If I don't drink, will everyone assume I'm pregnant?

[NutSmeg]

One of the women in my book group is getting married next month. Next week, book group is going out for a meal for it.

Book group meets in the pub on a weekday night. Non-drinking is the norm.
I only drink at book group when its our Christmas meeting.

We went out for a meal in January and I drank alcohol there.

What I mean is - book group knows I'm not tee-total.

If I don't drink next week, will everyone assume I'm pregnant? I'm 37.

There's no need to say anything at all. Just say "I'm sticking to soft drinks tonight" if anyone asks, which they most probably won't. Inventing an excuse draws more attention to your non-drinking.

You're overthinking this. Just don't drink and don't make a fuss. If pushed, vertigo is what I used to shimmy out of a situation.

Most likely nobody will notice unless you point it out.

Just have soft drinks. If anyone says anything, you can say you're driving (if you are) or have an early start. But these days it's really not unusual not to drink.

Tell them you're hungover and can't face drinking again. I've been tricked by that one before.

You're right - I'm massively over-thinking it. Thank you!

I wouldn’t notice, loads of my friends are on various health kicks, New Year’s resolutions, doing Zoe or something, I can’t keep up.

If I'm not drinking for reasons I don't wish to disclose (NOT pregnant) I just use the old "trying to lose a bit of weight, cut out unnecessary calories" excuse, if asked. Never seems to raise any eyebrows. (And I have been asked, not rudely, before).

Why lie? Just tell them you don't fancy a drink. I doubt anyone will really notice.

I’m confused…. So are you pregnant or not?

No, I'm not pregnant.

You may as well announce you’re pregnant instead!

Thatll guarantee they think she's pregnant. Besides the no alcohol doesn't apply to lots of anti biotics now

So in the unlikely scenario that someone makes a "not drinking, not pregnant are you?" type comment then you can just say this.

Unless you mix in circles where not drinking is so unusual that you need to have a cast iron excuse not to, this whole thread is a bit weird.

If anyone asked just say you don’t fancy drinking, it’s not that unusual not to drink.

I quit drinking in January and I've had people ask if I'm pregnant so there are people out there that will assume. It's so rude, you never what someone is going through in regards to fertility.

So what is the reason you are not having a drink if you usually drink @NutSmeg

People tend to take much less notice of whether you’re drinking than you think.

I always have a drink at a party and I didn’t drink for an entire party weekend by accepting all drinks, wandering around holding them and every so often throwing them away and getting a lemonade instead.

Nobody actually cares as much as you’d think, but if you make a big song and dance of announcing you’re on antibiotics or something it’ll rouse suspicions much more.

I’m not drinking at all at the moment as I’m trying (and currently failing) to get pregnant, so the absolute last thing I need is people asking or assuming that.

I find the easiest way is to just not draw attention to it, just drink a soft drink and tell anyone who asks it’s got vodka/gin whatever in it. Your book group is very unlikely to notice tbh, I’ve been going to a book group for over a year and I couldn’t tell you who’s a drinker and who’s not. If it’s a close friend then I usually rope my husband in to making/buying me a “gin and tonic” (just tonic). People are usually too self absorbed to notice!

So you aren't pregnant?

Why aren't you having a drink?

Can you drive?

Or say youre on medication thar you can't drink with

Or..

Just say you have stopped drinking.

I think people are becoming much less weird about people not drinking, as it becomes more common.

Not too long ago I would have just assumed that yet - tbh now I might have my suspicions but it’s not at all unusual for people to just not be drinking.

‘I’ve decided I’m having a bit of a break, as I am focusing on getting fitter’ or something.

Most of the under-25s I know barely drink. No one thinks anything of it.

May she just doesn't fancy it. Does there really need to be a reason?

I'm confused if you're pregnant and hiding it or not and don't want the rumours
If the latter, prempt it by telling them you're not, you just don't fancy it. If you are, well yeah someone's likely to at least joke about it

Then you’re massively overthinking this.

Why would you care?

How could it matter if someone thinks you're pregnant? His/her mistake will become clear in a few months.