I went to a wedding and Christmas party last weekend and didn’t mention drinking at either. At the Christmas party someone showed me where the alcohol was, so I went over and poured a cup of 7up in a green solo cup and no one noticed or said a thing. Everyone got drunk and no one cared. I could have told everyone it was my 3rd cup of vodka and they would have believed me 🥴
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Always keep a drink in your hand so if anyone asks if you want a drink, no thanks I’m good
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Lmao at this thread can you imagine first time meeting my boss. I’m not drinking because “i have diarrhea!”.
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That’s awesome
You dont have to explain yourself to anyone. Just simply say no and move on. Not everyone drinks. Sometimes ill just accept the offer and will just set the cup down if they keep buggin. As some drunks can get and be a broken record…
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You are right thanks broken record so true been very guilty of that myself before
Hahahaha this is halarious love it
The story that keeps on giving
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I went to a work thing this week, too. Offered one beer during a toast and got off just fine with a “No thanks.”
As things went on I sat down with folks I saw sitting off to the side. Got to asking holiday plans and about where they were from. Both opened up and turns out had amazing stories, people I always respected but didn’t really know. Both had such modest beginnings with one ending up a specialist traveling all over the world, the other doing/learning everything imaginable here in our own backyard.
It was neat.
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Don’t mean to beat a dead horse but, I will.
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“No”. Is a complete sentence. You don’t owe anyone an excuse. What you do and the choices you make is none of anyone’s business.
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90% (if not more) of the time, simply saying “No thanks” when a drink is offered is all it takes. Really, no one cares. And if they do, refer to #1.
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No one can make you drink, remember this!
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You can have fun sober!
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This. /thread. It really is as simple as that.
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This is also my experience. I have spent lots of time worrying about how social situations would go and have it just not be a big deal. No one else cares about what I’m drinking as much as I do! If you are having a good time and not spoiling other people’s night it shouldn’t be an issue. If it is, well that says more about them than it does about you 
I have my work do coming up on Friday and I feel like this is the most likely time that people might say something about me not drinking. But really, who cares if they do? What’s the worst that can happen? And if a conversation feels really terrible there are always options. Change the subject, go and talk to someone else, go home. Whatever works!
More info here too:
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That’s so cool! This is something else I’ve learned, there are more people than I realised who just don’t drink as much as I did. They are good people to talk to!
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This is so important. And if it’s not fun, you don’t have to stay. Not everyone stays right til the end!
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Thanks everyone for this input v helpful!
Let us know how it goes!
So you CAN not go!!!
I’m just saying that no one is forcing you to go. And if it looks odd that you’re the only one not going…who gives a f@ck!!
And if people give you a hard time if you do go but don’t drink…who gives a f@ck!!
You have every right to do what you want to do and what makes you happy and everyone else can just go f@ck themselves.
You do what you gotta do.
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My boyfriend isn’t going to his Xmas do. He isn’t teetotal he just doesn’t want to go. And that’s what he said to them when they asked him why he’s not going 
I also found that people really dont care if your drinking. Especially at a work party. Remind yourself of what you did last year. Write it down keep it in your pocket, read it if you need reassurance. Great advice on here.
Just a simple no thank you works most of the time
Always have a non alcoholic drink in hand
Bring a sober friend if you can
Check in here if it gets tough
Have an exit plan
I will not let anything get in the way of my sobriety my first year I missed many parties and gatherings.
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