The Question: You’re invited to an event where alcohol will be served, but you don’t drink. What do you do?

My 2 Cents: Your answer to this question can depend on several factors. It may not be appropriate to assume this is a “duh” question for everyone for the following reasons:

• If you’re a recovering alcohol, then being at a party where alcohol is served may not be a good idea.
• If it goes against your belief system to be around alcohol, it may not be a good idea for you to go to an event where alcohol is served.
• If you’re not certain you won’t succumb to peer pressure to drink, you should avoid going to an event where alcohol is served.
• If there is a chance that being at an event where alcohol is served will reflect poorly on your academic/work record if someone simply perceives you were also drinking, it may not be a good idea for you to attend.

I’m sure there are other reasons, but these are all I can think of right now.

Personally, I have never had a drink. When I was in high school, I avoided parties where alcohol was being served, because (1) I didn’t want to get caught up in a household of underage drinkers and have to defend myself even though I wasn’t drinking, and (2) because it seemed that when alcohol was involved, that’s all that was going on; people standing around getting “wasted.” I never saw the “fun” in that.

As an adult, however, I don’t mind being around others who drink or going to places/events where alcohol is being served. Very seldom have I been around adults who drink and just get way out of hand. The people I know who drink do it socially, not to the point of getting too drunk to function.

If I’m invited to an event where I know absolutely no one, and alcohol will be served, I will either not go or I will not drink anything, not even non-alcoholic beverages, while I’m there. This may sound silly, but if I know no one I don’t know who may try to slip something in my water or juice and do me harm. I’d rather be safe than sorry, but that’s just me.

If I’m invited to an event where I’m acquainted with many of the people attending, I go and just drink water or juice. Even in this circumstance, I pay very close attention to my glass and never drink from it if I’ve left it unattended. I mean, as well as we think we know people, we really don’t know anyone like we think we know them.

If the event is a family reunion, none of the above applies. No one’s going to be messing with my water or juice, so I can chill. Haha.

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Take a few moments to check out the tweets from Twitter on this subject:

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EpicView_SP  I become the designated driver.

fulaanah  I wouldn’t go to an event where alcohol is served.

cwrite101  Once there, drink juice, if available and have bartender make nonalcoholic drinks, if he/she is capable.

ObiOrion  You go to the party if you want to be at one. Just because drinks are served doesn’t mean you have to have one too.

ManofCivility  I was in that position many times. I still went, & had a great time each time. There’s always water or cranberry juice present.

ishadowaddict  just order cranberry juice. I will go.

BLKMGK  You can enjoy yourself while others are drinking. Its actually entertaining to watch drunk folks while you’re sober.

PROTECTED TWEETER Don’t drink!

brijh  I don’t Drink so… I Don’t Drink! Simple!

ddiamond61  duh drink juice or water.

SouthJerseyBro  I don’t drink, but I’ve never had social issues. I mingle, dance sometimes, and have fun.

cheftee  don’t drink! Lol just kidding I would just have sparkling water and lime and just enjoy

PROTECTED TWEETER  people watch

aileen2u2  Go and drink soda. (Depends if I had a dependancy prob: then attendance would depend on sobriety time.)

MissMeandI  Go and don’t drink

PROTECTED TWEETER Drink cranberry juice

NightShade10  getting caught up… I don’t know why it works that way, just had that happen (again) and it’s a mystery

ImABlackPoem  I’d still go to the event…unless I knew the ppl @ the party would hv little or no control after drinking.

NightShade10  Do you want to go & if you can have fun with crowd of people drinking.Best advice:Always have an exit strategy anyplace u go

karlashavon  Drinking shouldnt stop people from enjoying the company of their friends. If they dont drink then they can say, no thanks.

NancyWelker  If I’m not drinking I get something that looks like a cocktail. Ginger ale with lemon is my fav. Only the bartender knows!

PROTECTED TWEETER  ..Im not a drinker so I would ask if they have coffee or soda…..if not im leaving

DerekIsNormal  Definitely go to the event. I was invited. I don’t have to drink. More alcohol for everyone else!

PROTECTED TWEETER  I don’t drink so this happens often for me. I order non alcoholic drink and still have a blast. U dont have to drink

consciousskillz  I don’t drink and just because I don’t doesn’t mean that everybody else is going to live sober. Live and let live.

MuataAdebamgbe  go and drink soda,juice,water, etc. No big deal.

md20737  easy you dont drink. if you dont drink dont start now.

atane  Drink juice or soda. Seems easy enough.

Teaguem2005  Drink virgin so-and-sos or juice. I haven’t drank it close to 2 decades and it doesn’t bother me that others do so I’m cool.

xsashagirl  I go to the bar and order a club soda with lime and keep it moving!

flawlessmi  I don’t drink but I don’t mind goint to a event where its served I always respectfully decline.

walkerdl  Ask for the non-alcoholic beverages. My aunt doesn’t drink, so she’ll ask for a soda

womprat99  I go have a good time. Take a diet Coke or two (if not avail) and enjoy some good company.

MissCocoaLuv  Club soda and cranberry, shirley temple, oj/cran. If you are grown, just say no.

chela816  I do what everyone else I know does: I go and don’t drink. Just because there’s alcohol doesn’t mean I have to partake…

tclarkusa  No prob. 1) simply don’t drink or 2) sparkling club soda & any fruit juice make nice pseudo cocktail.

JoshDamage  have an alcohol free good time lol

treschic67  I don’t drink & I am invited to functions where alcohol is served Frequently. I attend BUT I do NOT Drink any of the Alcohol.

Tazzee  go but don’t drink (if I want to go) or use that as an excuse to decline (if I don’t want to go)

ThelmaBaker  No worries, I just drink water or soft drinks, I don’t drink.

rishaholmes  go, don’t partake

aLiGaT0rBaYChiC  I would go to the event, but I just wouldnt drink because if u dont do something, nobody can tempt u to do it but urself.

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The commentary doesn’t have to end!

Please feel free to continue to add your comments below.