how to not drink alcohol when everyone else is

If you already gave an excuse and people are still pushing, it’s not your obligation to give them a full story about your life choices. What can you say to ward off people trying to get you to drink? The sad reality is that some people don’t back off when you say that you’re not drinking.

The Real Reason You’re Reaching for That Drink

Hi, I (23m) got invited to a coworkers birthday party along with his friends, family, and a bunch of my other coworkers. I didn’t have a bad time necessarily, but I think I was the only person there who didn’t drink, and I honestly just felt like an idiot being the only sober person there. I don’t dislike any of my coworkers or anything like that, but it just felt really lame for me. And because of this I don’t think I’ll ever be invited to another get together with my coworkers being sober around drinkers again. If you’d like to talk to somebody about living a healthier lifestyle or for more information, our friendly team of professional advisors and coaches are always happy to help!

• Let’s begin with a little more self-exploration in order to boost your self-confidence and commitment to this decision.
• People attend social events to have fun, do business, or network.
• Clearly, alcohol took up a lot of space in my mind and my life — says the woman who enjoys freeing up space in her mind and her life.

Know When to Leave

If someone asks why you’re not drinking, have a few responses ready. From office happy hours to dates over drinks, it can seems that nearly every social event revolves around alcohol. But choosing not to drink while you’re out socializing might make you feel uncomfortable, anxious, and even left out. If a 12-step program doesn’t sound appealing, you can look for other support groups.

Why Aren’t You Drinking? 10 Confident Responses to This Common Question

This way, the event revolves around delicious meals and meaningful connections rather than alcohol. In the long-term, excess alcohol drinking can have more serious health consequences, including liver disease, pancreatitis, heart disease, and the risk of cancer. Alcohol can also be addictive and cause withdrawal symptoms like fevers and hallucinations if people stop drinking after a long period of consumption.

Inform Friends and Family

Look for Sober living house social events or activities that don’t revolve around alcohol. Attend concerts, art exhibitions, sporting events, or volunteer activities focusing on shared interests or experiences rather than drinking. Look for cultural festivals, fitness classes, or hobby-based groups. Exploring new and diverse activities can provide alternative avenues for socializing, creating memories, and connecting with others.

Spend quality sober time with companions engaging in pursuits like hiking, skiing or playing different games. Indulge in a variety of alcohol-free pastimes such as concerts, art exhibitions, volunteer work, cultural celebrations, fitness classes, and group hobbies. Encourage your friends to explore new activities with you that embrace an alcohol-free lifestyle.

Friends who once enjoyed shared drinks now seemed to take personal offense to their new lifestyle. Another story involves a woman who, after giving up alcohol, found herself excluded from social gatherings where drinking was central. These experiences highlight the social challenges of sobriety but also the strength and clarity that come with such a choice. Sometimes it can be difficult to resist the temptation to drink alcohol, especially at social gatherings where friends and family members are enjoying a drink or two. The festive season can be particularly challenging, and you may be feeling the urge to drink in order to appear sociable and not be the ‘odd one out’. This article will give you some useful tips on how to resist the peer pressure to drink alcohol so you can maintain your alcohol-free goals.

• Attend concerts, art exhibitions, sporting events, or volunteer activities focusing on shared interests or experiences rather than drinking.
• Like anything, the best apps to stop drinking alcohol are the ones that work best for you.
• Know your triggers and your strengths and plan accordingly.

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She didn’t feel like it made sense for her to be 100 percent sober. Even outside of work, her friends center their get togethers around drinking. If you or a loved one is seeking alcohol addiction treatment in the South Jersey or Greater Philadelphia area, The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper can help. Our professional rehab facility offers a range of services, including medical detox, residential treatment and outpatient care for alcohol addiction. We offer evidence-based treatments, including CBT, to help people address the problems that led them to alcohol addiction.

How to Find Sober Friends

Again, you don’t have to do this and could go with another option, but may also decide it’s the best choice for that night. Being straightforward and assertive works in a lot of the time. Sometimes we figure it will create more problems than it’s worth.