Getting outed by works Christmas do

[plantmum]

I have a dilemma - I'm 5 weeks pregnant and works Christmas do is this Saturday.

I've got long-standing plans to get ready and drink prosecco with one colleague beforehand and then share a taxi.

I'm fairly confident I can just pretend to drink at the actual do, but what reason can I give my colleague for not drinking at hers after going on about looking forward to letting my hair down?

I'm a bad liar and don't think I would be able to hide the real reason on my face.

We are friends but I don't really want to tell anyone for a few weeks and she wouldn't be someone I'd tell until at least after the scan.

I can't even back out of the getting ready because it'll just look flakey, and I can't miss the do altogether. I want to go, and also my boss has hinted he'll be expecting no-shows at the do to repay their ticket(!)

How can I manage this without telling her I'm pregnant AND without a barefaced lie?

Anyone in the same boat with their works do?

I'd say you're on strong antibiotics for toothache and you can't drink on them (my current situation!)

Say your on some antibiotics that have adverse effect if you drink- metronidazole for example

But a bottle of gin and a bottle of seedlip or other non alcoholic spirit. Decant gin and wash out the bottle. Replace with non alcoholic spirit and take your 'gin' to your friends to drink while getting ready.

Can you go and get ready with her and then stay in the bathroom for a while and say you have a really bad tummy or something?

Or could you take a bottle with you and "accidentally" pick up a non alcoholic version and drink that? Or any way you can accept a drink from her and somehow swap it out?

I do think antibiotics is an obvious one as it's used a lot!

Just say you are recovering from the winter vomiting bug.

You’ve decided to stop drinking on an empty stomach so you’re saving your alcohol calories for the event itself.

Or

You’re hungover and can’t face it and actually can you go to McDonalds on the way to the big do, that’ll line your stomach a bit.

Say you went out recently and accidentally got smashed and you were just too drunk too quickly and it spoiled the evening so you're just having soft drinks and one glass whilst getting ready, have a lemonade and either sip at a glass of prosecco or tip a bit away. I'm usually dead against people tipping glasses away all night (a friend did it when we were out once, £7 a glass we were paying and she was tipping it out and letting us buy another, she later told us as though it were hilarious we hadn't noticed! 🙄) but one glass at pre drinks isn't too bad. Then once you're there complain of having eaten too much and not feeling like drinking, too stuffed!

Take a bottle of non alcoholic with you and don't let on

Offer to get ready at yours and make the drinks yourself

Please don't say you've got, or are getting over, a bad tummy or vomiting bug. I'd be really pee'd off if a friend turned up at my house and told me that, and frankly wouldn't want them there.

I'd bring my own non alcoholic drink in a water bottle or something and discreetly tip the other stuff away. No way would I say I'm on antibiotics as it's a total giveaway.

Just be running really late - you went for a disco nap and only just woken up. Take a couple of miniature vodkas for the taxi to make up for it but make sure yours is just water.
I remember having to do this and make sure my 'gin' and tonics came with the full works otherwise it's obvious.
Good luck 😉

Can you say that you've been considering your future and decided not to get twisted tonight as it is a work do, and for the sake of your career you don't want to make a fool of yourself in front of management, so are pacing yourself? Or words to that effect!

I'd go for an alcohol free prosecco, just look for one that isn't immediately obvious, then if she notices just say "bloody hell, no way! Ah well I won't be pissed quickly at the do!"
Don't make an excuse like antibiotics she'll see right through you.
Congratulations btw.

Just say you have BV and are on metronidazole, you really can't drink on that antibiotic or you'd be really poorly.

Come up with a last minute reason why you can't get ready at hers and just meet her there or pick her up in a taxi.

Loads of great ideas, thanks everyone!! Fingers crossed I make it through secret intact

Good luck @plantmum. I have recently had the same and just poured out a bottle of wine and replaced it with non-alcoholic. It worked a treat.

Thanks @ninemonthwait, I've sowed the seed today that I'm thinking of driving because last year there was a problem getting taxis after and it was freezing and I didn't drink that much anyway... then I can have one fake g and t when I get there. I think it might work!