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A man drinking a glass of water in the local pub while his friends laughing with a beer in front.
April 19, 2019

How to Stay Sober at a Party

When you’re in recovery, there will be times when you are in a social setting where you may be asked if you want a drink. It can be difficult to know what steps you need to take to make sure that you can maintain your sobriety. It can be extremely difficult for a previous addict to drink responsibly after rehab. You’re not alone in wondering how to stay sober at a party.  There are several tips you can utilize to help make sure you are prepared at a social gathering, whether it’s an office party, a party at a friend’s house, a family gathering, or anything in between.

If you are currently fighting addiction, our Florida alcohol rehab can help you through the alcohol detox process and recovery phase of treatment. Once you have successfully made it through this process, you may be faced with triggers such as parties and gatherings that involve alcohol or other substances. This post will teach you how to handle these situations so you can work to stay sober and prevent a relapse in the future.

Sober Party Tips

The key to staying sober at a party is having a plan ahead of time so that you don’t feel caught off-guard or unprepared when you arrive, which can increase the risk that you may jeopardize your sobriety. Below are a handful of tips on how to have fun while still avoiding temptation.

Bring a Sober Friend

If you are the only sober person with a bunch of people drinking at a social gathering, it can make you feel like you are drawing attention to yourself or singled out. To overcome this, bring a buddy to the party who will also be sober and who is familiar with your recovery. You don’t need to disclose your addiction to others at the party, but it can be helpful to have someone with you who knows what you are going through and is committed to helping you maintain your sobriety. Having a supportive friend will ensure there is someone else at the party who is not drinking that you can still have fun with.

Have a Plan for If Someone Offers You a Drink

When you’re going to a party, you will likely be offered an alcoholic drink, most likely out of simple hospitality. People at the party may not know you are in recovery so they will not automatically know not to offer you a drink. To help make sure you don’t feel stressed if someone offers you a drink, have a plan for how you will react. It can be as simple as saying “No, thank you!” or “I’m not drinking tonight, thank you though!”, but by knowing how you will respond if someone asks, you go into the situation prepared and with a plan that will help you work to stay clean and sober.

Have an Answer if Someone Asks Why You Aren’t Drinking

When you refuse an alcoholic drink, some individuals may follow-up and ask why you are not drinking. It’s helpful to prepare a response ahead of time that you are comfortable with. If you want to reveal your addiction and recovery, you can do so, but if you don’t feel comfortable disclosing that information, you can also say that you don’t feel like drinking or that you will be driving home. Often people ask why you aren’t drinking out of curiosity and won’t press the issue, so just develop a response you are comfortable with that you can default to if you are asked.

Bring or Serve Your Own Drinks

When you’re at a social gathering, it is helpful to bring or make your own non-alcoholic drinks. You may feel more comfortable if you are holding a drink so that you don’t feel out of place, and by bringing your own non-alcoholic drinks, such as juice, seltzer, or soda, you can make sure you have something you feel comfortable drinking. If you know there will be non-alcoholic options available, be sure to serve yourself so that you don’t run the risk of accidentally getting a drink with alcohol in it.

Have a Plan to Leave

Even when you feel like you are prepared to be at a party around others who are drinking, it can still become too much at times. It’s best to remove yourself from the social situation if you begin to feel tempted to drink and like the situation will endanger your sobriety. It’s vital to have a plan to leave if this does occur so that you don’t feel trapped. This can be as simple as making sure that you drive your own car so you can leave the second you feel uncomfortable. If you don’t have a car, it may also be helpful to make a plan with your supportive friend for how you will leave if you begin to feel uncomfortable.  Come up with a signal beforehand that alerts your friend you want to leave. Having a plan ensures that you don’t feel pressured to stay and tempted to drink; instead, you can easily get up and remove yourself from the situation if you need to.

If you are currently suffering from an alcohol addiction and are ready to change your life for the better, our inpatient alcohol rehab is ready to help. For other tips on ways to stay sober during recovery, contact us today for more information.

Sources:

  • Alta Mira Recovery Programs. “Staying Sober at a Party: Managing Addiction After Treatment.” Retrieved from https://www.altamirarecovery.com/blog//staying-sober-party-managing-addiction-treatment/.
  • The Recovery Book. “Going to a Party? 7 Tips for Staying Sober.” Retrieved from http://therecoverybook.com/7-sober-party-tips/.
  • The Recovery Village. “Sober Holidays: How to Stay Sober At Parties.” Retrieved from https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/recovery-blog/sober-holidays-parties/#gref.