I have a work event for the holidays I can’t get out of. Everyone drinks all day and night at them if I don’t drink I will constantly be asked why I’m not drinking. I don’t drive either so can’t use that as an excuse - if I say I’m on antibiotics everyone will think I’m pregnant or just say it’s fine to drink on them anyway. I’m going to find it so difficult dreading this, this time last year I made such an ass of myself at the do. I don’t want a repeat. Need to be strong
When someone asks if you want a drink just tell them “sure, but do you want to do some heroin first?”
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Why not just stay home then…?
On the flip, I’ve ventured into a few social things. Been generally surprised how much no one else cares I’m not drinking. Usually call it a night if it starts to get loud.
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I can’t stay home I either have to offer to work by myself or go. My boss is also over visiting so it will seem pretty damn odd if I’m the only one not going and that id rather work. Everyone else is going. Hopefully if I order cokes people won’t notice much
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Oof. And yeah. I’m a big proponent of, it’s only as big a deal as you make it. There are other schools of thought. 
I toss out an, “I’m allergic,” if pressed.
For myself I’ve enjoyed focusing on the moment instead. Being sober at stuff like this is a whole new opportunity to listen and get to know folks in a way I didn’t before.
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I have a family get together the next day so I was thinking of saying I don’t want to be hungover for that if pressed on it
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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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