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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Excuses for not drinking

32 replies

Lf89 · 06/12/2019 08:30

I found out I was pregnant last weekend - very happy but also scared as had a CP last month.
I have 5 events in the next two weeks; 2 work drinks, 2 dinner with friends and a wedding. I'm usually up for a drink (makes me sound far worse than I am 😂, but I do enjoy a night out) so people will guess very quickly if I'm not drinking.

I wondered what people said as an excuse? The work parties are a week apart and I'm head of the team so can't really bail. One of the dinners is a week before the wedding with the same people so can't use the same excuse! I've cancelled some drinks with friends tonight already saying I'm ill (do have constant nausea so am feeling rough).

Any ideas welcome - how did you get through events hiding that you're not drinking!

OP posts:
APD1981 · 06/12/2019 08:45

I had a wedding to go to when I was 6 weeks pregnant and I said I had a water infection and was on antibiotics. I thought the combination of what the infection was plus the meds meant I have a double layer of reasons! I was seeing some people from the wedding the following week so, as water infections can be stubborn, I could carry on with they excuse.

My first few weeks of pregnancy gave me really bad bloating and I ended up leaving the wedding early as I was so uncomfortable. My water infection excuse tied into that, too.

newbingepisodes · 06/12/2019 08:48

I had a wedding at 10 weeks pregnant. Had a word with the girl on the bar and explained could she pour me a g&t without the g into a g&t glass so it looks like a standard g&t. She did it all eve for me.

DownToTheSeaAgain · 06/12/2019 08:48

Most people see through excuses like antibiotics. Best thing is to take a glass of wine or whatever and just pretend to drink it without drinking any/ much.

PurpleDaisies · 06/12/2019 08:50

Just hold a glass. Periodically put it down.

If you say you’re on antibiotics, people will know immediately.

MrsMaiselsMuff · 06/12/2019 08:50

"I am pregnant" usually works. People know when you're telling lies.

MellowMelly · 06/12/2019 08:52

Say you have a dental abscess and you’re taking Metronidazole antibiotics and you can’t drink alcohol while taking them.
The course would be about a week long so it would actually cover you for both occasions!

PurpleDaisies · 06/12/2019 08:53

Say you have a dental abscess and you’re taking Metronidazole antibiotics and you can’t drink alcohol while taking them.

Everyone knows that means “I’m pregnant”.

misspiggy19 · 06/12/2019 08:53

Antibiotics is the worst one- EVERYONE knows this is a lie.

Just fake it- have lemonade in a wine glass etc

Tableclothing · 06/12/2019 08:54

If you're late twenties/early thirties, in an established relationship and this will be your first child, absolutely no one will believe the antibiotics thing (especially as you can drink with most of them - but always read the label).

If you're usually rat-arsed by the end of the evening then maybe have a reason you can't stay out very late.

Is being designated driver a plausible excuse for any of the events?

Otherwise just make sure you're drinking something that looks alcoholic but isn't.

00100001 · 06/12/2019 08:56

Just say you're going tee total until the new year or something if you really must come up with an excuse.

Or just order soft drinks and let people wonder (if they notice) and if they're ride enough to ask, just say 'no'?

LH1987 · 06/12/2019 08:56

I really worried about this, and I went to a Christmas party last week. Just didn't drink and no one mentioned it. I think we all overthink it, people are generally focused on themselves. If anyone asks just say you dont fancy it.

squee123 · 06/12/2019 08:58

Claim a dreadful hangover and that the thought of any more alcohol is too much

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 06/12/2019 09:06

'I have developed an unhealthy dependence on alcohol so am now teetotal'.

MellowMelly · 06/12/2019 09:06

Ok! Don’t use the antibiotics one. My last pregnancy was 17 years ago so maybe the excuse was a bit rarer then! Grin

In fairness at a New Years party while I was pregnant a few people kept asking why I wasn’t drinking and I politely said that I wouldn’t be drinking for the next 7 months and I let them get their head round that!

MindyStClaire · 06/12/2019 09:23

Won't work if you're not asthmatic, but in saying I'm avoiding it cos it sets off my asthma and I haven't been well lately. It's all true (thank you pregnancy immune system) but in truth I'd probably have one if I wasn't pregnant.

justilou1 · 06/12/2019 09:31

I used to say I was still hungover from previous night. At this time of the year it’s entirely believable.

Beebeezed · 06/12/2019 09:34

I used to just have a drink and hold it and no one ever noticed it never went down. My partner would sip from it occasionally.
I also once asked the bar man to pour me just a tonic into a gin glass and he knew why and did so with no questions asked. I think it’s a far more common request than people think

CatintheFireplace · 06/12/2019 09:34

I've told a few people that I'm on call for work (doesn't work with colleagues, or if you don't have a job with an on call rota, obvs).

Gwenhwyfar · 06/12/2019 09:38

You can drink with most types of antibiotics so it's really not a good cover.

BeautyAndTheBump1 · 06/12/2019 09:42

Antibiotics is the worse lie ever - everyone knows!! I think any excuse people will start to question, when I needed to I just pretended to drink. I had lime and lemonade in a gin glass - no one even battered an eyelid. If any wine is on offer say you don't want to mix your drinks as it makes you ill.

KaptenKrusty · 06/12/2019 09:43

no one will even notice you are not drinking tbh! But if you must, just carry around a soft drink and nobody can tell whether it has alcohol in it or not

MissConductUS · 06/12/2019 09:46

I'm a recovering alcoholic so run into this often. At my wedding I had the barman give me ginger ale in a champagne glass for the toast and just had a diet coke the rest of the time. No one really cared much what I was drinking.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Smile

RachelEllenR · 06/12/2019 09:48

Agree with the others that antibiotics is a rubbish excuse. Driving/pretending are the best ways I think.

20viona · 06/12/2019 09:48

Do. Not. Say. Antibiotics.

Fake drink. Bar staff will always help you out i found. Pick a glass up and put it down every now and again.

Just don't say antibiotics.
'I said it and no one guessed' yes they did they just didn't call you out on it.
I found it so easy to hide. I was in your exact position last Christmas. When I announced no one had a clue.

greeentopmilk · 06/12/2019 09:59

Don't say anything it will
Draw attention to it.

Drink lemonade or coke in a glass used for spirits and mixers or buy one glass of wine and pretend to sip it.

Nobody will be watching or care.