How to Anser “Why Aren’t You Drinking?”

Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are all close at hand. Since these holidays usually involve parties where drinking is a factor, you may find yourself in awkward situations where you formerly used alcohol as a social lubricant. To lessen the potential threat to your sobriety, it helps to be prepared.

Here are some tips for those new to addiction recovery to help them answer the sometimes uncomfortable question, “Why aren’t you drinking?”

Tell them the truth.

If the questioner is someone you know and they genuinely care about why you stopped drinking, consider telling them the truth. Lying about it may not feel right when dealing with family and friends. You will find that most people that you do not know or have just met really do not care whether you drink or not or the reasons for your actions.

“I’m driving.”

This is a perfectly valid and responsible reason for not drinking. In fact, your answer should give anyone else holding a set of car keys alongside an alcoholic drink pause. You may be doing someone a service by pointing out that that it is not “OK” to drink and drive.

“Alcohol doesn’t mix with my medication.”

In many cases, this might be true. In the past, you may have taken medication that you were not supposed to mix with alcohol and you simply did not care about the consequences. Now, as a sober and more health-conscious person, you follow the directions of your physician and stay away from the booze.

“I am trying to live a healthier lifestyle.”

There is plenty of truth here as well. When you think about it, alcohol addiction is a deadly disease when not treated. Not only are there some serious long-term health consequences of continuing to drink, but the hangovers could be a nightmare for some. When you get sober, your head clears, and your health begins to rebound.

“I don’t like who I become when I drink.”

This is probably one of the more honest answers. If you have an alcohol use disorder, drinking probably led to some unpleasant consequences. You may have become sullen or angry, or you may have participated in risky behaviors when drinking. There is a good chance that some people can relate closely to this response.

“I am better skilled at drinking than being drunk.”

If you are looking for a more humorous answer, this one might work. While funny on the surface, there is also some truth here. When you drank, you could probably keep up with just about anyone in the room. The results, however, may not have been pleasant. Maybe you insulted close friends, got into fights or did other things that you would never consider doing while sober.

What If You Are Still Drinking But Want to Stop?

This advice might be premature if you are still drinking and wish to stop. Alcohol addiction can be cunning, but there is qualified help available, and living life free from addictive substances is both more rewarding and better for your health.

There are many Florida addiction treatment options, and The Orlando Recovery Center would be happy to have a conversation with you about your current situation. Contact a knowledgeable and compassionate representative about admissions and treatment options.