Work and alcohol
Guest
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Northwest
Posts: 4,215
Hey, if the truth will work, sure, that’s better.
But in my early days the last thing I needed was backup singers to the voice in my head singing “But you weren’t that bad?!” especially if they knew me as a drinking buddy.
And I’m a very private person and this was and is a very personal decision. That’s not information I share with too many, especially not in the workplace.
Whatever works for you...
But in my early days the last thing I needed was backup singers to the voice in my head singing “But you weren’t that bad?!” especially if they knew me as a drinking buddy.
And I’m a very private person and this was and is a very personal decision. That’s not information I share with too many, especially not in the workplace.
Whatever works for you...
Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 611
I'm the sole non-drinker where I work (media/advertising, which is only slightly tamer than the restaurant industry, where I used to work). Some folks will be supportive, some will be mean, and the rest won't care. Be unwavering and unapologetic in your decision, and things will eventually sort out 
Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 1,068
I know a bartender who has 11 years of sobriety. I also know an owner of a bar/restaurant who is in the AA program. Based on what I have heard from them the culture of drinking is pretty strong in the industry. It's tough and it really depends on your personality. Most but not all people I know in recovery just avoid this situation.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,373
Hi tiredwoman I’m also a student, working part time as a waitress. To be honest work is not a huge trigger for me because I’m not a very social person but most of my coworkers drink and party a lot and sometimes after work we would go to a bar together. After I decided to quit in August (sadly I relapsed recently and I’m on day 3 again...), I told everyone at work that I’m having a break from drinking. I thought they would make a big deal out of it but it was fine, yes, some people were surprised why would I do such a thing (heh) but nobody seemed to really care that much and after a while they stopped including me in their pub gatherings and other drinking ‘activities’. I still hang out with some people from work that I like, we go for coffee or food together.
I’m also a student, working part time as a waitress. To be honest work is not a huge trigger for me because I’m not a very social person but most of my coworkers drink and party a lot and sometimes after work we would go to a bar together. After I decided to quit in August (sadly I relapsed recently and I’m on day 3 again...), I told everyone at work that I’m having a break from drinking. I thought they would make a big deal out of it but it was fine, yes, some people were surprised why would I do such a thing (heh) but nobody seemed to really care that much and after a while they stopped including me in their pub gatherings and other drinking ‘activities’. I still hang out with some people from work that I like, we go for coffee or food together.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: South Africa, Durban/Cape Town
Posts: 217
Originally Posted by Snufkin 
Hi tiredwoman I’m also a student, working part time as a waitress. To be honest work is not a huge trigger for me because I’m not a very social person but most of my coworkers drink and party a lot and sometimes after work we would go to a bar together. After I decided to quit in August (sadly I relapsed recently and I’m on day 3 again...), I told everyone at work that I’m having a break from drinking. I thought they would make a big deal out of it but it was fine, yes, some people were surprised why would I do such a thing (heh) but nobody seemed to really care that much and after a while they stopped including me in their pub gatherings and other drinking ‘activities’. I still hang out with some people from work that I like, we go for coffee or food together.
I’m also a student, working part time as a waitress. To be honest work is not a huge trigger for me because I’m not a very social person but most of my coworkers drink and party a lot and sometimes after work we would go to a bar together. After I decided to quit in August (sadly I relapsed recently and I’m on day 3 again...), I told everyone at work that I’m having a break from drinking. I thought they would make a big deal out of it but it was fine, yes, some people were surprised why would I do such a thing (heh) but nobody seemed to really care that much and after a while they stopped including me in their pub gatherings and other drinking ‘activities’. I still hang out with some people from work that I like, we go for coffee or food together.Guest
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Tiredwoman - boy do I have a lot to say about this topic!! PM me for a conversation if you like - I too am in the restaurant world, and I was when drinking and since sober. It is absolutely possible to be sober in it, and it is also a unique world. I now run a recovery group just for resto industry people struggling with alcoholism & addiction.
You can do it - and btw, I totally understand the money situation, and I went back to work as a server at 5 1/2 mo sober and became able to support myself again. Now, I am recently married and as my main "job" is running the group, I work a few shifts a week as a hostess- my husband and I have worked out how to make this arrangement work.
IMO and IME - the decision to be sober no matter what, where or when is the reason that we can be sober anywhere. Good habits (like not sticking around for drinking time after work) do help a lot, especially in early days - and growth and ease of being anywhere can come.
Keep going. You can do this.
You can do it - and btw, I totally understand the money situation, and I went back to work as a server at 5 1/2 mo sober and became able to support myself again. Now, I am recently married and as my main "job" is running the group, I work a few shifts a week as a hostess- my husband and I have worked out how to make this arrangement work.
IMO and IME - the decision to be sober no matter what, where or when is the reason that we can be sober anywhere. Good habits (like not sticking around for drinking time after work) do help a lot, especially in early days - and growth and ease of being anywhere can come.
Keep going. You can do this.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: South Africa, Durban/Cape Town
Posts: 217
Originally Posted by August252015
Tiredwoman - boy do I have a lot to say about this topic!! PM me for a conversation if you like - I too am in the restaurant world, and I was when drinking and since sober. It is absolutely possible to be sober in it, and it is also a unique world. I now run a recovery group just for resto industry people struggling with alcoholism & addiction.
You can do it - and btw, I totally understand the money situation, and I went back to work as a server at 5 1/2 mo sober and became able to support myself again. Now, I am recently married and as my main "job" is running the group, I work a few shifts a week as a hostess- my husband and I have worked out how to make this arrangement work.
IMO and IME - the decision to be sober no matter what, where or when is the reason that we can be sober anywhere. Good habits (like not sticking around for drinking time after work) do help a lot, especially in early days - and growth and ease of being anywhere can come.
Keep going. You can do this.
You can do it - and btw, I totally understand the money situation, and I went back to work as a server at 5 1/2 mo sober and became able to support myself again. Now, I am recently married and as my main "job" is running the group, I work a few shifts a week as a hostess- my husband and I have worked out how to make this arrangement work.
IMO and IME - the decision to be sober no matter what, where or when is the reason that we can be sober anywhere. Good habits (like not sticking around for drinking time after work) do help a lot, especially in early days - and growth and ease of being anywhere can come.
Keep going. You can do this.
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