Now that you’re on the right track and making progress, it’s possible that you’ve thought about going to parties or events that may have lots of alcohol involved. You want to go but you don’t feel like explaining too much or giving away details of your private life to strangers. What do you do? Here are a few tips and ideas to help you stay sober while living your life to the fullest.

Be Prepared
The first thing you have to be is prepared. Prepared what to say, that is. It could be something as simple as ‘No, thanks’ or something more generic like ‘It doesn’t agree with me’. You could also cite health issues (if you have any) or you could simply say that you’re in charge of the wheel. Sometimes though, people can be inquisitive and ask more details. Be prepared about what to say so you don’t get all flustered and anxious.

Avoid Stress & Find Other Ways to De-Stress
First of all, don’t go out to parties, gatherings, or events when you’re stressed or nervous.Before the event, find ways to relax and de-stress so you don’t just grab drinks that are on offer.Drink a few cups of tea, dance to a song on maximum volume, or simply take a nap before leaving. When you’re not stressed, there’s less chances of you being tempted to drink.Understand that stress and feelings of loneliness can be triggers for wanting to drink alcohol. It really depends on the person but stress is a trigger that’s pretty consistent among different kinds of individuals. So handle your stress, get a grip on your emotions, and always look at the bigger picture. Stick To Same-Minded Individuals You might want to stand close to the pregnant women, friends who never had a taste for drink,or people who are on the same boat as you are. Sometimes, all you really have to do is to be surrounded by people who have the same goal as you do: to stay away from the drinks.

Tell the Truth
When all else fails, the truth will set you free. You’ll be surprised how people can be very accepting and non-judgmental towards recovering alcoholics. Sometimes, saying that alcohol is not your friend is going to be enough. Sometimes, people can be very pushy and encourage you to drink (if you don’t, they will make you feel bad about it). So one of the easiest (or hardest)things you can do is to come clean and tell people that you’re on the road to recovery and trying to stay sober.