Do I have to drink alcohol at the pub?
Neutral Neutral
What it really means
No. Pubs serve soft drinks, juices, alcohol-free beers and often tea and coffee, and plenty of British people don't drink. "I don't drink" needs no explanation and good friends won't push. The pub is really about sitting and talking — joining with a lemonade counts fully as joining.
Chinese explanation
不用。酒吧供应软饮、果汁、无酒精啤酒，通常还有茶和咖啡，不喝酒的英国人也很多。"我不喝酒"不需要任何解释，真正的朋友不会劝酒。去酒吧的核心其实是坐着聊天——端杯柠檬汽水参与，同样算完全参与。
Example conversation
A: Everyone's going to the pub but I don't drink alcohol. Do I have to?
B: Not at all — half of us get cokes or zero-alcohol beers. Come along, it's about the chat really.
A：大家都要去酒吧，可我不喝酒。必须喝吗？
B：完全不用——我们一半人都点可乐或无酒精啤酒。一起来吧，重点其实是聊天。
What you could say back
Related phrases
Go deeper
All Customs & Etiquette
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake