If you know you’re heading to an event where you’ll be offered alcohol, prepare what you’re going to say before you get there, says Young. Seek support and connect with like-minded individuals who share your interest in alcohol-free socializing. Look for local groups heroin addiction or online communities that promote sober social activities or host alcohol-free events.

Embrace the Joys of Sobriety

• This makes it difficult to tell at a glance what you’re drinking, which can eliminate the need to constantly explain why you’re abstaining from alcohol.
• Abstaining from alcohol means a life of better health, no hangovers and no embarrassing (or worse) experiences.
• If you know the person well, asking about a common interest or a mutual acquaintance is another good way to avoid talking about why you’re not drinking.
• If you’re at a bar or restaurant, keep in mind that many establishments offer free sodas or non-alcoholic drinks for the designated driver.

Have fun in one of the hundred ways other than getting messed up. Alcohol adds body, richness, and bite to a cocktail, all factors of which affect a drinks texture when consumed. Even nonalcoholic versions of spirits or aperitifs will have a different weight to their traditional spirited counterparts, so when mixing with them, texture must be addressed. This https://ecosoberhouse.com/ subreddit is a place to motivate each other to control or stop drinking. We welcome anyone who wishes to join in by asking for support, sharing our experiences and stories, or just encouraging someone who is trying to quit. Please post only when sober; you’re welcome to read in the meanwhile.

Realistic New Year’s Resolutions To Set in Recovery

• You’ll have to find what works for you, but it starts with identifying what you’re perceiving alcohol to help you with and finding something else that does the same, says Gardner.
• 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.
• Confidence is something that can be learned and developed, but it’s okay to employ some acting skills in the meantime.
• Should you pick up a different hobby or change your attitude?

At least with adults, you’d think they would be a little more mature and understanding of people’s different life choices and personalities. In theory adults are also more aware of alcoholism, and realize that if someone isn’t drinking at a party, it may be because they’re trying to stay sober, and it would be harmful to pressure them. That a classmate might be an alcoholic generally isn’t on the minds of the college-aged crowd.

Waypoint Recovery Center Blog

Either they will seek you out and you’ll navigate your new, sober relationship OR time will do what it always does and you’ll move on. Today, you’re not going to drink and if that means that TODAY, you don’t hang out with your crew, then that’s all it means. Don’t let your alleged friends pressure you into thinking that you’re being dramatic or silly for asking them to stop doing things threatening your sobriety. Let them know you understand it’s a little weird with you not drinking, and you’re not trying to make anyone feel like their drinking is wrong, but the jokes and jabs aren’t helping you.

How Do I Stay Sober When All My Friends Drink?

As the person making the big lifestyle change, you’ve got to take the reins on the planning, Gooch says. You might say, “I don’t how to not drink alcohol when everyone else is want to go to a bar, but here’s an alternative suggestion.” For many folks, meeting up at a bar or club is an easy option.

• If the situation becomes too uncomfortable, thank your host with a polite excuse for your early departure (“I have a big day tomorrow …”) and go.
• For many recovering alcoholics, it’s too difficult to be the only nondrinker in the room.
• Gone are the days of the sad mocktail — the cranberry cocktail topped with a bit of seltzer or a blend of every juice behind the bar.
• Reflect on the benefits you’re experiencing, such as improved health, increased productivity, and heightened mental clarity.

“To avoid over-dilution, keep your ingredients refrigerated prior to pouring. Keeping glassware chilled is also key to a refreshingly cold N/A cocktail that won’t taste watered down,” she says. How to make booze-free drinks so good you’ll want to order a second round. This could be your Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) sponsor or anyone who cares about you and your effort to stay sober, says Koob.

But I also know that at some point, I’m probably going to cave and get the nachos, for which I will hate myself immediately (once I’ve recovered from my food coma). Tell them you’re being serious and need to stop if they want to be in your life. Let’s say the aforementioned heart-to-heart with your buddies didn’t go as planned. You’re getting met with eye rolls, calls to lighten up, and advice that you should learn to take a joke. I would NOT recommend doing it in the middle of dinner or your bestie’s housewarming party but find a time when everyone is coherent and calm. Maybe it IS because they are unsupportive assholes, but it can also be because humans are innately tribal beings.

Reinforce what you’re doing is important, and you need them to be more supportive. Talk to them if you feel the vibe is off or they’re being pushy with you, even if it’s passive-aggressive. No matter how old we are, peer pressure can still influence our lives. Learn about the negative consequences of alcohol consumption to strengthen your resolve. Understanding the potential health risks and long-term effects can reinforce your decision to not drink. You’ll have to find what works for you, but it starts with identifying what you’re perceiving alcohol to help you with and finding something else that does the same, says Gardner.