What is the polite way to refuse alcohol at parties?

Question

When people open a bottle of champagne or give you an alcoholic drink. I have a strong aversion to alcohol and am also taking medication which increases the effects of alcohol.

When I say no thank you, I don't drink, they think I am no fun and do not ask me again or treat me like a little kid or just ignore me.

My friend says you have to drink so they think you are like them, but I don't want to and if I have a small amount, even a sip I get drunk and I don't want people make fun of me.

Answer 1

you say no thanks.

Answer 2

Having read some of the answers,I think you have got all the stuff one needs to deal with the situation.Now,let's look at the situation in a different way.In a group,when one person differs from the majority,He/She becomes a point of focus and source of, inquiry,disagreement,dislike,ridicule,sarcasm,pity ,suspicion,cause of a guilt feelings in others,envy, boycott,and a trigger of many more such reactions.In short,it's an undesirable situation for both sides.The way out ?A reply/action which is true,tactful and diplomatic and also keeps one with the majority and not as a spoil sport.Have a drink,hold it till the people get warmed up(mildly drunk),place it at a convenient place but within reach and have your own drink(juice or whatever),try to act as if you are also a bit tipsy(affected by a drink or two),laugh a lot,joke and if possible,talk a bit of nonsense to make others feel at home with you,avoid serious talk.You can expand the theme just mentioned,have whale of time,be a company to others and enjoy yourselves.It's fine to say that you find other friends but it's neither desirable nor feasible and that too for a small thing like this.As you go along,you can polish the act and after a time,hardly anybody would notice and you can be with the crowd all the time.See,you are not harming anybody,not lying but have adopted a survival technique and avoided being an out caste.We all do it in one way or the other all the time.Hope it works for you.Have a good time.

Answer 3

If you're the only one not drinking and it's making you uncomfortable, you could consider not going to the party. If that's not an option, you can always accept the drink, hold it a while and nonchalantly put it down somewhere and walk away from it. Or bring it to the restroom with you pour some of it out. Or if your friend can hold his/her liquor, accept the drink and pass it off on him/her when s/he runs out.

Otherwise if you're comfortable telling people you don't drink (with or without giving them an explanation as to why) that's perfectly fine too!!

You said, "When I say no thank you, I don't drink, they think I am no fun and do not ask me again or treat me like a little kid or just ignore me." Consider that they may just be respecting you when they don't ask again and figure if you want some, you will ask, ie "On second thought, maybe I will take a glass of that champagne."

Answer 4

You can try telling them just what you said in your question. Say, No thank you. I am on medication that doesn't allow me to drink...but I'm still able to have a good time without the alchohol. I drink sometimes but often am not in the mood to drink and say no thank you. I get a lot of pressure from people also and it can get frustrating. I never understood why people care so much about what other people are doing. My husband thinks it's because they feel guilty about drinking too much and it makes them feel like they are doing something wrong. Try not to worry about it and just do what you know is right for your own body. If they don't like it, or treat you bad because of the lifestyle you choose to lead, then find some new friends who will accept you for who you are.

Answer 5

NO NO NO! You never have to do something you are against just to please someone else. It is really none of their business, but if you feel comfortable, tell them that you are taking a new medicine, and it will make you sick. That could always lead to the conversation of what it is, and why you take it, so that isn't the best way out. Or excuse your self to the restroom when drinks are being served. Honestly, do you want to be friends with people who want to push you past your limits into an uncomfortable zone? Maybe you can find a group of fun loving ppl that don't have to have a buzz to be happy!

Answer 6

You don't do something just because everybody else is doing it. I don't drink either and if anybody offers me alcohol, I just say I don't drink. If someone seems like they have a problem with it, then I am highly offended. I'll usually say something like, "Why do you have to drink to have fun?" All alcohol does is make people act like idiots. I work in a grocery store and and see people all the time rush in 2 min. before we stop selling alcohol, ruuuun back to the beer section like buying beer is the most important thing in the world. Don't EVER let these morons make YOU feel like YOU are in the wrong.

Answer 7

I played in a "bar band" for 6 years without a break - and people always offered me drinks. Since I don't drink alcohol, I had to come up with ways to politely refuse a drink without ticking patrons off.

Hold a drink in your hand - made with OJ and seltzer with a cherry (ginger ale with a cherry in it also works). Really tasty, keeps you hydrated and the antioxidents in the OJ help with second hand smoke hangover the next day. Just make sure your bartender knows what your 'usual' is. The trick is to serve it in a "typical drink-type" glass - complete with paper umbrella...

You can also say firmly - "the doctor says no alcohol. period." This works well if you tell them you're on meds that don't mix with alcohol - worked well when I was pregnant.

"I'm the designated driver for my party." Works with pushy waiters.

"how sweet of you to offer - I'm not a drinker but I sure would appreciate some _soft-drink__ please."

Answer 8

I have medication which requires me not to drink although I used to like the odd glass of wine or two. Nowadays I just say I am the driver and those who would normally have ridiculed me for not drinking are now glad to be driven from A to B without the cost of taxi fares. If you are not a driver just tell people you are on medication and are not allowed to drink if they DO make fun of you then they are not friends.

Answer 9

"No thank you" is the polite way to refuse something that's offered to you that you don't want.

Why do you want to be around people that treat you badly just because you don't drink alcohol? I can think of a hundred things I'd rather do than spend time with idiots like that.

If they're your "friends" than you need to find some new friends, ones that will respect you and not be mean to you for something as rediculous as not boozing it up.

Answer 10

You could take a glass but not drink it. Stand around with it in your hand for a while then put it down in a corner. When someone comes to offer you another one say "No thanks, I have one over there"
Or, Tell them that you are on medication and can't drink any alcohol with it. If they insist. Ask them if they want to make you horribly ill for the next few days

Answer 11

Same is the case with me when i say i dont drink they make fun of me and force me to drink champagne well i am not taking any medication or anything like that, i just dont drink, and i tell them , i really dont care how they think about me it's just me i dont drink so i dont drink, but i join them with a glass of water or juice or coke or something like that.