Turning down drinks
Turning down drinks 
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 37
"Im driving"
"Im quitting for a month to lose weight"
"I cant drink with my medication" (people will usually shut up pretty quickly)
"I'll have one later"
....or
"Im pregnant" (dont know if that would work for me as a male haha)
"Im quitting for a month to lose weight"
"I cant drink with my medication" (people will usually shut up pretty quickly)
"I'll have one later"
....or
"Im pregnant" (dont know if that would work for me as a male haha)
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Georgia
Posts: 242
I've been thinking about that same thing, especially with the holidays coming up. I've decided to say I'm not drinking because my blood pressure is a little elevated and I'm trying to lose some weight (which is not entirely untrue). 
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,236
For me, if I don't want to explain why
I don't drink alcohol, I simply don't
place myself in those situations.
It's not easy to mingle with those who
are under the enfluence of alcohol when
Im sober. They, just like I use to be,
are abnoxious, silly, strangly intoxicated.
I avoid functions with alcohol and enjoy
my life the way It's meant to be enjoy.
That's the way its been for the past 21 yrs.
I don't drink alcohol, I simply don't
place myself in those situations.
It's not easy to mingle with those who
are under the enfluence of alcohol when
Im sober. They, just like I use to be,
are abnoxious, silly, strangly intoxicated.
I avoid functions with alcohol and enjoy
my life the way It's meant to be enjoy.
That's the way its been for the past 21 yrs.
Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oxnard (The Nard), CA, USA.
Posts: 13,935
I found a simple 'no thanks' works. If pressed for an explanation I say: I don't have an explanation to give. That kills any further conversation right away.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Rocky Mountains, USA
Posts: 344
With friends who know I used to drink a lot, I say, "No thanks, I've already reached my lifetime quota!"
Others, I just say "no thanks" or say what I will have, like water, diet coke or whatever.
Others, I just say "no thanks" or say what I will have, like water, diet coke or whatever.
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: "I'm not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost ..."
Posts: 5,273
"no thanks, I'm good"
or "I don't drink"
More often it goes like, "would you like something to drink?"
and I say "yes, I'd love a coke...diet, if you have it"
or "I don't drink"
More often it goes like, "would you like something to drink?"
and I say "yes, I'd love a coke...diet, if you have it"
Self recovered Self discovered
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 5,148
I asked myself this question, too. How am I going to justify to others the fact that I won't have a drink with them? I realized that this is part of the big lie about alcohol, that somehow we are expected to indulge in consuming this addictive intoxicating poison, just to be sociable. It really made me 'antisociable' instead.
It's nobody's bidness why I choose not to have a drink with them, I don't feel I have to say 'I don't drink anymore'. I remember taking that as a reproach, I found it made me look at my own consumption, if only for a second or two. No thanks or gingerale please is all that is needed.
It's nobody's bidness why I choose not to have a drink with them, I don't feel I have to say 'I don't drink anymore'. I remember taking that as a reproach, I found it made me look at my own consumption, if only for a second or two. No thanks or gingerale please is all that is needed.
I'm here to learn!
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: I'm on it!
Posts: 2,038
Originally Posted by Lizard99 
"I'll have one later"
IME, "no thanks" is just fine. I don't need to say any more than that, and usually nobody asks any more than that.
Canine Welfare Advocate
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,962
Originally Posted by InParticular
How do you gracefully turn down drinks at a party without looking like a big ol' alcoholic?
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: "I'm not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost ..."
Posts: 5,273
LOL Doggonecarl too funny!
I am never embarrassed to say that I don't drink. I am proud of the fact that I don't use alcohol in any situation. I don't use a megaphone, but I certainly don't hide it either.
To the OP...really people think less about our habits than we think they do.
I am never embarrassed to say that I don't drink. I am proud of the fact that I don't use alcohol in any situation. I don't use a megaphone, but I certainly don't hide it either.
To the OP...really people think less about our habits than we think they do.
Re-Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 7,583
I so agree. No thanks when offered. When questioned by a rude boor further, I just tell the truth. I don't drink because I am trying to change to a healthy lifestyle.
If someone is drunk and getting even ruder I realize that I stayed too long already and leave.
Remember all those people you thought were party poopers when you were drinking because they left before the party really got going? Now you know why.
If someone is drunk and getting even ruder I realize that I stayed too long already and leave.
Remember all those people you thought were party poopers when you were drinking because they left before the party really got going? Now you know why.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,707
Thanks everybody for the really good advice. I already feel a lot better about tonight! And too true, people really aren't noticing my habits as much as I think.
Itchy I really appreciate the insight into leaving the party early-I never thought about it that way and now I always will. Seems so obvious now...
Itchy I really appreciate the insight into leaving the party early-I never thought about it that way and now I always will. Seems so obvious now...
Belgian Sheepdog Adictee
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: In Today
Posts: 6,101
As you get further along in your recovery you will start to realize that A LOT OF PEOPLE don't drink. It is just that as we/I 'progressed' in our/my affliction, we/I more and more surrounded ourselves with folks that 'drank like we did.'
The longer I am sober the more I realized that there really are lots and lots of folks that do not imbibe at all, be it for their religious beliefs or they were raised in home where there was not alcohol, or they tried it a long time ago and did NOT like what it did to them, or are sober and clean.
A simple No, thanks will do the trick 99% of the time. No explanations need be given, just "No Thank you."
J M H O
Love and hugs,
The longer I am sober the more I realized that there really are lots and lots of folks that do not imbibe at all, be it for their religious beliefs or they were raised in home where there was not alcohol, or they tried it a long time ago and did NOT like what it did to them, or are sober and clean.
A simple No, thanks will do the trick 99% of the time. No explanations need be given, just "No Thank you."
J M H O
Love and hugs,
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,416
I wrote in the Nov thread but I'll say it again lol
to us as alcoholics it can seem like an immense thing to turn down a drink
....
but to most of the world it's not a big thing at all
I find 'no thanks' really is all anyone needs to know
D
to us as alcoholics it can seem like an immense thing to turn down a drink
....but to most of the world it's not a big thing at all
I find 'no thanks' really is all anyone needs to know
D
Last edited by Dee74; 11-05-2011 at 04:08 PM. Reason: early morning blind eye
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