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. Before attending a social event, remember why you chose not to drink alcohol. Establish clear intentions and goals for the gathering, such as connecting with others, having meaningful conversations, or simply enjoying the company. Setting goals can help you get the most out of the gathering and navigate tricky situations.
When You Don’t Drink But Your Friends Do
Depending on what you want, avoiding alcohol may be all you need. But what if you do find yourself in the occasional situation where it’s around? Or what if you have no problem with being around drinkers, or in drinking-related places, but just don’t want to being sober around drinkers do it yourself? One of the most obvious methods is to stick to non-alcoholic beverages.
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- People who are supportive and healthy for you to be around will apologize.
- You don’t need to explain your reasons unless you want to.
Seven million kids aged 12 to 20 took at least a few sips of alcohol in the last month. Young people drink at least 4% of the alcohol consumed in the United States, and 90% of it is consumed while binge drinking. Your classmates can open new doors and provide you with new opportunities, but freedom comes with a downside. Maybe you always downed a six-pack while watching football with the guys, so it’s challenging to get through a Super Bowl party sober. Or you always drank when you smoked socially, so being offered a cigarette at a party might make you crave liquor. Any activity that you’ve closely paired with alcohol in the past may trigger the desire to drink, Willenbring says.
Realize lots of people aren’t into drinking
Keep it in your purse, on your phone – somewhere you can access it easily. Don’t let yourself be derailed by a friend who only knows half the story. That sounds a little intense, but that’s because (sometimes) it is. Whenever you question whether you made the right choice by giving up drinking, remember your reasons for choosing sobriety. If a 12-step program doesn’t sound appealing, you can look for other support groups. Many will organize substance- and alcohol-free events to help fill members’ evenings and weekends.
- This can help you save money while providing an easy way to keep reminding others of the reason why you’re not drinking.
- If you’re at a bar, saying you’re on a budget or trying to save money might be one way to explain why you’re not drinking.
- To encourage stronger connections in sober settings, focus on creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable and included.
- Being around friends who drink is one of the challenges and triggers you might face in everyday life that could lead back to alcoholism and addiction.
- Exploring new and diverse activities can provide alternative avenues for socializing, creating memories, and connecting with others.
Going to events with a friend who also doesn’t drink can provide mutual support and make the experience easier and more enjoyable. Plan ahead and mentally fortify your decision not to drink. Be clear about your personal reasons for abstaining and remind yourself of them before attending social events. Look for mocktails, alcohol-free beers or wines, herbal teas, flavored sparkling water, or creative concoctions made with juices and sodas.
Ways To Get Away With Not Drinking In Social Situations
It’s considered a normal, acceptable thing to do with friends. It’s to the point that if someone isn’t drinking they often catch a bunch of flak for it. Alcoholics Anonymous members call their sponsors, so opening up alcoholism symptoms to a trusted sober confidant may help. This tactic won’t work for everyone, and its success depends on your comfort level around people who are drinking.
Have An Escape Plan
Having someone with you who you are accountable to is a powerful motivator. On the link below you’ll find a training series focused on how to feel at ease socially, even if you tend to overthink today. More teens die as a result of alcohol use than all other illicit drugs combined, and more than one-third of teen traffic deaths are alcohol-related.