[stvltvs]

I order soda water or whatever so I can participate in toasts and just be part of the group. If anyone questions me — which rarely happens because people understand that someone can have deeply private reasons — I say "I don't drink." If someone questioned me further, "I just don't drink" because my reason is not something I want to share with everyone (probably not the reason you're assuming).

My point is that it's not a big deal socially in my experience.

[soco]

Same here, so I assume it depends a lot on one's entourage and we shouldn't generalize the way other commenters seem to enjoy. I have a group going out regularly for drinks and actually about third of them are teetotallers. No issue for either side to blend in, the only concession made is that we meet in a craft beer bar.