Booze is pretty common in the workplace. Companies often have happy hours and work drinks or expect you to network and schmooze clients with alcohol. So, inevitably, if you don’t drink much alcohol or are completely sober, you will be in a position where you need to disclose it.

It can feel awkward and uncomfortable not drinking alcohol in an environment where alcohol is very much present. So here are some tips for how to socialise without alcohol in the workplace.

Trust Yourself

The first, and most important thing is, to trust yourself. Even if you are the only person not drinking alcohol at a specific event, trust yourself that this is the right decision for you. If people try to pressure you into drinking alcohol, trust that you know your body better than anyone else there.

A great way to stick to your intentions is to remind yourself before going to an event with alcohol, why you are choosing not to drink that night. Perhaps you are on medication, have something important the next day, or are trying to stay sober. By reminding yourself of your why, you will reinforce why it is important to you.

Practise What You Will Say

It can feel awkward telling people that you are not drinking alcohol, especially if it feels like they are trying to put pressure on you to drink. So it can be handy to plan out what you will say if people offer you a drink or ask why you aren’t drinking.

There are many different ways to tell someone you are not drinking. And the best thing is you don’t have to tell the truth if it makes you feel uncomfortable. You can go for something simple like “I’m the designated driver” or something more tongue-in-cheek!

Make Alternative Plans

It can feel like you need to attend every work social event in order to feel part of the workplace community. But this is not really true. If you don’t feel like socialising in a place where alcohol is very present you can absolutely choose not to go. If this leaves you feeling FOMO then make sure to have alternative plans in place.

Find Activities That Don’t Require Drinking

Not every social activity you do in a workplace community needs to involve alcohol. So if you don’t want to be around drinking, then join in workplace activities that do not involve drinking. Or organise these activities yourself. Most workplaces will organise a variety of social activities that do not involve much alcohol, including things like sports classes and team dinners.

Start Changing the Drinking Culture

The drinking culture at a workplace can also be changed by individuals. So if you want to help create more space for socialising without alcohol you can bring the change. Whether this be through helping to organise your own alcohol-fere socials, openly not drinking alcohol yet enjoying the workplace community, or bringing the alcohol-free booze to the next event.

By showing others that you can still socialise without alcohol you take the pressure off of other people feeling like they need to drink. Because you can guarantee that you are not the only person in the workplace that wants this change to come. In a UK survey, 43% of respondents claimed that they felt too much pressure to drink at workplace socials. So opening space for you to enjoy socialising without alcohol opens up space for all the other people who feel the same way.

Enjoy Alcohol-Free Alternatives

And you can enjoy socialising without alcohol but still enjoy delicious drinks too. The alcohol-free drinks market has grown hugely in the last few years and there is now a huge variety of different and tasty alcohol-free drinks available. So why not enjoy an alcohol-free cocktail at the next work social or a non-alcoholic beer at after-work drinks? You can enjoy a delicious, adult-tasting drink without any of the negative side effects.

Contact JOMO for Corporate Opportunities

If you are looking to change the drinking culture in your workplace and make it a more inclusive space for non-drinkers, then make sure to contact JOMO.

JOMO offers a range of different corporate opportunities to help the workplace community find the joy of missing out. Whether it be with alcohol-free gift hampers, or by running alcohol-free cocktail classes, JOMO is here to help you make your workplace more inclusive.