Do you find yourself going to parties or other events and your friends try to get you to drink, but you don’t want to?

It can be difficult to tell your buddies that you don’t want any alcohol. A lot of times, your peers will give you a hard time and keep pressuring you to have a couple beers. The more you refuse to drink, the more they get on your case.

To help, here are 8 tips on how to best tell your friends you don’t want to drink alcohol when you’re at a party or social event.

  1. Figure out where you stand. Before you go to any party or social event, you need to make a choice on how much you’re willing to drink, or whether you’ll drink anything at all. Once you decide what you’re going to do, don’t change your mind down the road.
  2. Figure out what you will say to your friends. Before going to a party, get advice from someone you trust on what you should say when someone wants you to drink. It’s best to be prepared ahead of time which will help manage any anxieties you may have.
  3. Be firm in your decision and show confidence. It’s important to be firm and direct in telling others you plan on staying alcohol-free. Some people will continue to argue with you, so do not give in to their arguments. Do what’s right and stand behind your decision. Don’t let others determine what’s best for you.
  4. Hang out with your real friends. There will be some people who will give you a hard time for not drinking. If this is the case, then find other people to hang out with who will be more understanding. Remember that your real friends will respect your decision.  Focus on spending most of your time with your good friends when going to a social event.
  5. Always have something in your hands. A little-known trick to get people off of your back is to carry a cup of alcohol or a can of beer in your hand as you walk around, but just don’t drink the alcohol. This is a little trick you can use when nothing else seems to work and you’re unable to leave the party or social event. As long as you have something in your hands, nobody will notice the difference on whether you drink or not.
  6. Be selective on what social events to attend. Determine which parties or social events you should avoid if getting drunk is a huge factor. You have the power to decide which parties you can go to where the pressure to drink won’t be as high. Ask your friends if you’re not sure, or if you have any questions.
  7. Leave early. A person can always decide to leave early if the pressure to drink becomes overwhelming. A person can make an excuse that they don’t feel well and they could just leave. Most people will understand and will not make a big deal. The important thing is remaining alcohol-free without making a scene in front of all your friends.
  8. Learn from your experiences. Try to learn what techniques work and don’t work in telling others that you don’t want to drink. It might take a couple of tries; however, knowing how to get your peers off your back in terms of getting drunk can help you accomplish your objectives.  If you still have trouble, then talk to a professional addiction counselor who can give you additional advice on what you can do.

About the Author:

Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non-Resistant Methods” – an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to http://www.managingfear.com/