How to hide not drinking at small dinner?

isabella22 · July 2009

Anyone have any great tips? Small work dinner, bottles of wine (which I would normally drink). The headache excuse will not work and I would really like to not come out yet.

Thanks!

traceandrob · July 2009

Try ordering a drink at the bar like a sprite with a lime on side and saying its something else. Say you have to go up to bar for cash/change or something and order the drink.

Jules&Matt · July 2009

If it's really warm where you live you could always say your not feeling well and think you're dehydrated so are sticking to water...it's good for a try any ways. Good luck!

nickschick! · July 2009

I drank 7up with a lime. ?Looks like vodka tonic

gingerfamily · July 2009

Tell them you are on anti-biotics.

shelbyluvschachi · July 2009

You could also just accept a small amount in a glass and take "fake" sips.

AmandaToo · July 2009

You might be surprised. Even if they figure it out, they might not say anything. You really should be able to simply say, "no, thanks, I'm not drinking tonight." Especially at work. I think people take their cue from how you answer. We went to a lot of dinners this weekend and hosted guests we normally drink with. They asked a couple times if I wanted wine at dinner, but they never pressured me as to why, and really I think that's how people should behave anyway. It's just polite.

isabella22 · July 2009

Last time I was PG and didn't drink at a meeting, the CEO of the company we were with looks at me and says (loudly) 'Why aren't you drinking?!?!?!?'

Not noticing is definitely not going to happen

Thanks for the fake sips idea, I think that may work.

coliecat@hotmail.com · July 2009

I am in a similar situation. Last week I was on a business trip. I just made a point to arrive early - go to the bar to "wait" for everyone else to arrive. I ordered a club soda w/ a lime and asked the bartender to put it in a "small" glass so it would look like a drink. When everyone arrived, I just brought my drink to the table and sipped off it all night. They never asked a thing. They all assumed I was drinking a vodka tonic.

emma9 · July 2009

while a little high maintenance, this also works - have the bartender make you a Virgin mojito - i had DH order them for me when we were out to dinner with another couple who would have noticed if i wasn't drinking -

lostorage · July 2009

I've done the "Not just yet...but may I have a water for now?" and then just never ordered wine. Nobody said anything, and I'm quite the wino...

jojokittie · July 2009

if you can do it descretely order something virgin.

TDM · July 2009

Say you're a Designated Driver or that you'd rather not drink and drive.

isabella22 · July 2009

TDM:

Say you're a Designated Driver or that you'd rather not drink and drive.

This is good! Except I will be away at a conference and no car!

galwaybabe · July 2009

I am a big wine drinker, so I totally get this question. Last weekend, we had dinner w/ friends who TOTALLY would have been all over me if I didn't drink. We got to the restaurant early and I had the bartender make me a huge virgin margarita. I sipped it all night.

It worked so well that they even commented -- wow, we'll have to keep our eyes on when you stop drinking, b/c then we'll know you're pregnant! I just smiled and sipped my fake drink.

Good luck!

Shsteph4 · July 2009

I would fake sip. I've done that in the past and like people said no one notices if you are relaxed about it.

PrincessPearl · July 2009

This is what I did at a recent work dinner. Since we normally start with a drink at the bar, and I usually order a gin & tonic, my switch to a club soda with a lime in a small glass worked perfectly. I just sipped on that and had it with me throughout dinner. Nobody really noticed I don't think.

Married2MrWright · July 2009

You could:

1) Say you are taking a medication that interacts badly with alcohol.

2) Be the designated driver.

3) Order something that looks alcoholic, like cranberry and soda or just soda and have them put a lime in it in a lowball (looks like gin and tonic).

4) Pour a glass of wine (maybe half a glass) make it look like you're sipping it (just touch it to your lips, but don't drink) or sip once or twice (it would be fine for the baby) and comment to the table, "yum, but I prefer my reds to be more fruity" (or some other "wine" comment) and just leave the rest in the glass on the table. Or just say, "yum" loud enough for every one to think you tasted it and then don't drink it anymore. Most folks won't pay attention to how much you've had.

bamagirl100 · July 2009

I took non-alcholic wine in a water bottle then I took a wine glass and filled it with the fake wine... I would let them pour real wine and I would take a fake sip then went and changed out the wine. They did not expect.

You could also order a beer then empty it and fill it with water.

I also ordered a vokda soda in front of everyone then chased the water and had him change it to just soda but charge for vodka.

Those worked for me.... hope it helps!!

eileenm21 · July 2009

HA - nothing. I just tried this last night and I as I said goodnight to one of the girls, she said congrats so i basically fooled no one. The bottom line is you can use an excuse like driving, headache, antiboitics and a portion of people are going to think what they want anyway.

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