Back in university, I (17F at the time, now 26) had a group of friends (17-23 at the time), and we bonded over drinking. We’d skip classes almost daily and drink beers from morning until night—easily 10-15 a day (each). On weekends or days we weren’t drinking together, I was drinking with my partner or other friends, so I was basically drinking every single day.

After we graduated—each at our own pace—2020 hit, and we drifted apart. Most of them seemed to stop or slow down their drinking, but I didn’t. I was in a very toxic relationship, trapped living with him and alcohol felt like my only escape. I’d stay up drinking until 5 or 6 am, video calling friends to avoid sleeping next to my partner.

After restrictions were lifted, me and my partner broke up, and soon after, I went through a major health scare (ongoing). It's not alcohol-related, but drinking doesn’t help, so I finally quit cold turkey. I haven’t had more than a few sips since then. I try to avoid alcohol entirely because even those sips make me anxious. I don’t enjoy the taste anymore, and my mind goes to how easy it would be to drink 20 beers instead of one. I think I had a problem (?), which is why I don’t plan on drinking again.

Recently (ish), I reconnected with most of my old friend group. We’re all at different points in life now, but mostly we don’t drink. They’ll have a drink on special occasions, but not often, especially compared to what’s normal in my country (3-4 times a week).

Last week, we bumped into an old friend from the group we hadn’t seen in years. Let’s call him Jake (27M now). We invited him to join us at a café, and we ordered coffee, sodas, and even a juice. Jake seemed confused, because a few years ago, we would’ve been drinking beers even at that hour. We told him that’s just not our thing anymore, and he dropped it.

Later, two friends’ partners joined, and we ended up at a bar where people go to drink. They did order drinks, but me and another girl just stuck to sodas.

Jake kept pressuring me specifically to order a beer, saying I used to be the “queen of beers” and how much fun we’d had. He just wouldn’t stop, and he wasn’t drunk at that point, which would’ve made it more understandable, tbh. When my friends went to play pool, I was left alone with Jake, and he kept insisting. He eventually bought me a beer when I wasn’t looking.

I snapped. I told him to fuck off, that it was not funny and I’m not going to drink it, and that he knows I had a problem. I even said it was obvious I was an alcoholic, so maybe he should stop playing games with me.

The rest of the group overheard, because I was a bit loud, and while they agreed he shouldn’t have bought me the beer, they said he didn't know better because we haven't seen him since back then. Now I’m wondering if I was being dramatic by calling myself an alcoholic. AITA?