She Mocked Him for Not Drinking Beer on a First Date — This Is What Living With SIBO Really Looks Like

This is a real testimony from a man living with SIBO who shared an experience that may seem small, but carries a deep emotional impact.

“I don’t drink beer”: when one sentence changes the whole date

It was a first date. Nothing unusual. A bar, small talk, normal nerves.
When it was time to order, he said something simple:

“I don’t drink alcohol.”

He ordered a non-alcoholic drink. The reaction wasn’t neutral.

She looked at him strangely. She laughed. She made a mocking comment. As if not drinking beer was odd, dramatic, or an excuse.

He tried to explain. He said he had SIBO, that alcohol — especially beer — caused pain, bloating, and discomfort for days. That it wasn’t a preference, it was a necessity.

The explanation didn’t help. The discomfort stayed in the air.

The real impact wasn’t the beer

What hurt most wasn’t not being able to drink alcohol.
It was feeling judged. Minimized. Having to justify taking care of his health.

Many people with SIBO know this feeling:

• Having to explain why you don’t eat or drink “normally”

• Feeling out of place at a table full of people

• Hearing phrases like “just one won’t hurt”

• Being made to feel difficult or overly sensitive

SIBO isn’t always visible, but it’s very real.

Dating with SIBO: what no one talks about

Dating while living with SIBO can create anxiety:

• Do I explain it or not?

• When do I say it?

• What if they think I’m complicated?

• What if they make fun of it?

This isn’t about personality. It isn’t being “picky.”
It’s a real digestive condition that affects daily life.

And yet, social spaces aren’t always ready to understand it.

You’re not alone: creating spaces where you don’t have to explain yourself

That’s why building safe spaces for people with SIBO matters. Places where:

• You don’t have to justify what you eat or drink

• No one laughs at your limits

• Taking care of yourself isn’t mocked

• Sharing experiences feels relieving, not embarrassing

Belonging is also part of healing.

A message for anyone who felt seen by this story

If you’ve ever:

• Felt uncomfortable on a date because you couldn’t drink alcohol

• Been judged for choosing your health

• Explained yourself and still weren’t understood

You’re not strange. You’re not exaggerating. You’re not alone.

There are many others living this same reality.
And building community is one way to heal — even before the gut does.

This space is about recipes, information, and lifestyle for people with SIBO.
But more than anything, it’s about being understood.

Because SIBO isn’t only lived in the body.
It’s lived socially too.