How to enjoy your Christmas night out without drinking
The festive period is the season to be merry, but for some, this can only be achieved through alcohol-fuelled nights out. As the season of Christmas parties kicks off, spare a thought for those who want to avoid the booze this year or have gone all-in on sobriety. The thought of being surrounded by drunken work colleagues and having to navigate awkward questions is enough to make many colleagues decline the invite. But if you’re looking to enjoy an alcohol-free work Christmas party, here are some tips on how to enjoy your sober night out.
Tell people beforehand
There’s nothing worse than rocking up to a night out and hearing the moans and groans of your friendship group as you dare tell them that you don’t plan on consuming alcohol this evening; how dare you?! Usually at this time of year, this initial disappointment is followed by “But it’s Christmas!” as if the festive period suddenly transforms teetotalers into binge drinkers. To avoid this awkward and frustrating interaction, tell your colleagues ahead of time that you don’t intend to drink alcohol. This can help you avoid feeling like you are putting a dampener on the night when you do arrive and order a mocktail or soft drink.
Go to the gym first
If you’re someone who has previously used alcohol as a way to loosen up and gain a confidence boost, try replacing this with a pre-nightout workout. If you’ve ever felt a mental boost in the hours after going to the gym, it’s probably caused by a release of endorphins.This is a great way to replace the buzz that comes with drinking alcohol in a way that’s much better for your health and your head the morning after.
Have your alcohol-free order ready
Clutching onto your soft drink while everyone else clinks bottles of beer and wine glasses can be an isolating experience. Fortunately, most alcohol brands offer 0% alternatives that don’t just help you feel part of the night, but also taste great! It’s worth doing a bit of research before your night. Experiment with the different options on the market and find a drink that you actually enjoy rather than just choosing a drink that helps you fit in. A good tip is to make sure you always have a drink in your hand too, this stops people constantly coming over and questioning why you aren’t drinking or offering to buy you an alcoholic beverage.
Plan your getaway
Don’t feel like you have to stay out as late as everyone else. As a non-drinker, the point where everyone around you starts to slur their words and engage in activities they’ll later regret is a painful part of the night. It’s often when your night goes downhill and things start to get a little uncomfortable. To avoid this, have an exit strategy ready and leave before everyone else gets drunk. Whether you are driving home or catching an Uber or train, create a plan and stick to it to avoid the anxiety of having to announce you’re the first to leave to a group of drunken colleagues. However, if you are driving to and from your Christmas night out, do not make the mistake of promising people a lift home. This ties you in until the end of the night and can leave you awkwardly waiting for other people long after you want to depart.
Prepare for peer pressure
For some reason, alcohol-free drinkers have to deal with a barrage of questioning throughout the night. “Why aren’t you drinking?”, “Why don’t you just have one?”, “Why are you leaving so early?” - the peer pressure will be very real. Prepare yourself for these questions and have your answers at the ready. For someone who doesn’t drink alcohol, there is a whole host of benefits that you can use to bat these questions away. Tell them how you’ll wake up feeling fresh and ready for an early morning gym session or how you’ll have more money to spend on home decor over Christmas.
Have a non-drinking buddy
If you’re trying to enjoy an alcohol-free night out, the last thing you want is to get stuck with the office lightweight trying to drag you to the dancefloor every two minutes. Instead, stick with the people you are most comfortable with and strike up a conversation with the more sensible members of your workforce who you can be sure won’t judge you for not drinking alcohol. Even better, pair up with a fellow non-drinker if you have the luxury. You’ll often find that this leads to a much more enjoyable night out. Your evening will likely be filled with deep, intellectual conversations and the best thing is, you’ll be able to remember every word in the morning!
By Lucy Couser
Lucy is a freelance writer who finished her degree in creative writing in Manchester. She loves to talk and share her experiences with alcohol, top tips and healthier fun alternatives for the sober community. You can find her substack here!
