Tonight I am going to a booze orientated ladies night, in my new city, where I know no one. I am going to meet other women & hopefully make some new friends. I am excited but always apprehensive when I am meeting new people for the first time - especially at a bar! I'm steadfast in my sobriety so I don't worry about being persuaded, I just hope the other ladies are non judgmental & don't write me off for not drinking (as old drinking me would have done if someone told me they didn't drink!) Top 5 Tips for this scenario are: 1. Check the menu in advance for alcohol free options so that you can confidently order without it feeling like a big deal 🩷 2. Plan to remove yourself if things are getting over whelming. Even a short breathing exercise in a toilet can make all the difference! Pay attention to your physical body - it will let you know! 🧘🏼‍♀️ 3. If you're not feeling the vibe, don't try & fake it! Sit somewhere quieter where you can chat to someone or take yourself home 🛋️ 4. Find others who aren't solely intent on getting hammered. The night will get very tough if your go to person starts getting repetitive 🦜 5. Have a response locked & loaded for why you don't drink - if people notice, they will ask. It can be truth, or made up. If you're confident with the delivery, they'll know they can't persuade you 🚫 My go to line is "I quit nearly 2 years ago because I'm not very good at knowing when to stop and got tired of ending my nights with my head down the toilet". This lets people know several things quickly. 1. I don't drink anymore. Period. 2. I'm not judgemental about other people drinking, I'm just not very good at it myself! Do you have any tips to add?

When I first decided I was going to quit drinking (even for a fixed time) I was plagued with fictitious conversations about how my friends would react and what people would say. Would people try to peer pressure me? Would my friends stop inviting me on nights out? Would I be deemed as 'boring'? 🗣️ If you've thought about quitting drinking or taking a prolonged break but haven't managed to take action... what's the ONE biggest thing that holds you back?