When do you tell your friends and former "drinking buddies"....?
Heathen
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: La La Land, USA
Posts: 2,567
Well, I got rid of all my drinking buddies by quitting drinking.. they didn't care about an explanation anyways.
I tell my friends I don't drink.
Other than that it's no one's business, nor are they interested in the sordid details that helped me reach that decision, it's not their journey, it's not their burden to bear. They only care that I'm healthier, and happier.
I tell my friends I don't drink.
Other than that it's no one's business, nor are they interested in the sordid details that helped me reach that decision, it's not their journey, it's not their burden to bear. They only care that I'm healthier, and happier.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: The Great Outdoors
Posts: 1,992
I found it surprizing how quickly the drinking buddies dropped like flies when I quit drinking. It was really all I had surrounded myself with..because that is what I did! But even drinking I thought we shared bonds. I only keep in touch with a couple of people now. And we do things together not wrapped around drinking. I have had a couple of "how do you NOT drink?" questions but I think it comes from them wanting to quit drinking but not knowing how to. The one thing I did that others (that I know) are unwilling to do is stop going to bars or clubs. AND the more I stayed away the more I didn't miss the insanity of it all. Long story short..not drinking is a personal choice and who cares if anyone has a hard time grasping the why of it.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 426
This is one way in which my probation restrictions are a bit of a blessing - if any close friends or family try to nudge me out to a bar or offer a glass of wine, I can shut it down pretty easily by reminding them of the consequences I face if I am caught doing either one. Built in excuse. The downside is that it's allowed me to escape taking any sort of personal stance on the issue with them, so their likely impression is that I'm just waiting out the clock and will resume... I'll probably need to address things more affirmatively at that point, but I've got a couple of years left in this excuse.
As for the pals who were strictly drinking buddies, I used avoidance as a tactic and they all evaporated pretty quickly, no explanations necessary...
As for the pals who were strictly drinking buddies, I used avoidance as a tactic and they all evaporated pretty quickly, no explanations necessary...
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