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.
atane That depends on the person. A glass of wine with dinner is fine, but it’s never a good idea to drink & drive.
IamRah 2 drinks…
Vernon_JosephMore than 1 drink in an hour an dyou need at least an hour of no-drinking.
AbayKamau More than a glass.
MissMeandI If I’m drinking more than 3 wine coolers, I’m not gonna drive. Not that I’m gonna be messed up, but I like safe
Dknlvlydiva Cant say, so if drink no drive
yayayarndiva Simple… Drink, don’t drive… period (designated driver or drink at home , stay the night)
PendragonUK the proper answer is zero, but how much is still in your system the next day? As a rule I don’t DD but the next day?
Inkognegroif youre doing more than two single shot drinks per hour…youre playing with fire.
ibster Weigh up how desperate you are to drive home versus how destroyed your life would be if your killed someone. Then call a cab.
blacknthickwhen you judgement is way off thats when
sunshine625 A taste!
LadyJay91 When you don’t know your limit!
treschic67 1 drop is TOO much. I think ANY amount of alcohol impairs the driver.
Lawsonbulk ANY is to much don’t drink and drive
chela816 One is too much.
Pettra88 Any is too many!
Mo_Rease if you’re drinking, shouldn’t be driving.
JoshDamagedepending on the size of the person but to be safe two drinks is prolly too much.
