OnMyWay7

'm hiding right now until I get my non-drinking head on. Big business meeting today between 2 companies integrating and I swear if one more person says "We'll talk about this over a glass of wine" I'm going to scream because I kind of want a glass of wine right now. UGH

JD

Hang tough. You can do this!

Anna

Just stay focused on what you want, which is to not drink.

Dharma33

"No Thanks, I need to be clear-headed for this meeting- we have a lot of work ahead".

You can push through it!!! Romanticizing the 'over a glass of wine' meeting is just that. It's a thought. Nothing romantic about the hangover tomorrow!

biminiblue

Over a glass of wine can be for you, over a glass of soda with lime. Or coffee.

You don't even need to give a reason. "I'm not drinking tonight." is all you need. No means no.

D122y

I am always impressed by a person that chooses not to drink.

Alcohol will never, ever pass these lips again.

Alcohol educated and proudly sober.

Alcohol is poisen.

SoberLeigh

Stay focused; you can do this, OnMyWay.

Keep a glass of your go-to non-alcoholic drink in your hands at all time. Focus on the conversation.

trachemys

When you sit down to a table with wine glasses, turn your glass upside down. Clear signal that you aren't drinking.

When someone says that to you, imagine flipping the glass.

You don't have to do anything other than say no.

OnMyWay7

Thanks all. I was checking messages and had a cranberry and then seltzer and a good dinner. The conversation still flows but i was still the first to leave. I cant seem to hang much after the meal is over even if it would be good for me politically.

But i'd rather be sober. So home i go - in the car now getting ready to go home.

Thanks everyone

airwick

Trachs advice sounds great to me. I was a wine drinker myself---never even thought of that

SoberLeigh

Well done, OnMyWay.

FreeOwl

Yeah it's a pain how often business is 'let's discuss it over drinks'.

Over time it's gotten easier to just roll with. My 'drinks' are Pellegrino. Others drink what others drink. But sometimes it still stinks to hear those phrases.

DaisyBee

You did a great job staying strong.

I find that the people I do business with who knew me as the wine lover have the hardest time adjusting to my soda and cranberry new ways.

Lenina

Good job, OnMyWay. You can tell folks you're not drinking now do to health reasons. If pushed, say you're taking some meds that don't mix with alcohol. If pushed further, tell them it's a medical reason and you don't wish to discuss it.

Good job!

Love from Lenina

Berrybean

Well done - I bet most of them in the morning will be wishing they'd done the same.

I've heard many a sorry tale of business women who'd *ahem* compromised themselves at the end of a wine-fuelled business meeting or conference. And who did so regularly.

I like that glass flipped over idea - did you use that? I might do in future,

PurpleKnight

You can do this OnMyWay!! Hang in there!!