How to Celebrate New Year’s Without Drinking

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Increased amounts of alcohol are consumed on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. People around the world raise their glasses to a fresh start and the close of the previous year. But the holiday is about new beginnings, not drinking, so it’s important to know you don’t have to have alcohol to enjoy this exciting time. Here, we’ll explore how to celebrate New Year’s without drinking to help you maintain your sobriety.

If you need a safe space to stay sober, our sober living environment at The Sanctuary Recovery Foundation may be right for you. Contact us and learn how we can help.

Drive to the Event Separately

It’s always a smart idea to drive to the New Year’s event separately. This way, if you begin to get overwhelmed and need to leave, you know you have transportation readily available.

Learn to Say “No”

Learning to say “no” during a New Year’s celebration is crucial. You need to be able to turn down any drinks that are offered to you. You also must be prepared when people ask why you’re not drinking. You don’t owe anyone an explanation about your sobriety whatsoever, but you might feel more comfortable having a response ready. Consider the following:

  • Say you’re a designated driver
  • Keep a non-alcoholic drink in your hand, and say you already have a beverage
  • Say you’re not in the mood to drink
  • Say you’re pursuing your sobriety (only do this if you’re comfortable disclosing this fact)

Understand Your Triggers

Next, it’s important that you have a solid grasp on your triggers and can identify them throughout the celebration. This way, you can better avoid them, keep your stress levels down, and stay away from temptation.

Prepare Coping Techniques

Encountering one of your triggers may be inevitable at an event where alcohol is being served. That’s why you need to create a plan to cope so you can continue to enjoy the event. We suggest letting a friend or family member at the event know that you’re pursuing your sobriety and seeking them out when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Having someone on your side can help to calm you down and accompany you throughout the event.

Know Your Limit

If you do feel like you are becoming more and more overwhelmed, know that it’s completely ok to leave the event. Knowing your limits and what you can handle is crucial when pursuing your sobriety. Staying sober and maintaining your health should always be the first priority, and if saving that means removing yourself from the situation, there is no shame in doing so. If anything, you should enter the New Year proud that you’re learning to respect your personal boundaries.

Consider The Sanctuary Recovery Foundation

We hope this guide on how to celebrate New Year’s without drinking helps you during this exciting holiday. If you feel that you need assistance pursuing your sobriety, The Sanctuary Recovery Foundation is here for you. A sober living environment will allow you to recover in a supportive, understanding community. To learn more, contact us to discover how we can provide the help you need.