Give me a good reason for not drinking that’s not antibiotics

[melonballer1234]

Having a family dinner on Saturday night and I can’t drink because i’m 5 weeks pregnant. I don’t want everyone to know just yet and normally I would have a gin or a glass of wine. What can I tell them that’s not super obvious that i’m knocked up. I can’t be the designated driver as I dont drive.

Say you’ve realised you’re an alcoholic so you’re off it for a while

Congratulations. You could say you've been having problems with acid reflux/heartburn recently and have found alcohol makes things much worse. You could look up nhs advise on this to have a few things to hand to reply to any questions or well meaning advise.

Say you have an appointment to donate blood the next morning

The only thing that worked for me when trying to trick people was pretending I actually was drinking! Always get your own ‘gin’ and tonic, or get DP to make it. Saying I wasn’t drinking for any reason (antibiotics, ill, early start in the morning, still hungover from the night before) and people automatically presumed I was knocked up.
Congratulations by the way OP

What you should do is just walk around with a glass of wine or gin and just don't drink it, no-one would even bat an eyelid

Totally agree with fake drinking - either a G&T with no gin, or hold a glass of actual booze and secretly swap with partner (if he doesn't have to drive!) Any antibiotics/migraine/health kick excuses scream pregnant if you're normally a drinker. Although hopefully people would be polite enough not to call you out.

I think I went to the bar and ordered an appletiser as it looks like a white wine spritzer (tall glass) but it depends what you usually drink.

We also did the real alcoholic drink and Dh drank some and we swapped glasses etc.

Giving up for Lent is a great one though.

Lent is the best shout so far!

Detox week?

Just cite this article published yesterday www.independent.co.uk/news/health/wine-cancer-risk-smoking-health-cigarettes-study-a8842286.html that details the cancer risk of drinking, and say you are still processing what you read and prefer not to drink today.
Extract: ' For women, drinking one bottle of wine per week increases the absolute lifetime risk of cancer to the same extent as smoking 10 cigarettes a week. This is mostly due to an increased risk of breast cancer caused by drinking, according to the study."

And here is the study
bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-019-6576-9
nobody can really argue against that!

Low carb diet worked for me.

Say you’re really thirsty so want something non alcoholic to start and then order a pint of something - that will last a while. Then later in the meal, go to the loo and call at the bar on the way and ask for an alcohol free beer shandy or just a mixer without the booze. Go back to the table with it and they’ll never know. If they order wine for the table, have a glass but just sip it once and then drink your other drink.

Lent.

A bet with someone that you won't drink for a week.

As you don't drive maybe you are having your first lesson tomorrow.

Tramadol (painkiller) doesn't mix with alcohol.

Routine blood test has shown some liver damage so you are staying sober for 3 months.

I wouldn't bother going so elaborate. just say you fancy a soft drink and not alcohol. they might suspect and in a few weeks you will confirm their suspicions anyway. people put far too much effort into hiding it which makes it glaringly obvious

Actually I think the best way to avoid arousing suspicion is just to accept a drink. Then pretend to have a few sips and leave it. Or even better get dp to have some if they are there too. If anyone asks why you've not finished it say you feel a bit off colour, so and so was off sick at work so maybe you've got the beginnings of something, blah blah.

Oh, and congrats!