Sometimes friends will well-meaningly encourage you to have a cocktail or glass of wine. If you're not sure what to say in response, here are some helpful and easy ways to deflect the conversation.
Note: It's always OK to say "no" to drugs or alcohol, and you should never feel pressured to partake. But sometimes our inner brain weasels tell us we need to justify our non-alcoholic status.
These suggestions are from a long and spirited Facebook thread. You can see the whole conversation here.
"I'm taking a break from drinking right now. It just doesn't add much to my life."
"Drinking makes me feel awful, and I decided I'd rather feel good tomorrow morning and for the rest of my life."
"No thanks. Not tonight."
"After thinking about how much I drink, I decided to give it a rest."
"I'm trying to make better health decisions, and drinking doesn't fit into that."
"I'm on a cleanse."
"I prefer to eat my calories."
"I'm doing a health thing and so far it's going really well. Thanks though!"
"I prefer to remember how much fun tonight has been."
"I am getting over an illness and I can't mix alcohol with my antibiotics."
"No thanks, I'm trying to see how long I can hold my pee to break my old record. It's been 18 hours so far and I'm about to burst but I still have another 12 hours to go!"
"It makes me less interesting and gives me bad breath. But you go ahead!"
"I'm the designated driver."
"I'm not drinking tonight. It is a struggle. Can you help me with it?"
"I'm allergic to alcohol - it makes me break out in felonies"
"Thank you, I don't drink alcohol."
"No thanks, I don't want one right now. But I'll get myself something in a minute."
"I don't feel like it."
"It no longer fits into the code of ethics I have defined for my life. In fact, I'm judging you right now."
"You know that's literally poison, right?"
"I'm on so many other drugs right now, I just don't want to mix."
"My parole officer expects a urine sample tomorrow."