Going on holiday with drinkers

[peebles32]

I have stopped drinking for the last 6 weeks and feel amazing. I used to drink a lot but over the past few years I have drunk less so for health reasons, I have decided to stop. When I did drink, it tended to be when we went out for meals with friends or social events. I always had a few but I get flushed easily and suffer for days.
However, we go on holiday with really good friends next week and we normally all eat out and drink, which is a big part of the holiday.

I have explained that I am not drinking and there is no pressure from them to drink.
However, I have FOMO. Even though I don't want to drink, I feel I will be missing out. My husband and this couple will be drinking and I feel abit of a bore.
I really really am not bothered about drinking but I know I will get irritated when everyone is smashed! Any ideas on what I can do to make it easier?

Thanks all! I am going in two days so will keep you posted.

If you're going somewhere hot its so easy to drink too much just because you're thirsty - so even though I do drink alcohol, I do love an alcohol -free beer (or three) in the heat. Really refreshing I find. There were certainly plenty of good options in Spain last time I was there.

The only way to avoid the fomo is to go to bed with a book earlier as the conversation becomes only fun for drinkers

I have to go away on a conference once a year with a group of big big drinkers, I'll have one or two but then quite happily slip away to go to bed and look forward to getting up early and going for a stroll and to get a cup of tea and breakfast...

Then smile and nod as I listen to the tales of what they can remember they got up to!

I hear you OP! My partner and 3 of her friends are all celebrating their 60th birthdays this year and we have a cottage booked for two weeks in September. They are all big drinkers ( although my partner less so) and drinking every day is a big part of their holiday culture, whereas I am virtually teatotal. They have already started a kitty to buy copious amounts of alcohol to consume in the cottage, plan to eat out and drink most nights and have already booked a whisky distillery tour. Guess who has already been nominated as driver?!

I am not really looking forward to it as I know that they already judge me for not being a drinker, a bore and a 'fun sponge' and I think it might be a very lonely holiday for me. I have refused to subscribe to the drinks kitty as I am not prepared to subsidise their excesses, and will take plenty of books, my binoculars to do some birdwatching and some fishing tackle to do some mackerel fishing and keep myself occupied!

Whatever happens, I will not join in with the boozing and will maintain my standards and boundaries - "signa et terminos" as the Romans would have said!

Hey OP 👋

Massive well done on your 6 weeks.

I'm about 4 months AF now and just back from my first AF holiday, just me and DH.

DH really enjoys a drink so I was worried about being 'boring' - like yours sounds, our evenings on holidays are generally pre-drinks, dinner with drinks, and post-drinks.

We often go with another couple, and the wine and beer flows then, too.

I needn't have worried. The resort has lots of AF beers (which like), AF wines (which were 🤮🤮🤮!) and any cocktail could be made AF.

I stuck to AF all the way through and loved experiencing a hot holiday, sober, for the first time.

DH drank as much as he wanted to - a bit less because I wasn't matching him - but he didn't resent me not drinking (he never has but I worried as it's such a big part of our social history).

Also our hotel bill at the end for drinks was €350 when it's usually €750 plus. So that was not to be sniffed at either.

Good luck.. you sound very determined. Keep posting and have a fantastic holiday.

Just an update! Day 3 of our holiday.
I had a wobble last night at the restaurant and ordered a beer. However, when it came I did not drink it and stuck to water! I felt great. Today, everyone has gone out for drinks and I ordered an alcohol free beer which was great as I still felt I was joining in.

This is a first for me to come on holiday and not drink! I know I will get through it now. The appeal has gone.
I noticed everyone sweating last night and I felt great. You really notice the red faces and slurry words. know they all had a good time and probably think I am boring. However, I did not suffer today like them so I would rather be boring and fresh. It's just not for me anymore. I am remembering all the bad times, such as the alcohol flush. Even one drink gets me red faced and hot.

Also, no more anxiety at 4 in the morning and feeling shit the next day!

Tomorrow, I am going to get up and go for an early morning swim! It's a new type of holiday and once I have done this sober this time, every next holiday will be easier.

My husband is drinking and I have to now get over feeling a bit irritated when he keeps repeating himself! I have to remember I chose this and would normally be doing irritating things too!! Onwards and upwards!

You absolute legend!!! I'm so proud of you. No looking back now, sober holidays are the absolute best! Enjoy your early morning swim while the others sleep off their hangovers 💪

Well done @peebles32 you’re amazing you should feel so proud!! Enjoy your holiday

This is a dreadful piece of advice. Don’t listen it it op, regardless of how nice the family given it is. Well done on ditching the booze.

Well done! It’s such a good feeling isn’t it?! A lot of it is missing the thought of drinking rather than the actual drink.

Play it forward and think of how refreshed you will feel the following morning compared to the drinkers.