I see a [number of answers](http://academia.stackexchange.com/search?q=beer) in this site where building contacts over a glass of beer is encouraged. Moreover the cream of academia belongs to the Western world, where beer culture is common. Unfortunately though, I am a rigid teetotaller and I do not know about the ins-and-outs of the preferences of drinking friends of mine. I confess I'd make a terrible company at a public house. But I hasten to add that in general, I am amiable and move around quite well with people within my limitations.

Does my being a teetotaller put me at a grave disadvantage when it comes to establishing intelligent academic contacts?