Avoid Drinking - How You Can Avoid It and Say No

How Can I Avoid Drinking

You are at a party with your friends and everyone is drinking alcohol. You don't want to look like a baby and like you don't fit in if you don't drink as well. Nobody likes to feel left out or rejected by their peers.

If saying no to alcohol makes you feel uncomfortable, one effective strategy is to blame your parents or another adult for your refusal. Saying, "My parents are coming to pick me up soon," or "I already got in major trouble for drinking once, I can't do it again," can make saying no a little bit easier.

You can also make sure that you and your friends have plans to do something besides just hanging out in someone's basement drinking beer. Plan a trip to the movies, the mall, a concert, or a sports event - anything that gets you out of the house and keeps you active and entertained. You might also organize your friends into a volleyball, bowling, or softball team - any activity that gets you moving.