Pubs & Pints & Pints & Pubs -- BUT I DON'T DRINK!
 

Hi -

Maybe this is a silly question . . . but it seems that SO much of what I read about in the Ireland posts revolves around stopping at a pub for a pint. I don't drink (alcohol) but I'd enjoy partaking in some music and craic. Will my partner and I feel welcome sipping club soda or coffee in the pubs?

Not all pubs will serve coffee although many that serve meals will so so.
However, nobody will turn a hair if you order a soft drink.

You will find that most all pubs, taverns, and restaurants in Ireland, Wales, and England are in business to sell the customer what he or she wants. I have almost never had a waiter or waitress come up and say, "Let me tell you about our specials." The specials are often on a chalk board as you enter, and my experience is that the waiter/waitress assumes you can read.

I have never had a bar tender in a British pub or an Irish pub push beer on me. If I wanted it, I could have 5 gallons. If I did not, nothing was said. There were never any comments like "You should try xx ale."

In France, I haver had a waiter or waitress push wine on me. If I wanted it, I asked, and it came.

No questions, no reluctance, no nothing except for bring me what I asked for.
In the very rare instance when someone said anything at all, all it took was a smile and a NO.

In France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Finland and Italy, same deal.
In Italy, the custom is often to bring a small pitcher of the house wine. If I indicated I did not want it, the waiter/waitress simply removed it.

I feel more comfortable in those situations than I do in most American places where food is almost a loss leader and the profit is in the beer and mixed drinks.

&quot;<i>Pubs &amp; Pints &amp; Pints &amp; Pubs -- BUT I DON'T DRINK!</i>&quot;

And????

Where did you get the idea you must drink alcohol? Soft drinks, coffee, tea, you name it.

Where did you get the idea you must drink alcohol?

In the many posts, I keep hearing about going to the pubs and having a pint. I've never read a post that mentioned going to a pub and partaking in a soft drink or juice while listening to traditional music. I'm glad to know that will work.

You will have no problem joining in.

All the drivers (I hope) will be doing exactly the same as you.

Have a good trip

Most people in a pub will be drinking alcohol - but not all. Non-drinking is far from unusual here for all sorts of reasons, and no one will care less. Nor will you feel &quot;left out&quot;.

Anyway as an American it's assumed you'll be a bit odd anyway!

Anyway as an American it's assumed you'll be a bit odd anyway!


Well, I'm sure I won't disappoint:) Thanks for your responses.

As many others have said...you drink what you want to drink.

If you want tap water just ask and they will probably let you have it for no charge.

Quite often I drive so I tend not to drink so will often just have a soft drink.
However I do have an arrangement with Mrs Muck..I drive there and she drives back. It works really well...lol
:-)
Muck

They are all telling you the truth. I don't drink and I had no problems at all...the only thing you need to remember is to keep your voice down.

In Ireland, if your sitting with the locals and you pay attention, you will see they are very quiet people and I don't think they appreciate the way Americans can speak with a bit of volume.

If your there at high tourist time you need to watch to see who the locals are and who is making all the noise...it generally won't be the locals. :)

Good advice, Timlin

I'd also avoid loudly telling people that you are Irish if you're American.
&quot;I've always wanted to visit Ireland because my granny was Irish and she never tired of talking about it&quot;, is fine.

***If your there at high tourist time you need to watch to see who the locals are and who is making all the noise...it generally won't be the locals.***

Hmmm. Interesting comment. I guess I had an image of bawdy, rowdy Irishmen causing quite a stir in the pubs – after a few of those pints (that I won’t be drinking).

I have a feeling that mid-February won’t be teeming with tourists. That’s when I’ll be visiting the Antrim Coast and Donegal -- unless I change my itinerary as I read these posts.

*** I'd also avoid loudly telling people that you are Irish if you're American. ***

Interesting . . . But with my Jewish, Polish/Russian grandparents I won’t have to worry about that -:)

I have just returned from Ireland, and drink very little. I felt very comfortable with soda, and especially enjoyed the Fanta Orange or Fanta Lemon drink, which also is very available in Greece.

I do not drink and enjoy many nights in the pub with my friends. There are many soft drinks avaiable e.g Britvic, Ame Dry, Soda water, sparkling or non sparkling water , Sprit (7up here)etc.
In 2003 the World Health Organisation stated thatIreland was the dearest country in the EU for beer, wine and soft drinks.
Remember you will pay double (or more) the price for a soft drink in a pub then in a supermarket. They call it a 'service charge'
Enjoy.

Songdoc.......if you pay attention, I mean really look at the people in the streets and in the pubs, you will see that Ireland has a wonderful propaganda machine that spins a story to the world but the real Ireland is very different and the Leprechaun effect will definitely be missing.

In the Republic the people are sober and quiet. The music in the pubs is very soft in the background (unless it's tourist season and the bands are playing to the Irish image for the Americans)

When you leave the Republic and enter Northern Ireland you will find things are more like we're accustomed to....noisey talking, louder music and even the soup is more like ours. You can often identify the Irish in the restaurants in Northern Ireland as you watch them talking to one another.

I absolutely loved the Republic. It was exactly what I wanted it to be and I agree about telling folks your Irish. We agreed not to tell one person that my family was 100% Irish down to my Dad. I think the locals must be sick to death of hearing us tell stories about our Great granny who came from......

Keep your eyes open and you'll see a very different Ireland than your led to believe in the U.S. (and I hope it will be an Ireland that you love as much as I did.)