How to Stay Sober During the Holidays

Holidays are a time to drink, drink and be merry. Whether you have newly quit drinking, are trying to quit drinking or have even been a non-drinker for quite some time, the season of good cheer can definitely be a trying time to stay sober. Holiday parties are the most difficult part, some of which may be impossible to avoid. Besides, you are still allowed to go out and have fun, just don’t get drunk doing it. Read on to learn how to stay sober during the holidays.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Non-alcoholic beverage of choice
• Quick comebacks
• Cell phone

1. Bring your own non-alcoholic beverage (BYNAB). Often party-goers get nervous when fellow guests don’t have a drink in their hand. Make yours a tumbler of soda, coffee or water you brought from home. Refill often from the thermos you have also brought or leave the glass half-full so people leave you alone.
2. Never put your drink down. Not that someone may sneak some scotch in it, but to insure you don’t accidentally pick up the wrong one when you go to take a sip.
3. Stay away from other drinks, not even the apparently benign punch. People put alcohol in candy and cake, too, so be wary of what you consume.
4. Come armed with quick comebacks. Sometimes people will insist on knowing why you don’t drink, a simple “Because I don’t want to” will never sate them. Tell them alcohol makes you sick, clashes with your medication or ruins your diet. After all, a single shot of vodka is rife with more than 100 empty calories.
5. Use your cell phone. Tell a few friends you will be going to a party and might need to call them to calm down if all the drinking gets too much.
6. Leave. If the drunkenness becomes beyond control and you just can’t handle it, there is nothing wrong with leaving a party to save your sobriety – and your sanity.

Tips & Warnings

• Remind yourself why you are sober by watching all the other people get drunk and act like idiots.
• You can still participate in toasts. Just tip up your water tumbler and smile.
• There is no need whatsoever to go into lengthy explanations about your lack of drinking. It’s really nobody’s business. If someone continues to hound you or won’t accept one of your earlier explanations, ask them why the feel the need to pry so deeply into your personal decisions. You can throw them off, too, by asking if they always wear a seat belt, floss twice a day and practice safe sex.
• Have an escape plan. If it is necessary to leave, make sure you have either driven in your own car or have a way to get back home. Most cities, however small, have some kind of taxi service.
• Don’t apologize. Drinking is a personal choice and there is nothing wrong with not imbibing.
• Don’t be embarrassed. Most of the time the folks will be so drunk or on their way there that they won’t give a darn if you drink or not. Besides, it means more for them.
• Don’t cave. If you are determined not to drink during the holidays, don’t let anything, not even a handsome stranger handing you rum-laced eggnog, stand in your way.

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