OT - Alcohol at the Christmas Party - YouLookFab Forum

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OT - Alcohol at the Christmas Party

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm a little concerned about the work Christmas party on Friday. My boss has arranged a wonderful celebration spread over 12 hours. However, since having my daughters I have lived an almost tee total existence, having a couple of glasses of wine with a meal to mark a special occasion and nothing more.

I'm worried I will over indulge. Not fab!

My usual technique of sipping from the same glass all night will not work in such a small group.

Do you have any tips for remaining sober during a night of excess?

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19 replies

Latest reply was from hanna

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

An interesting question, Julie. Is this the kind of environment where people are likely to pass judgement if you don't partake to the extent they might expect? I sincerely hope not.

Since your tolerance is bound to be lower, I'd suggest setting an alcohol intake ratio for yourself, i.e. maybe one glass of wine followed by two non-alcoholic drinks. If you wanted to, you could also try to make sure the alcohol you do imbibe is fairly watered down (opting for a white wine spritzer instead of a full glass of white, for instance). If you're more comfortable just having a dry evening, I hope you'd feel comfortable doing that too.

If you do decide to partake in some of the booze, make sure you've eaten enough!

Sorry I don't have more creative tips.

elpgal

Veteran

You could stay totally dry (antibiotics is my favorite excuse) but that won't be much fun. Can hubby or a trusty friend keep tabs on you? I find that it is easy to sip from one glass all night if I order a drink that I detest (Long Island Tea in my case).

Maya

Veteran

I am not a big drinker at all. I could scarcely bring myself to get down a glass of wine in 12 hours. I don't know what's wrong with me but the concept of social drinking just never clicked with me.

So anyway, the point is that when I was in college I had to come up with a myriad of excuses for my lack of enthusiasm towards drinking because I knew I'd be judged and pressured and just didn't want to deal with it. Since getting a bit older, I have finally just started to say flat out that I do not want to drink. I'm not timid about it either: I say it with a good dose of confidence and a great big smile, and it usually shuts people up. If anyone continues to bug me about it, it usually means they're being a jerk, and I simply don't deal with jerks.

So, I guess I have the same question as Michelle. Is it really a situation in which you HAVE to indulge? Will people be keeping tabs and snickering at you if you don't drink a certain amount? I'm only 25 and even I am feeling too old to be placed in that kind of situation, so I hope that's not the case for you.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Thank you for your help.

I have three lovely work colleagues, who do drink socially and have a much higher tolerance to alcohol than I do. They will not place any pressure on me to drink and I intend to spend most of the time drinking fresh lime and soda.

I would like to have the odd glass of champagne through out the day I suppose my concern stems from not knowing my level of tolerance at present.

I guess I will just have to practice ultra caution!

I am loving your tips. Michelle I will certainly drink a number of non alcoholic drinks for every alcoholic one. Elpgal, I could try drinking something I do not like and Maya I'm definitely not afraid to say no!

Louise

Veteran

I'm also not much of a drinker. I second michelle 1 alcoholic to a couple of non alcoholic. Don't mix even different wines (my mother had a major hangover on her last b'day after drinking 1 glass red, 1 white and 1 rose wine). make sure you eat regularly even if only a packet of peanuts to line the stomach. Not sure if this works but have heard that if you drink a pint of water and take a couple of painkillers before you go to bed after a drinking session you can reduce the hangover in the morning and last of all enjoy the party x

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

If I only want to have one drink in a social situation, I order one super-special drink: a fancy martini, a top-shelf mixed drink, etc. A glass of wine or beer is easy to refill, but an $8 martini requires slowness to enjoy it, can be felt within the first couple of sips, and because it's expensive to boot, you are less likely to have a second.

Then I switch to water or soda, and let people know I am the designated driver if they offer me a second. And truthfully, even if I'm not driving, it does take the rest of the party to have the buzzy effects of the one drink wear off.

marianna

Veteran

Seems quite simple -- you just choose not to drink. Or choose to have one drink. Drinking isn't something one should feel forced to do. You'll look perfectly sophisticated with a non-alcoholic drink in hand. Cranberry juice, sparkling water and a slice of lime looks like a pretty cocktail, tastes great, but is completely alcohol free!

I have never been a drinker but once in a while I like a glass of wine when I'm out to a nice dinner. But, my boyfriend doesn't drink and dislikes the smell so I can't drink when I'm around him (which is always). It's not a big deal. Last night we went out to a really expensive restaurant to celebrate his birthday, and everyone else at the table had an alcoholic drink, while we were drinking iced teas. The birthday boy had an iced tea! It is not a big deal at all. No one cares! You're not required to drink to celebrate!

fathenry

Veteran

Eat before you go, eat at the party, drink water and set your drink down. If you set your drink down in between sips, you won't drink it too fast. It sounds simple but is really easy to forget when you're tipsy!

Dawn

(website)

I definitely know where you're coming from, Julie! While I drink socially, I'm so small and have such a fast metabolism that I have to take care not to get tipsy very quickly. Also I used to be friends with a girl who would try to pressure me into drinking more than I was comfortable with so I had to develop some tactics to deal with this!

