welcome in the pubs for socializing and the tapas bars for the obvious? Or will the propriators look down on me as lost revenue? Looking forward to the time of our life this summer. thereyet

Of course you will be welcome in pubs as a non-drinker ... their soft drinks cost nearly as much as a beer anyway! There will be lots of people there not 'drinking' for all sorts of reasons, but especially if they are driving. There is nothing odd about going to a pub and not having alcohol.

Don't get your hopes up about too much socialising though unless you are bringing your mates with you...most pubs are not quite as people seem to imagine them.

No need to drink alcohol. I am notorious for my Vichy water with lemon. You will not have problems.

As for socializing, go for it, and if you want the time of your life, make it happen! You are going to some fabulous places.

Barcelona is the best!

Vichy water with lemon sounds like my cup of tea. thereyet

no problem. in europe it is common that bar and pub customers not drink. due to stringent drink driving laws in most countries, it is very common for drivers to not drink at all. don't even think about this...it's a total non-issue.

You will have dozens of options:

- water, still and fizzy
- sodas
- juices (in Spain, orange juice is usually freshly squeezed)
- coffees
- teas
- non-alcoholic beer

but in most places no ordinary milk.

I don't drink & go to pubs all the time. No problems.

There is a huge variety of non-alcoholic beverages (juices, soft drinks, bottled waters etc) - just expect that - as in the US - they will charge the same prices they do for alcoholic ones.

Order Vichy Catalan for sparkling water. It is the bee's knees!