Excuses for not drinking

[Lf89]

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!

Thanks! Im 30 and been married for 4 years so people are definitely looking out for signs, I definitely won't use the antibiotics excuse then! I might get some tonic as suggested and at the wedding walk round with a glass and get my husband to drink it!
Thank you, I've enjoyed reading the replies!

I always think it’s a shame that people on here claim they have missed it of fun events with friends because they didn’t want anybody to wonder why they weren’t drinking...don’t miss out on having a lovely time!!

After a previous miscarriage I'd much rather miss a night out than have people guess I'm pregnant. Yes it's a shame but not as horrible as telling everyone at work that you've lost your pregnancy.

Drive for one work do, be ill for other work do, just drink tonic for wedding

Everythings in central london so won't be driving, but I'll definitely do the tonic suggestion.

I know @catintheFireplace that's exactly how I feel. I'm so worried something will go wrong again, I don't want people to know yet.

Beer in a can, or bottle (which you can replace with water from your bag). Noone can see if it is full or empty or whats in it.

Tonic is a good one.

Saying yes very enthusiastically to drinks and top ups and then pretend to drink them, lose your drink around the place / tip it down the loo / making your husband drink it, etc. A bit wasteful but needs must.. As others have said, saying you're not drinking just draws attention to it. If you say you are then noone will watch you. It's a bit annoying when you end up having to buy a round :-/

It's pretty easy at parties, particularly if the drinks are being topped up like at a wedding. It's very diffficult at dinner parties, particularly dinner parties at your house that you are hosting!!

I've had two events recently where I really didn't want to tell people yet and knew they'd be onto me if I drove or didn't drink for any reason. I also really wanted to go.

First time was out around a few bars for drinks and I said I was a bit skint, plus I wanted to drink my fave spiced rum which they don't sell in many places so Id bought a hip flask. I actually did put some in my hip flask for people to try but nobody noticed I didn't actually put any in my coke.

Second night was a meal. Inspired by this thread, I had a quiet word with waitress and bartender and asked if they could give me a virgin mojito whenever I asked for a mojito. They were great and didn't bat an eyelid. I thought I was going to get caught out when the receipt came and 5 x VIRGIN Mojito was written on it but luckily nobody studied it too closely