I am sometimes invited out after work on Fridays to have drinks with co-workers. I actually am not a bar drinker anyways, I’m more of a at home alone binge drinker, because I’m an idiot when I drink, and like to keep that to myself. So I am constantly trying to find excuses, when I just want to say no anyways. What should I do? I don’t really want to come out at work as being a problem drinker.
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Can’t you simply say, “No thanks, I don’t drink,” and leave it at that?
It’s the truth. With time, I got more and more comfortable with it. And each time I could say it only made me feel stronger in believing it myself.
We shouldn’t have to fear the truth. Or owe any explanation.
No thanks. Don’t drink. Not interested. Y’all have fun though.
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I would say that I have other plans and invite them to a different activity another time.
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I just tell people “I don’t drink”. You don’t need to tell them you’re an alcoholic if you don’t want to. Just tell them you don’t drink because you hate how it makes you feel so its just not worth it. Much easier to just be upfront that you don’t drink then trying to act like you do. Good luck.
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“No” is a full sentence. That’s all you need to say. But if you’re concerned they’ll think you’re a dick/snob/whatever you can just say “no thanks, I have other plans”. If they pressure you just say I’m going to hang out with a friend. Not a lie if you consider yourself a friend…which I hope you do. 
Anyways, I think WE make all this a bigger deal than it really is. For the most part, other people really don’t care.
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Exactly this.
“No thanks, I don’t drink” is all that’s needed.
They’ll soon get the message.
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I have started telling people I can’t drink for medical reasons so they don’t t push the issue or try to get me to cave. For some reason having a medical excuse causes people to support the not drinking. I do have a disease that was worse when I was daily drinking. So it’s not a lie.
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