SOCIETY VS SOBRIETY

Check Out These 7 Essential Tips to Avoid Alcohol During the Heavy Drinking Holidays

Do the holidays always trigger drinking for you?

Break out the champagne and OJ — time for mimosas! It’s okay. We’ve had a light breakfast, and the turkey is in the oven—time for a break and the first toast of the day.

This scene would be the start of a boozy holiday in the old days. It didn’t matter if it was Thanksgiving or Christmas; alcohol was always present.

It was more than present — I would plan what cocktail would make the day more festive. What’s a holiday without a cheerful, boozy beverage?

I’m so relieved those days are behind me. No worries now that the turkey is dry and overcooked, or I’m too tipsy to make gravy, so a guest must pitch in and rescue me.

Yes, that has happened in my drinking days. Now I’m sober and loving it.

I buy a few bottles of Martinelli’s cider, pour a glug into my crystal goblet, add a splash of seltzer (it is rather sweet), and what a lovely cocktail it is. Often, others will join me.

I love that the sober mentality has taken hold. Plenty of folks these days are choosing to spend time alcohol-free.

The author is licensed by stock.adobe.com for the use of the photo.

Still, for many, the holidays trigger heavy drinking. Could it be celebrating time off from work and the merriment of the holidays seems to call for imbibing?

Holidays are often stressful — spending too much money, socializing with family and friends, or hosting can bring angst. What better way to ease the pressure than having a drink?

It could be tricky if this is your first sober holiday. But hang on, I have tips to help you easily navigate this inaugural (or familiar) sober holiday.

7 tips to avoid alcohol this holiday season

Just say no to alcohol. Practicing what you will say before the event will help you feel more confident. You don’t owe anyone an explanation; still, giving a simple reason will ease the way every time someone asks. My answer always is, “I feel better when I don’t drink.” I know alcohol is a thing of the past, no longer in my life. That’s a big step. You say whatever feels comfortable: I’m driving tonight, my medication doesn’t mix with alcohol, or I’ve begun a healthier lifestyle. You decide.
Have a plan to avoid triggers. Don’t take this lightly. After three months of sobriety, I caved. I wasn’t fully prepared. Often, family or friends can be the trigger. For me, a relative said: “Surely, you can have one drink — it won’t hurt.” That led me down the path to another few years of drinking. Again, be prepared with your reason for not drinking if you cannot avoid this person or persons. Emotions and thoughts often trigger us to imbibe. Prepare for this by devising coping mechanisms to use when you are tempted. You have been accustomed to using alcohol to ease stress. Learning other ways to alleviate stress is critical. Meditation, daily exercise, journaling your feelings, or a mantra can help ease anxiety — before you attend a function.
Bring your own non-alcoholic beverage. There are many buzz-free beverages on the market. I’m not a fancy gal, and LaCroix seltzers work well and are easy to bring. The coconut-enhanced one is my fav. When entertaining at home, I often go for seltzer spiked with cranberry juice, and a slice of lime is festive. Most hosts will provide an alcohol-free drink, but it’s best to play it safe and be prepared.
Leave the party when you’re ready. This is easy for me — I’m usually among the first to bid farewell. It’s a relief to leave when you know you’ve had enough socializing. As the party continues, you may find it uncomfortable to be around intoxicated people. Leaving gets easier as you accumulate time in sobriety. Soon, your friends and family will expect it, and many will follow your lead.
You get to decide whether to attend or not. Especially early in your recovery, it may be challenging to be around the temptation of alcohol in a social setting. It’s okay to have gained muscle in your sobriety before venturing out. It is helpful to plan something for yourself at home if you decide to pass on an invitation. Perhaps order your favorite take-out meal or plan an evening cozying up with a good book, a cup of tea, and a slice of pie. Sobriety is about taking care of you.
Call someone in your support system. This is critical if you are needing moral support and understanding. Reach out to one who has been with you through your recovery — whether a group, therapist, relative, or friend. They get it, know holidays can be tough, and are here for each other.
Start your own traditions. What has happened for me is natural — waking the day after a holiday hangover-free automatically creates joy and gratitude. I’m ready to head out the door for an early morning hike. Knowing this, several friends and family members have joined me in going alcohol-free on the holidays. Many towns have races — “Turkey Trots” the day of or after Thanksgiving, and other communities have volunteers helping to feed the underserved. You could host a cookie-baking day during December with a festive, buzz-free punch or attend a local theater or musical performance.

When you’re not drinking during the holidays — especially if this is your first you may experience feeling nostalgic for the “good old days.” Remember, they weren’t always that good. Hangovers, making a fool of yourself, or insulting the host have occurred. Uh oh.

Allow your feelings. They’re all natural and understandable as you did have many (maybe) good times celebrating with the drink. What’s crucial is to remember why you quit. Alcohol was no longer serving you — the consequences of drinking outweighed the benefits.

In the early days of my sobriety, I often had to visualize what the night would look like if I succumbed to a drink. Seeing the evening through to the end — often stumbling to bed, waking at 2 a.m. nauseous and seriously hung over in the morning was enough to prevent me from taking that drink.

Five years of sobriety later — I know (and pray) I will not drink again.

You know you now have a life you love. No alcoholic drink on the planet is worth blowing this sober life you created.

If you need help quitting drinking, call your local alcohol abuse hotline or SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration) at 1–800–662-HELP (4357).