In the United States, drinking is on the decline, especially among Millennials and Gen Z.
This is partially due to the sober-curious movement’s trend of drinking less or not drinking at all, especially in January.
This is partly due to the revelation that the advice to drink a glass (or two) of wine a day for good health was funded by the alcohol industry.
One reason for this is that recent studies have shown that nearly all amounts of alcohol are bad for you, linked to cancer, premature aging, and brain atrophy.
Still, there are always socially acceptable reasons for drinking. When people are happy (weddings, birthdays, vacations, holidays, games), sad (breakups, deaths, holidays, games), or stressed (holidays, pandemics, politics, parenting), they actually I drink alcohol during “Mom Drinking”. (I’ve been using alcohol to cope for decades.)
Over the past decade, I’ve interviewed dozens of non-drinkers (people of all ages and from all walks of life who don’t drink for religious, health, economic, or addiction reasons). I did.
As the holiday season approaches, here are some research-based strategies for quitting drinking (for tonight or indefinitely) without drawing attention to yourself or making yourself or others uncomfortable.
have a drink
To fit in with others without showing off that you don’t drink, hold something in your hand. Energy drinks and bottled water are usually fine, but if you want to avoid attracting attention, you may want to drink a red cup (if you’re at that kind of party) or an alcoholic drink, such as a glass of club soda or an alcoholic beverage. Hold something nearby. Cola with lime.
Forrest, 61, explained:
“The first line of defense is to have something in your hand that replicates the drink. So I’ll drink club soda or 7-Up. Then when I see you have a liquid in your hand, People will feel relieved…as long as they see you with something in the glass, and unless you’re just breastfeeding or something like that, you’re actually drinking it, which is normal for drinkers to experience. (People who don’t drink) have no problem with that.”
For people in recovery from alcohol misuse, ordering an alcoholic beverage but not actually drinking it is also an effective strategy.
As Parker, 42, says, when it comes to drinking with new customers, “It’s very easy to order a bottle of wine, have them share a little, and then just have a few sips.” Parker believes that “accommodating” clients and “social cohesion and being part of a group” is better than making some kind of declaration, “No, you know, I don’t drink.” He said it was sometimes important. “I don’t need anything,” can make the drinker feel judged.
Similarly, Nick, 27, admitted that he would “hold a beer bottle for hours until it got hot”.
tell them you’re not judging
If it turns out that they are not drinking, be careful to avoid making the drinker feel judged or self-conscious, both through nonverbal communication and concrete actions.
Please don’t stare. Even if you believe that drinking alcohol is a deadly sin, be careful not to let your judgment be conveyed through words other than words. You want people to feel comfortable around you, especially in a work party environment. After all, you are deviating from social norms. Be sure to use nonverbal words to convey acceptance and reassurance.
As Susie, 21, explained, if a drinker tries to offer you a drink, it’s important not to glare at them. Instead, you can say, “Oh, I’m not drinking. I’m just here to have fun and hang out.” Unless you’re the kind of girl who sits in the corner having pity parties without drinking. ”
Buy a round. Ordering someone else a drink is a way to convey acceptance while diverting attention from your non-drinking self. As Forrest said, “I pay for everyone’s round. Make sure they get drinks, and they say, ‘Okay, I have no problem with you drinking.’ So it was very easy for us to buy drinks for us. ”
Another participant talked about how she gave drink tickets to a work holiday party to a colleague and was thanked for adding the free drink.
Becomes the specified driver. Volunteering as a DD was also an effective strategy that benefited drinkers and non-drinkers alike. Ken, 43, says: “There’s nothing I like more than driving people home. Well, it’s like taking you back. It’s fun and you participate.”
Please excuse me. When asked why they don’t drink, people said they started making excuses related to their own health, regardless of their drinking decisions.
Health reasons helped “take the pressure off” people who don’t drink. Richard, 39, explained: “I don’t want to seem judgmental, so I think by holding myself accountable…’That’s better for me and my lifestyle,’ that’s how I do it.” I think that’s the way.”
Faith-based reasons were also accepted because “it’s hard to argue with someone’s faith.”
Some participants even told outright lies. For example, Maddie, 31, told People that she was unable to drink alcohol because she was taking migraine medication. She said the lie “worked so well” in her workplace that she extended it to all her professional duties and “spread that lie all over town.” Some said they were not drinking to lose weight.
Humor was also an effective strategy. Christie, 31, said: “You don’t want me to drink because if you bring me a drink, the next time I’m going to have like five drinks and go to your bar, you don’t want me to drink. I don’t think I want to.’ There’s going to be a fight, I’m going to puke.’ And I just laugh and joke about it, and they usually stop.”
The bottom line is, if you don’t want to drink alcohol this holiday season or ever, you don’t have to. Knowing these strategies may make it easier to stay true to yourself while integrating into a society that still privileges alcohol.
