You Can Still Enjoy Being Sober While Everyone Else is Drinking

People who are supportive and healthy for you to be around will apologize. Reinforce what you’re doing is important, and you need them to be more supportive. I would NOT recommend doing it in the middle of dinner or your bestie’s housewarming party but find a time when everyone is coherent and calm. As part of your account, you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. So you’ll avoid pressing the issue in the future, right?

My brother threw a being sober around drinkers recently with lots of drinking. So I’m working on setting boundaries around these sorts of events, particularly with my husband.

Do Alcoholics Drink Every Day? Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder

Though for the most part my boyfriend and I do well when it comes to each of our relationships with alcohol, there have been times when we have had arguments over it. My relationship with alcohol doesn’t always make sense to him and vice versa. I’ve gotten upset at times when he has gotten too drunk, and he’s gotten upset when I’d prefer to spend another night at home rather than go out.

Some of my friends have needed a little time to adjust to my significant life choice. A couple of others have drifted away without any trauma on either side—I suspect my sobriety may simply have accelerated an inevitable growing-apart process. My true friends were there for me when I was passing out at parties and throwing up in the back of taxis, and they’re there for me now. When you get together with such people, you’ll likely find that they do plenty of activities that don’t involve alcohol—like hiking, skiing, playing games, or fishing. And you might even find that you enjoy doing these types of things much more than activities that involve alcohol. You might go out alone as you start this new chapter of your life. Or, you might invite your friends to join you in these places as a way to encourage sober activities.

Get a drink to hold

The question is — how do you quit alcohol if all your friends want to do is drink? When you decide to become sober, some friends may feel wary or suspicious of your motives, or simply think you’re not as fun. Peer pressure surrounding drinking and sobriety can be intense.

• Here’s a funny little clip from the BBC that I’m sure you’ll appreciate.
• Politely decline invitations to activities you are not 100% confident you can handle sober.
• Developing strategies to handle friendships with those who drink can improve the odds of continuing to live successfully with your sobriety.
• You might even isolate yourself or hold back from having a good time—which will then reinforce your belief that being sober makes fun impossible.
• I’ve spent the last six years researching and understanding alcoholism, addiction, and how people get sober.