Sober Curious tattlers support thread (Dry January and beyond!)

[Lalalalaaaaaa85]

Last week my boyfriend and I decided not to buy wine, we usually get 6 bottles in which we end up drinking in 2 nights . We didn’t buy it so we didn’t have it and therefore didn’t get drunk. We had a beer or spirit and mixer a couple of nights but most nights nothing. So pleased with us.

 

[ComeForTheX StayForTheY]

If anyone has any alcohol free drinks they have been enjoying please post
I have been drinking pineapple juice with lots of ice
The M&S fake GnT is nice but over priced
The M&S Pina Colada is delicious (just missing the rum!)

 

[usandthem]

If anyone has any alcohol free drinks they have been enjoying please post
I have been drinking pineapple juice with lots of ice
The M&S fake GnT is nice but over priced
The M&S Pina Colada is delicious (just missing the rum!)

I like Nozecco (AF from Tesco) mixed with Martini Vibrante (AF from Amazon) and tonic- tastes very similar to Aperol. The sparkling wine is nice on its own too and not too sweet.

Seedlip have pre-mixed cans of pink grapefruit with their Spice 94 which I took with me when visiting friends over the weekend.

The Gordon’s AF gin is nice too, at least I like it, my hubby thinks it tastes a little artificial.

 

[MrsFishandChips]

Four months sober today

 

[Prgirl_cesca]

Well done everyone!! I am maybe having a glass or two of wine a week if I get an itch but that's it. Feel really good!

 

[Adayinthelife]

Spent two nights at the seaside and haven’t had a drink
Might be going out tomorrow but I’ll stick to cider as I can’t drink that as quickly as wine so will only have a few

 

[LLJ]

Does anyone have any advice about how to say no when out socialising and everyone is drinking? For example, I went out on Saturday night for a meal with a few girl friends. I was happy drinking Diet Coke but they kept insisting I had something alcoholic. They kept saying “You’re not even driving” or “don’t be boring”. We then received a bottle of Prosecco on the house as it was one of the girls birthday. I declined but they poured me one anyway “it’s free!!” - it’s not even about the money I just don’t want to drink! I’m so annoyed but I gave in to peer pressure and drank it. They then went onto ordering shots, again I said no at least 5 times but one of the girls came right next to me and kept asking for a reason why. Apparently just saying “no” isn’t good enough. She brought me one anyway and then said “it’s a waste of my money if you don’t drink it”. I just gave in and drank it so they left me alone. I paid my share and left. Sorry for the ramble, I’m 26 and female btw but just not fussed about drinking and sick of trying to prove I’m not boring just because I don’t want to drink.

 

[coconut_escape]

Goodness that sounds awful and really stressful and not very nice friends. It shouldn’t even be a question of why someone is not drinking - you wouldn’t ask why someone isn’t smoking or taking drugs !!

 

[usandthem]

They sound like big drinkers who didn’t want to have one person in the party not drinking and ‘ruin’ their drinking. A good friend will never push you to drink if you clearly have said you aren’t. You can think of several ready excuses to use if someone questions your not drinking in the future, such as: you are on antibiotics/ on a health kick/ having to drive early the following day etc, but honestly if a so called friend called me ‘boring’ for not drinking I will be questioning if they are my friend at all. Maybe avoid going out with them for awhile until you feel strong enough to face social situations with them again.

 

[Warpaint]

Does anyone have any advice about how to say no when out socialising and everyone is drinking? For example, I went out on Saturday night for a meal with a few girl friends. I was happy drinking Diet Coke but they kept insisting I had something alcoholic. They kept saying “You’re not even driving” or “don’t be boring”. We then received a bottle of Prosecco on the house as it was one of the girls birthday. I declined but they poured me one anyway “it’s free!!” - it’s not even about the money I just don’t want to drink! I’m so annoyed but I gave in to peer pressure and drank it. They then went onto ordering shots, again I said no at least 5 times but one of the girls came right next to me and kept asking for a reason why. Apparently just saying “no” isn’t good enough. She brought me one anyway and then said “it’s a waste of my money if you don’t drink it”. I just gave in and drank it so they left me alone. I paid my share and left. Sorry for the ramble, I’m 26 and female btw but just not fussed about drinking and sick of trying to prove I’m not boring just because I don’t want to drink.

Probably best just to lie in the early days so they don't ask questions. Just say you're on medication that you can't drink alcohol with.

 

[LLJ]

They sound like big drinkers who didn’t want to have one person in the party not drinking and ‘ruin’ their drinking. A good friend will never push you to drink if you clearly have said you aren’t. You can think of several ready excuses to use if someone questions your not drinking in the future, such as: you are on antibiotics/ on a health kick/ having to drive early the following day etc, but honestly if a so called friend called me ‘boring’ for not drinking I will be questioning if they are my friend at all. Maybe avoid going out with them for awhile until you feel strong enough to face social situations with them again.