1) No means no! This should work on most people but occasionally it doesn't and sometimes you don't want to seem confrontational, but this should be your first option. In this case, if someone buys you a drink, don't even touch it. Give it to someone else to make your point.

2) Set yourself a limit of two or three drinks with two glasses of water in between. This way you will feel really full from all the water and remain sober as well.

3) Only drink when you're eating, and then drink water or soda after that.

4) Water down your drinks, white wine spritzer or spirits with extra mixer.

5) Stay away from drinks that you know will get you drunk. For me, it's gin or really sweet cocktails.

6) Drink pints of beer or cider ever since they take much longer to drink than cocktails and contain less alcohol.

For when the person/ people you're drinking with are being jerks:

1) Be assertive!

2) Be willing to lie- I took antibiotics/ painkillers earlier, drink soda and say that there is vodka in your drink, I have an early start, etc.

3) In my case, reconsider if someone who doesn't respect your decisions deserves your friendship.

taylor

Veteran

As a fly weight , I have never been able to drink more than a half glass of anything without feeling dizzy :0 I just don't do it .

Many years ago, when I was much younger I used to walk around with OJ...people just thought I was drinking a screwdriver w/vodka:)

You have some good advice from the women ... If you limit yourself, and pace yourself and you should have a good time:)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Dawn, LOVE your comment!

I don't drink at all and never have. I guess I'm just arrogant and happy to be a complete stick in the mud at any drinking party. You can always count on me to drive you home if I've brought my car! I’ll order tea and lemonade at a pub or bar no problem. How do you feel about ordering soft drinks at this do, Julie?

Maya

Veteran

Wow, I did not expect to find so many kindred spirits here! The few friends I used to have that didn't drink have all since started up so I have gotten used to being the odd one out.

The last time I drank was in 2005 when I was in France. I didn't mind it so much there. I refuse to go to bars here at home, but the atmosphere was a lot nicer there and the people had a very different (and I think much better) attitude towards alcohol, so I didn't mind the occasional drink with dinner.

I cannot STAND the drinking attitude of college students. I was very lonely for much of my college years because I just hated going to all those parties where the ONLY purpose was to drink, drink, drink, sleep with a total stranger, puke, and pass out over a stinking toilet. I have NO IDEA why this is considered the default activity for college kids. I'm so cynical and bitter over the whole experience that I think it has caused me to really resent even responsible drinking. Dawn's last statement there really resonates with me. Just do what makes you feel comfortable and if anyone bothers you about it, just tell them to bugger off. They're not worth your time or energy.

fathenry

Veteran

I think you may have already mentioned this, but a club soda with a twist of lime looks just like a gin and tonic. No one will know the difference. I had a co-worker who used to sip these and fool our boss

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Dawn, thank you so much for sharing your story, how horrible a friend should bully you in that way.

We are a very sober forum, yet I know we would have the most fantastic party ever!

I think I have a strategy in place now, I will drink wine at the meals and then switch to soda in between. Sorted!

Thank you everyone for your help.

Dawn

(website)

Maya, here in Ireland, it's not just college students who have this attitude. Irish society has a really unhealthy attitude towards drinking- it's either all or nothing with most Irish people and if you don't want to drink heavily, you're boring! Now I do drink but never to the point of being absolutely wasted drunk, and of course, that is my decision which should be respected!

Ele

(website)

Dawn, it's the same here in the UK. I think it's hard for people elsewhere to really understand the drinking culture here- it's just a constant thing, so I can really understand why Julie was worried about the Christmas party.

I do drink, but not often and never to excess- just the odd night out with friends or a glass of wine with Andrew during the X Factor on Saturdays (don't laugh at us, we're addicted!). I probably drink a bit more since I moved to the UK, and in some ways, it's a good thing. At home during the colder months you can get very isolated, and there isn't the same culture of going out and being with people. I like the tradition of having a "local" here and just meeting someone after work/whenever to have a drink and a chat. Of course, that socialising doesn't *have* to come with alcohol, but it does seem to a lot, in this part of the world.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I will have a little to drink here and there, but it's always on my own terms. I have never been drunk and don't think I've ever been tipsy either.
As a former food addict, I like to be very careful about things that could easily become addictions. And I can't imagine not being in control of all of my functions. That terrifies me.
I also don't surround myself with people who make me feel bad for my personal choices. Whether I choose to drink or not shouldn't be anybody elses concern.
Stick to your guns - enjoy the party and don't let others make you feel bad for your choice.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

The forum's attitude to alcohol is certainly a refreshing change from the binge culture of the UK and Ireland. To say I will be the exception on Friday is an understatement. Excessive consumption of alcohol is not limited by age, geography or profession.

hanna

(website)

wow, what interesting responses -- i hadn't realized how much alcohol and socializing went together in the uk.

i can relate, julie -- because of both religion and personal preference, i don't drink, and i never have. try explaining that to a big group of your american friends in college! i always refused, saying it firmly and confidently as maya says... but i still went out with them, which left me the designated babysitter for wasted friends. NOT FUN.

in the end, if i knew there was heavy drinking involved, i tended to stay away, or leave before the aftermath...

anyway, major digression, but i just wanted to say that i realize how difficult it can be to say no. but hey, it's still possible to have a great time with them, minus the drinking, right?