This has been bothering me for a week now.

Whenever I meet someone new nowadays, I try to hide the fact that I don\’t drink. When offered a glass of alcohol, I smile and say \”oh not today.\” But that is almost an impulse for them to try to persuade me to take it. Then I\’ll come up with another mild excuse – \”I have to drive\” or \”I feel like having a glass of water instead.\” But in the end, I\’ll be force to say that I don\’t drink.

I just don\’t want to be pigeon-holed…or placed in a stereotype. I don\’t want to be someone who people perceive as naive, ignorant or pure. It was my own choice. Not because of religion or because of other people. I don\’t want my choice to speak more than what I say.

But that\’s the way people treat people who are vegetarian (or is it completely different?). An immediate impression of purity or it reveals their opinions about animal treatment.

People are so much more complicated than the first impression.