For those who can drink socially without a problem, the daily struggles recovering alcoholics face every day can seem far away and challenging to understand. Those social drinkers may think nothing of handing you a cocktail at a party or offering to buy you a glass of wine at a restaurant, which is why it’s vital to understand the process of saying no to alcohol in recovery.
The world looks a lot different when you are in rehab, and saying no to alcohol in recovery involves learning how to politely say no to what others may view as a kind gesture or even common courtesy.
How to Turn Down Drinks Now That You’re Sober
For those who can drink socially without a problem, the daily struggles recovering alcoholics face every day can seem far away and challenging to understand. Those social drinkers may think nothing of handing you a cocktail at a party or offering to buy you a glass of wine at a restaurant, which is why it’s vital to understand the process of saying no to alcohol in recovery.
The world looks a lot different when you are in rehab, and saying no to alcohol in recovery involves learning how to politely say no to what others may view as a kind gesture or even common courtesy.
With that in mind, here are 10 ways to say no to alcohol when you are in recovery:
- Let those closest to you know where you are coming from – You might not want to shout it from the rooftops, but letting your close friends and family members know you are in recovery can help a lot.
- Keep a non-alcoholic drink in your hand at parties – If you attend a party where alcoholic beverages are being served, come prepared with a soda, cup of coffee, or other non-alcoholic drink of your own. Simply having a drink in your hand is the best way to fend off further offers.
- Pick restaurants that do not serve alcohol – If you are picking a place to eat, look for restaurants that do not serve alcoholic beverages. You cannot be tempted by something that is no on the menu, so choose your eatery with care.
- Hang out with your newly sober friends – Having a sober social circle can help a lot when you are in recovery, so make friends with people struggling with the same issues you are. Hanging out with other newly sober friends is a great way to keep each other accountable, all while you have fun and socialize.
- Keep attending 12-step meetings in your local area – Now that you are in recovery, you need support more than ever, and the local 12-step meeting is a great place to start. When you attend 12-step meetings, you will learn additional coping skills and relapse prevention strategies, including how to handle those well-meaning offers of alcohol.
- Just say you’re not thirsty – If you do not want to disclose your history with alcohol detox or get into an extensive discussion, just say you are not thirsty. This simple statement covers a lot of territories, so keep it in your back pocket.
- Claim to be the designated driver – No one will argue with your need to stay sober if you plan to drive your friends home. If you want to say no to alcohol without sparking an argument, just claim to be the designated driver.
- Say you just finished a drink – Everyone has their limits, and even social drinkers will understand what you are saying here. Saying you just finished a drink is a great way to shut down further offers of wine, beer, and other adult beverages.
- Just say you don’t drink – Alcohol is a standard part of the world and a popular social lubricant, which makes saying no to alcohol in recovery very difficult. Simply stating that you do not drink without further elaboration or explanation is a perfectly acceptable thing to do.
- State that you have to get up early in the morning – Even social drinkers are familiar with the dreaded hangover, and your drink offering friends will certainly understand when you turn them down for this reason. Feel free to use this excuse even if you plan to sleep in.
Alcohol Detox and Rehab at Muse
For those who have never struggled with alcoholism or fallen prey to a drinking problem, getting sober can seem like the easy part, but it never is. Now that you are officially alcohol-free and in recovery staying sober is the real challenge, which means resisting triggers that could cause a dangerous relapse.
Whether you are attending a party, heading off to a friend’s wedding, or just living your day-to-day life, you will need to know how saying no to alcohol in recovery can aid your sobriety. Contact the addiction treatment professionals at Muse Treatment in Los Angeles at (800) 426-1818 to learn more ways on how to combat addiction to alcohol or drugs through proper medical treatment.