Thank you for your replies x I do see these girls quite a lot so I think they might click onto my excuses. Actually on Sat, 1 girl was driving, 1 had an early start the next day and 1 was on antibiotics. As I’m typing this I’m thinking were they also excuses haha. They all still drank though!! Even the driver had a couple.
I know I just have to be firm and strong - it’s my fault for giving in really. If it continues I will start questioning if I really am interested in the friendship.
Most of them have young children and I guess were just letting their hair down. One of them even said “I haven’t got my kids so have a drink with me”. I said how does me not drinking make any difference to you! We’re planning a meal in august but it’s a drive away and they have nominated me designated driver which I’m very happy with!!

 

[MrsFishandChips]

Does anyone have any advice about how to say no when out socialising and everyone is drinking? For example, I went out on Saturday night for a meal with a few girl friends. I was happy drinking Diet Coke but they kept insisting I had something alcoholic. They kept saying “You’re not even driving” or “don’t be boring”. We then received a bottle of Prosecco on the house as it was one of the girls birthday. I declined but they poured me one anyway “it’s free!!” - it’s not even about the money I just don’t want to drink! I’m so annoyed but I gave in to peer pressure and drank it. They then went onto ordering shots, again I said no at least 5 times but one of the girls came right next to me and kept asking for a reason why. Apparently just saying “no” isn’t good enough. She brought me one anyway and then said “it’s a waste of my money if you don’t drink it”. I just gave in and drank it so they left me alone. I paid my share and left. Sorry for the ramble, I’m 26 and female btw but just not fussed about drinking and sick of trying to prove I’m not boring just because I don’t want to drink.

If I was in your position I would just be honest the next time they arrange something and say you really don’t enjoy drinking but you enjoy their company but all the same you won’t have bother going if they are going to try and ply you with drinks you clearly don’t want

 

[Prgirl_cesca]

I always find the ones who pressure you into drinking are the ones who they themselves can't have fun unless drunk and can't understand why someone would have fun sober.

 

[ComeForTheX StayForTheY]

Hey how's everyone getting along? I started drinking again last month. To begin with, I couldn't bear the taste, but it's started to creep back to drinking most days now and I'm keen to knock that on the head. It's also such an expensive habit and I find alcohol triggers my IBS. Last night was fun but honestly I think it would have been just as good if I was sober!

 

[Lalalalaaaaaa85]

I’ve definitely cut down. We stopped buying wine as that’s what we would binge on and it worked well but I forgot to cancel out quarterly wine delivery so that arrived this week and twice this week now we’ve had a bit too much and I remember why I hate that. Snapping at each other, him snoring keeping me awake all night and then trying to work the next day with a hangover .

I really want to lose weight, I’m about 5 stone overweight now. So definitely need to cut booze out as that’s my biggest issue. The calories in the wine, the food I eat when drunk and then the food I eat hungover.

 

[MrsFishandChips]

I’m nearly six months sober. I haven’t lost any weight as I’ve had a sweet tooth come on, but I feel so much better in myself. I really do not miss waking up rough and my bf doesn’t miss me being a drunken eejit either. I have a night out planned on the 2nd October and the girls I’m going out with keep saying they want me to be drunk and so far I’ve played along with it to avoid anything but 100% on the day I’ll be firmly saying I’m not drinking and if you try and force me I will be going home!

God I sound quite miserable I am actually as much fun sober to be honest, I just don’t drunk dance!

 

[Lalalalaaaaaa85]

I’m nearly six months sober. I haven’t lost any weight as I’ve had a sweet tooth come on, but I feel so much better in myself. I really do not miss waking up rough and my bf doesn’t miss me being a drunken eejit either. I have a night out planned on the 2nd October and the girls I’m going out with keep saying they want me to be drunk and so far I’ve played along with it to avoid anything but 100% on the day I’ll be firmly saying I’m not drinking and if you try and force me I will be going home!

God I sound quite miserable I am actually as much fun sober to be honest, I just don’t drunk dance!

Ive heard that about quitting drinking, gives you a sweet tooth because of all the sugar in alcohol .

Fantastic work on quitting!

 

[MrsFishandChips]

Honestly I was always a starter and mains kind of gal, now I find I’m all about the pudding and my love for savoury has been replaced. I used to love a cheese board but I’d never go for it now. Mad how much it changes your habits!
On another note though I tried giving up loads of times. I found putting no pressure on myself and and adapting a if I drink, I drink, if I don’t I dont approach and it’s worked for me
I have a app called I am sober for reference but I barely check it

 

[coconut_escape]

I’m nearly six months sober. I haven’t lost any weight as I’ve had a sweet tooth come on, but I feel so much better in myself.

Same for me - sweet tooth is crazy and I was never overly bothered before !!

 

[Grizzlybear]

Imagine saying they want you to be drunk! That’s part hilarious, part worrying.

I still drink a couple of times a month, moderately, and I feel like I’ve really restructured my relationship with alcohol thanks to these threads I was slipping down a slippery slope last year!