There may be all manner of reasons why you don’t drink alcohol or have given up, often for the right reasons. In a workplace, you’ll find many people who no longer drink, have never done so, or have gone through inpatient alcohol rehab in order to give up alcohol and live a life of sobriety.
Along the way, in the recovery process, there are a number of hurdles that need to be overcome, and one of the most difficult is the work party.
Work parties or nights out can be quite intimidating occasions, especially if you are new to a business, and there can often be pressure on drinking alcohol and “letting loose.” It can be an environment that many people struggle with, not knowing how much to drink or ensuring they don’t drink and relapse, but there are ways through it while still enjoying your work night out.
So, to help you navigate your next work party, here are our top tips on staying sober.
Be open with the fact you aren’t drinking alcohol
Ultimately, honesty is the best policy, and if you divulge that you aren’t drinking and the reasons for that, most people will respect you and ensure that you aren’t offered alcohol, and there’s no pressure on you to drink.
That can be difficult to do, and if you don’t feel you are ready to do so, for whatever reason, then there are also other things you can do to make sure you stay alcohol-free on such occasions.
Keep a drink in your hand so you’re not offered one
If your hand has a drink in it, then there’s less chance you’re going to be offered one. It’s a simple tactic, but one that is effective and will ensure that you can stick to non-alcoholic drinks, and it’s not likely to be topped up by someone.
Ultimately, it’s avoiding any conversations or offerings you don’t want.
Find a group of non-drinkers
The best tactic is to surround yourself with like-minded people, and it may be that there are other people within the company that are non-drinkers and even going through the same situation as you.
It’s strength in numbers, and you’ll have a mini support network to ensure that you don’t become tempted by alcohol, and none of your non-drinking colleagues do, either.
Have an exit strategy
For those people that are in recovery, it may prove difficult to be surrounded by alcohol. Therefore having an exit strategy is paramount. There are many ways in which you can do this, from having a cut-off time when you wish to go home to having a friend or family member on standby to come and pick you up whenever you need.
Think about what would make you feel most comfortable and set the wheels and plans in motion to ensure you have the best, alcohol-free time you can at your next work event.
0 comments