Your best tips for pretending to drink please

[SayWhaaat]

Chuffed as just got BFP this morning, am at home for Christmas with family coming over so can be in complete control of what I make myself to drink, but need it to look boozy otherwise it'll give the game away!

Got a few ideas but wondered if I'm missing any tricks?!

Merry Christmas all!

[PleaseDoNotTagMe]

Carry it round and pour it away whenever possible. Or get someone who knows to drink it.

Don't mention not being able to drink for medical reasons. You might as well wear a Peter Pan collared maternity dress if you say the word antibiotics.

[plimsolls]

Tonic with no gin
Accept champagne, sip with lips closed (of toasting)
Accept wine or whatever and walk around a lot with it, tipping some out in various places when you can.
Offer to get drinks for people all the time. Most people won't be paying s whole load of attention to you and offering/serving drinks is usually enough for them to think you're involved in the drinking. Also, every time you offer to get the drinks, it's one less time someone is asking you what drink you want.

I had to do the same last Christmas and the above worked very well, even though Christmas is usually ridiculously boozy

Congrats!

[WishUponAStar88]

I think with it being Christmas and family the 'antibiotics' line or similar just isn't going to cut it, so just pretend to drink. When cooking have a poured glass on the side. Poor away/ into DPs glass when nobody is around. Take a glass of fizz if roasting and pretend to sip, then taking the glass with you to finish something in the kitchen. By the time you sit down for dinner have half a glass of wine as well as something soft ("I've drank so much already need a lemonade as well!") and nobody will notice the wine isn't being touched. Congratulations!

[plimsolls]

*if toasting

(Sipping with lips closed also useful if you have wine in hand and are talking to someone)

[Squidgling]

Just don't say anything, carry on as normal and people don't really notice. It depends what you normally drink but if you normally drink spirit and mixer just the mixer will still look like the same drink. Put your drink in the same kind of glass the alcoholic drinks are in. If you have to have alcohol for a toast or something just pretend to drink it and pass it sneakily to your partner later. Congratulations!

[lastnightiwenttomanderley]

Do you and DP drink the same things? If so, keep swapping glasses (eg leave on side and pick up the 'wrong' one).
I appreciate it's a bit late now probably but waitress used to do a reasonably palatable alcohol free white which was enough to keep a few people fooled.

As pp have said, mentioning AB is the ultimate giveaway!

[lastnightiwenttomanderley]

Oh, and Massive congratulations too!

[Rainatnight]

Congratulations!

This thread on non-alcoholic drinks is good. I recommended a Belvoir Shiraz - it really does look like red wine in the glass!
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/2808820-really-niiiiiice-non-alcoholic-drinks

[Cakescakescakes]

Plus a few actual sips of wine or champagne etc won't do any harm if it helps you blend in.

[sleeplessinderbyshire]

Sparkling elderflower cordial looks very like champagne/prosecco especially in a champagne flute

[AnnaT45]

Congratulations! I found that just having a glass in front of me worked! No one really notices. Good luck

[ReggaeShark]

Get some alcohol free wine hidden in the kitchen and top up your glass from that every time you go in there. Or tip real wine down the sink and replace with alcohol free. Congratulations!

[Kel1234]

It largely depends what you usually drink. For example if it's wine you can get non alcoholic wine, or fruity ciders you can also get non alcoholic ones of them. If it's a spirit then that's the easiest, just have the mixer without the spirit in. Just make sure no one is watching when you pour it.
Or use soft drinks that look like alcoholic ones, apple juice and lemonade would look like a white wine spritzer. Or fizzy fruit drinks could look like cider, that type of thing.
For the table you could say you've had enough to drink for now, or if you have something that looks like wine if that is what will be served with the food, pour that into a wine glass.
I doubt anyone will take too much notice really. Congrats though

[whensitmyturn]

Get your dh to ask what drink you want in front of others and then you can say 'oh prosecco please' or 'G&T' but then he obviously brings you a non alcoholic version/lemonade instead.
I did this at a wedding with friends and no one sussed us!

[SpunBodgeSquarepants]

I just got my BFP yesterday. I have 'decided' last minute that we won't walk home from my sister's (where we are spending Christmas Day) but I will sacrifice my want to drink to drive everyone home

I am allowing myself one small glass of prosecco with dinner though.

[HeadElf]

Congratulations!!!!!
Me and DP used to swap glasses every now and then so he would be drinking from both he was constantly smashed for weeks!

[SayWhaaat]

Thanks everyone, some great ideas - sounds like it's best just not draw attention to it too much!

At least the bulk of the secret phase will be in dry January!

Prosecco my dear friend, all being well I'll be seeing you again sometime in September!

Have one for me people if you can!

[blueskyinmarch]

I agree that no one will notice if you have a drink in front of you and pretend to sip it. Carrying it around with you and tipping some down the sink as you go works well. I held a dinner party for 8 close friends when I was newly pregnant with DD2. Absolutely no one noticed I wasn't drinking. I told them I was having a thing for Moscow mules - vodka, ginger beer and lime then I just drank ginger beer and lime all night. DH was on board and knew what to bring me. Just be relaxed and act like normal and you will be fine. The more others drink the less they will be likely to notice you are not drinking.

[cheekyfunkymonkey]

Take it to the loo with you and dispose then try and top yourself up with something 'safe'

[Maverickismywingman]

Soda and lime is a winner as well.

Congrats!

[NameChange30]

Congratulations!

I agree with PPs that it's better to pretend to drink alcohol than make an excuse about why you're not drinking. You could make yourself a drink that looks alcoholic (e.g. tonic without gin if you usually have G&T/, or non-alcoholic wine if you usually have wine). Or just accept alcoholic drinks and don't drink them - pour them away or get DH to drink them when no-one's looking!

[laurenmarie88]

Haha in very much in the same boat ! I got my positive the other evening and I'm over the moooooon! But I've only told my sister and my partners sister and we're going to his families for dinner haha xx

[laurenmarie88]

And congrats best news ever isn't it

[SayWhaaat]

Congrats to you other preggos!

In other news, I've just been sick and 5yo ds was right there so am sure he'll be telling everyone about that which will raise suspicions - oh joy!

[TiltedNewt]

Nah, just say it was hangover. I'm pretty sure my work think I have a drinking problem as I may have used this excuse a bit too much over that past couple of weeks.

As for the drinking, DH is taking one for the team and drinking for 2 at the moment. It's amazing how little people actually notice.