Not sure whether to have 1/2 or not

[Crystaly]

I have been sober for 4 weeks. I’ve been reading a lot and listening to podcasts and fed up with feeling hungover on my weekends. I use to drink a bottle-2 bottles every Saturday night only. So binge drinker.

no real issues just a feel of total fed up with drinking and stopped the weekend casual drinks in the house with hubby. he still drinks and prefers when I do and I feel a bit of a party pooper but also not been tempted was so ever as I know he’s fine with me not drinking too.

tonight we are going for dinner with 2 couples. It’s always been a very heavy drinking night previously and we are staying at their house due to distance. They will probably all stay up til 2-3am. I won’t as honestly I’m just not bothered by doing it anymore.

I know if I said oh I’m driving/not drinking tonight they would be horrified. It would be such a change they wouldn’t understand why. They all love a drink and drink more often than me. They handle it better than me.

as we’re going out for dinner I’m thinking I could have a wine with my steak to not draw too much attention to the fact I’m not drinking as much anymore.

I want to get dressed up, have good food, good company. I don’t want to feel pressured and that I’m boring.

after my wine I’d switch to non alcoholic drinks when I go to the bar.

so question - should I have 1/2 or none at all and make the statement oh I’m not that bothered about drinking.

I had 1 wine with dinner but I sipped it and made it last the full night. constant comments like “drink up, I thought it was going to be a fun night, we should have invited someone else”. But it eventually stopped and nothing else was said.

im happy with that, I don’t see it as a failure.

Well done - that’s fantastic.

I’m up dressed and feeling great. They’re all in bed absolutely dying stayed up til 4am. Honestly not one bit of temptation. Hope it lasts!

Well done. As an aside I'm teetotal and I'm now of the age where people say "ah cool" rather than pressurise me to drink. I normally add I prefer to eat my calories although there is no real reason I'm teetotal. Please do. you and don't just have a drink to appease your friends. You showed remarkable restraint last night, you're doing well.

Huge well done to you. Enjoy your clear head!

It sounds to me like your family have massive issues with alcohol. The digs about not drinking and being no fun are really not on. I'm with you - getting ratarsed and being at death's door all the next day just isn't any fun any more

Well done no hangover.

If anything, I’d say it’s a sign your doing the right thing. No one really wants to be the friend who everyone expects drinks too much.

Well done :) it’s good having a clear head and not feeling like death the next morning!

I wouldn’t, they aren’t good friends if they would pressure you

Your friends and family are entitled to think whatever they like, but so are you.
If they want to drink they can.
If you don't want to, you can.

And you don't need to explain it to anyone.

I haven't drunk anything in over 2 years and I still get asked why I'm not drinking.

But I know it doesn't matter what I say, other people will think whatever they want. So I let them by not letting it bother me.

But I smile rather smugly every morning when I have a fresh head and family is around me saying "why did I drink so much last night." She who laughs last laughs longest.