How can I socialise without alcohol?!
Unfortunately I am a very light-weight drinker and any more than five drinks in a night, I will be in bed for the entire day following.
This weekend I have a kayaking weekend with people from uni. There are massive amounts of alcohol consumed in between the kayaking. I can't emphasise enough how much alcohol is drunk. With about 150 people doing the trip/party hook-ups are very possible.
Does anyone have any idea how I can socialise with everyone else, without drinking too much?
I want to be able to enjoy the partying aspect of the trip as well as the kayaking.
Thanks
Answers: I am a very shy and quiet person normally. And I find that to be comfortable around people that don't know at all or very well, I need to drink.
Unfortunately I am a very light-weight drinker and any more than five drinks in a night, I will be in bed for the entire day following.
This weekend I have a kayaking weekend with people from uni. There are massive amounts of alcohol consumed in between the kayaking. I can't emphasise enough how much alcohol is drunk. With about 150 people doing the trip/party hook-ups are very possible.
Does anyone have any idea how I can socialise with everyone else, without drinking too much?
I want to be able to enjoy the partying aspect of the trip as well as the kayaking.
Thanks
Give yourself a limit and stick to it or nurse whatever you do drink and space them out. Plan to drink a bottle of water or two in between each drink and eat lots of food too.
With that much alcohol, chances are most of the other people will too intoxicated to notice anything- including how self conscious you are.
I used to have this same problem - very shy and not very good at working a crowd- but I learned that being a good socializer takes practice. Look at this as an opportunity to do just that. Ask people about themselves and then truly listen to thier answers to come up with another question to ask them about themselves. See how many questions you can ask before you run out of ideas. Many times listeners get labeled as great conversationalists even though they do less talking.
Have fun!
You do not need it you are charming and wonderful without it.
Trust me dude, YOU WILL WANT TO DRINK....it makes it like 100x better.
why don't you just have a drink or two to loosen up and not go overboard?
Err..why would you want to? Stop at four or five then. That's about where I call it in.
You don't say how old you are. When I was in my teens and early 20's I might have thought like you (although coming from a very conservative family and upbringing I wasn't exposed to as much of the heavy drinking and partying crowds). However, I started to outgrow it and realize that it was much more fun to NOT drink and be the designated driver/sane person and to just sit back and observe all the crazy drunk behavior.
You may find others who will share that pastime with you and realize that it's fun just to be yourself and get to know others who are being themselves rather than contriving and possibly trying too hard to be the "life of the party".
It's quite possible that you will more likely live to tell about it that way as well!
I find it strange for a person to have to drink to fit in to a crowd. I am not a drinker, but to have fun, I do anyway and people have said to me, what has she had to drink. And the answer is not a drop of alcohol. I just have fun, no matter what. When I went to college with my girlfriends, they all smoked except me and when they asked me if I wanted one, I said no. You have a choice of what you do. I know there is peer pressure, but in the long run, its you who has to respect oneself. And if they are real friends, they will respect your decisions. Go and have fun kayaking and show them you can have a good time without alcohol. Good luck
It sounds like you are trying to avoid the hangover more than the drinking, and if you are kayaking you are more likely to get somewhat dehydrated and could end up with a worse hangover.
Don't not drink, just designate which times you are going to drink. On float trips it is so easy to drink the entire time. How about deciding to drink only after making camp? (It's a pain to pitch a tent with a buzz, anyway.)
Chug a gatorade, a couple tylenol, and some B Complex before passing out and you should be fine in the morning.
Know when to say when. You get too much in you and you can start acting stupid. Just stick to a light buzz and stop there. You can always drink water to rehydrate and not get drunker and avoid a hangover that way!
And if you are in the US, don't be stupid, don't drink at all in public. The legal age is 21 here!
Why do you feel pressured to drink? So what? Dont drink if you do not want to! If you are fit and sporty, then limit yourself to one or two and just be honest with everyone that you prefer water or whatever. You can party without getting drunk. Peer pressure gets everyone in trouble. If you feel you have to "fit in" then you are at the wrong party! If you feel the need to drink then just sip it. Eat, and drink water in between. If you are that shy, getting drunk is not the answer as they may see a side of you that is NOT you. Calm yourself and don't try to FIT in. Drink some calming tea before you go and just be proud of yourself that you are actually going and not staying in a closet. And feel great about yourself. The most confident thing I can tell you is to smile and be genuine! You might just find out that YOU are important and the same kind of people like you will be there too.
Ugg I have politely read the other answers but they didn't answer your question. I am a teetotaler, due to medical reasons I can't drink. So I have learned how to socialize, first if you can't calm down, hang on the outside of the group then slowly work your way in. Hold onto a non-alcoholic drink like a Pepsi or something so you have an excuse to say thanks got it covered if someone tempts you with a drink. Start talking to people after all they will loosen up with drink so you can have fun without it. Think of yourself as the designated bear watcher. oh didn't mean to scare you there aren't any bears. :D Anyway no booze no hangover and you have more fun than the people holding their heads the next morning.
i know what u mean, i am also like that.
i find that if i want to get in the mood of the whole 'drunkness' i have generally one or two drinks in the night. with glasses of coke (if u want ppl to still think u are drinking) or water inbetween. just relax and before long, u will realise u can be comfortable with them, cause they wont remember int he morning!
Have fun, try not to stress too much.
In your case, I highly recommend a non-alcoholic brew. There are several pretty decent brands out there like St. Paulie N/A to Kaliber (the makers of Guinness). I understand how difficult it can be partying with drinkers and not drinking. It truly bothers people if you aren't drinking with them. I know because I went sober for 3 years and kept an active social life. "Why aren't you drinking", "I'll buy you a drink", "Are you religious or something?"
It's annoying, really. But having what appears to be an alcoholic beverage stops people from making an issue out of your not drinking. So, go grab a six pack of the N/A and don't tell anyone about it and you will fit right in.
church groups is a really good way