How do you handle work happy hours?
Looking for advice on navigating social drinking situations at work. I don't want to explain my situation to everyone but also don't want to cave. My company does happy hours every Thursday and it feels like I'm the only one not drinking. I've tried saying "I'm driving" but people still push. Any strategies that have worked for you?
Comments (4)
I always show up with a drink already in hand — sparkling water with lime looks like a cocktail. Nobody questions it.
I go for 30 minutes, make the rounds, then leave. You don't have to stay the whole time. Most people won't even notice.
I started saying 'I'm on a health kick' instead of explaining the whole thing. People respect fitness goals more than they respect sobriety, unfortunately.
The 'I'm driving' excuse works better if you actually drive there. But honestly, 'no thanks' is a complete sentence.