{"id":6292,"date":"2017-12-02T08:00:13","date_gmt":"2017-12-02T15:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/manyvoices.soundstrue.com\/?p=3556"},"modified":"2020-04-07T18:01:25","modified_gmt":"2020-04-07T18:01:25","slug":"4-tips-to-make-your-holiday-parties-better-for-non-drinkers-and-drinkers-alike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/blog\/4-tips-to-make-your-holiday-parties-better-for-non-drinkers-and-drinkers-alike\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Tips to Make Your Holiday Parties Better for Non-Drinkers and Drinkers Alike"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

It\u2019s okay not to drink. In fact, it\u2019s normal, a fact that many people tend to forget, especially around the holidays.<\/p>\n

My husband, Pat, quit drinking thirty-three years ago, and he is not at all shy about telling people he\u2019s in long-term recovery. Yet even close friends and relatives who know his story still try to foist alcohol on him.<\/p>\n

At holiday parties, people insist him to try \u201cat least a sip\u201d because they brought the alcohol as a gift, or express incredulity at Pat\u2019s description of himself as an alcoholic. \u201cI never saw you drunk or out of control,\u201d one woman once said, \u201cso how could you be an alcoholic?\u201d<\/p>\n

Even at a New Year\u2019s Eve party, another friend offered Pat a glass of champagne. When he replied, simply, \u201cNo, thanks,\u201d this friend took the opportunity to extol the virtues of moderation.<\/p>\n

Moderation may work for some but it does not work for Pat and an estimated 23 million people in this country who are in recovery from alcohol or other drug addiction — including our son Ben, who recently celebrated his tenth year of recovery. Alcohol works its poison slowly, but poison it is, in large and small amounts for those who are susceptible to its addictive effects \u2013 and for untold others who get caught up in the party spirit and overly imbibe.<\/p>\n

During this holiday season when alcohol flows so freely at intimate family gatherings, holiday parties, and New Year\u2019s Eve celebrations, here’s a short list of suggestions for hosts that will make life easier for non-drinkers and drinkers alike:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Respect \u201cno\u201d as an answer <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    When someone says, \u201cNo thank you\u201d to an offer of beer, wine, or spirits, don\u2019t push, nudge, cajole, or question.  Take no<\/em> for an answer, point to the table containing the different beverages (be sure the non-alcoholic selections get equal space) and say, \u201cWe have a variety of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, what can I get one for you?\u201d<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Get creative with these non-alcoholic beverage ideas<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n