Quitting drinking doesn’t have to mean giving up your social life also, yet managing sobriety in a social setting can be a tough task, especially when alcohol is involved. Can I enjoy it without drinking? How will I say no to them? How will my friends react to my decision? You may have these concerns about going out after quitting the intake of alcohol. You’ll want to stay away from the situation where alcohol is involved if you’re in early recovery. Having a plan and being prepared can help you enjoy going out after you’ve quit drinking. So, today in this post we’ll discuss how you can maintain a good social life after quitting the intake of alcohol, let’s do:
Share your decision with friends and family
It’s all up to you to decide how much information to share with your family and friends. Maybe some people in your group drink or some may don’t. Everyone has their own choice to make, maybe some will appreciate your decision or some may insist you drink. If you have good friends, they will support your efforts and you might decide to have an honest conversation with them.
Go places that don’t serve drinks
One of the best things you can do to avoid drinking is to go to places that don’t serve drinks such as alcohol. Several places aren’t likely to serve alcoholic beverages, such as movie theaters, coffee shops, libraries, museums, shopping malls, and fast-food restaurants. Look for the places that don’t offer alcohol.
Be ready for reactions
While some of your friends may support you for your decision, others may seem indifferent or respond in a negative way to your decision. Those people may nag, tease, cajoling, confront, and peer pressure you for your decision. So, just be ready for these reactions that people may give on your decision. It’s also important to be prepared for some changes such as Being labeled a specific way, invited to be the designated driver, or phased out of social situations.
Drink non-alcoholic beverages
If you go to some places with your friends or family, bring your drink. Whether you have a protein shake with or water bottle with you, keeping a drink in your hand can prevent alcohol offers. It’s more helpful to have something in your hand at all times. So if you’re going to a place that serves alcohol, immediately order a non-alcoholic drink for you.
Seek out friends or colleague who don’t drink
You may need to shift your friend’s circle to include people who don’t drink. If you’re surrounded by people who drink daily then you should change your friend’s circle or stay away from them whenever they go for parties. There are lots of people who don’t drink and who are also looking for friends who don’t drink, so it’s not wrong to change your circle.
When you get together with such types of people, you’ll likely find that there are plenty of activities that don’t involve alcohol like skiing, hiking, going outside, playing games, or fishing. (Quitting drinking)