One of the most difficult things about not drinking alcohol is the fact that you are likely to experience quite a bit of peer pressure. This is especially the case if you were the type to get the shots in at the bar on the weekend! You will often find that your friends try to tempt you with a drink. If they don’t let up, you can find yourself giving in and having a beer or other type of alcoholic beverage. So, how do you master the art of refusing alcohol? This is a key skill you are going to need to learn if you are to be successful and stick to your detox, and here are ten different methods to help you do so…
- Offer to be the designated driver - This is one of the most effective methods for refusing alcohol and ensuring no one tempts you with it throughout the evening. Of course, you are not going to be able to rely on this option all of the time. However, it can come in handy. By offering to drive everyone, you are going to save your friends the hassle and expense of needing to organise a taxi, and so you can be sure that they are not going to pressure you into trying to have an alcoholic drink.
- Avoid pressure situations - Of course, you should not have to spend your life avoiding certain situations. Nevertheless, in the beginning, especially, you may find that it is better to avoid situations whereby it is likely that you are going to experience peer pressure. You may feel bad if you turn down an invitation or do not go to an event, but it is not going to be this way forever and sometimes you need to put yourself first.
- Don’t hesitate to say ‘no’ - It is important to make sure that you are very assertive when you decline an alcoholic drink. If there is any hesitation in your voice, people will assume that you do not really want to refuse an alcoholic beverage, and so they will keep trying to tempt you with one, which is only going to make it even more difficult.
- Know what sort of non-alcoholic beverages you like - There are so many great drinks available today that do not contain alcohol. Bars and pubs all over the country have worked hard to ensure that there are better offers for people who do not want to drink. Mocktails are versions of popular alcoholic cocktails, without alcohol. You can also get non-alcoholic wine, beer, and cider. There are more options than ever before, so have a good idea of what you would like to order.
- Say you need to avoid alcohol for a certain reason - This could be anything from avoiding alcohol to losing weight to staying away from it because you are thinking about entering a marathon. With an answer like this, no one will be able to dispute what you are saying and it should end the discussion then and there.
- Have a drink in hand - Having a non-alcoholic beverage in hand is a wise move because you are participating and, therefore, it is less likely that anyone is going to ask you whether you need another drink.
- Don’t feel the need to explain yourself - You should not feel the need to justify your actions. You are not doing anything wrong by staying away from alcohol. If someone you do not know asks why you’re not drinking, just say you don’t drink alcohol - case closed. You do not need to provide this person with an elaborate answer.
- Practice saying ‘no’ - When you have a presentation or you have a meeting with someone important, practising can help. It makes you feel more confident and assertive in what you are saying. So, why not practice saying ‘no’ at home so that you can have this attitude when dealing with anyone who is trying to get you to drink?
- Plan an escape - It is also always good to have an idea of an escape from an event or a situation if you need one. This could be because the temptation is getting too great. Or, it could simply be because you are no longer enjoying yourself because it seems that your non-drinking ways are the subject of discussion too much for your liking. By creating an escape, whether from a social dynamic or an event altogether, you will feel more at ease because you will know what to do if things start to take a turn for the worse.
- Talk with the person who just won’t take no for an answer - Last but not least, if you find that one of your friends simply will not respect your decision to quit drinking, speak to him or her. Explain to them that it is very important to you and that they are only making it more difficult. Explain that you know their intentions are not bad, but you really want to succeed on your alcohol-free journey and so you would rather they supported you than kept trying to get you to miss out on your objectives. Once they realise how much this matters to you, it is likely that they will be apologetic and more supportive.
