 Hi there, this is James Swannick and you're listening to the alcohol-free lifestyle podcast where you learn how to take back control over Alcohol and live a life of health wealth love and happiness So how do you tell people that you're not drinking who are encouraging you to just have one go on just have one? You've decided not to drink alcohol You go into a party and then people are noticing that you're drinking water or soda water And they're saying to you go on just have one or what's going on? You're not drinking at the moment I'm James Swannick from the alcohol freedom formula. There's some free resources down below click on those To get started on your alcohol freedom journey It's the classic social peer pressure scenario, isn't it? Where you've made this healthy decision to be alcohol-free and now everyone's questioning you about it. It's normal Society is so indoctrinated with this idea that alcohol is normal and fun and pleasurable which is a nonsense and They're on you the whole time. In fact alcohol is like this the only drug out there where if you Aren't drinking they think that you have a problem You have a problem as a problem with alcohol is like heroin everyone's like all the problems heroin cocaine all the problems cocaine But it's like drinking if you're not drinking is like all you're the problem. It's like always got a drinking problem It's kind of crazy the way that society has set this up. So how do you respond? What are some things that you can do well in my experience? It doesn't so much matter what you say in response to someone encouraging you to have a drink as It is the way that you respond to them Okay, so if you say oh, no, I'm not drinking at the moment. No, I can't know people are gonna go Oh, you're not drinking at the moment. Oh gee Hmm must have a problem or go on you'll be okay. You haven't drunk in like two weeks. Just have one come on But it's my birthday. It's my celebration. It's the anniversary. Come on. Let's go Some variation of that, right? Now if you're like going oh, no, I can't I shouldn't drink I have to quit I'm like G Then you are telling yourself that you're depriving yourself of something fun and pleasurable by not drinking and you're also telling your Social group your friends your peers whoever's at the party that you're also depriving yourself of fun and Excitement and joy and so now they think that you're a buzzkill, right? But if you decline the drink and you do it in a way that shows that you are powerful and confident and happy and joyful While drinking your soda water ice and a piece of lime or your water or whatever it is. It's not alcoholic Then they can't pressure you into anything. They have a good time. You have a good time and We go along our merry way So for example if they say to you, well, why aren't you drinking at the moment instead of you saying? Oh, jeez Need to take a break you just say oh, yeah, I'm just alcohol free at the moment. Actually. I'm just doing running a little experiment Seeing how I feel so far. It's been good. I'm just drinking water tonight. Go on. Just have one. It's my birthday It's like no, no, I'm good, but watch me dance from the tables tonight I'm gonna swing from the rafters. I'm gonna like drink you under the table I tell you what you drink your beer and I'll drink my soda water and we'll see who's still standing Ha ha ha ha ha. So you see how the way that you're doing it is light and fun and playful You're doing it with a smile on your face. You're not doing it like oh, no, I can't drink at the moment It's like oh, no, I'm not drinking at the moment. You might say oh, no, I'm not drinking at the moment But you go right ahead. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Get me a water ice and a piece of lime I'm good when they say go on just have one or so just have one. No I want ten soda waters and a piece of lime And you make a little joke about it like I want to have one. I'm too strong in mind I'm too strong in mind. See how you're a little you're a little bit cheeky about it You're a bit playful about it now They see you feeling confident about the fact that you are not drinking and They let it go and if they don't let it go. It's not this heavy dark kind of thing You're not being the buzzkill. You're not being the killjoy You're just being you fun and happy and Confidently drinking your water ice and a piece of lime and you know what if the truth is is that you did drink too much And you did make some stupid mistakes then make fun of yourself. You say oh, I pushed it too hard Oh, I've made this dumb mistake. It is stupid thing. I'm actually just on the waters and I'm actually realizing I quite like it It's actually good. I'm feeling hydrated. I'm good and I got energy I'm gonna dance you under the table with my friend tonight Well, you're passing out on the corner. I'm gonna be rocking and rolling and so you just make fun of it make fun of yourself make light of the situation and Don't hide the fact that you're not drinking in fact You want people to know that you're not drinking as long as you are letting them know in a way where you are confidence and Powerful and fun and you're not coming from an energy of I'm depriving myself of something or that I'm the only one who can't have fun at the party So when someone is like saying to you go on just have one say make it a hundred waters or Yeah, I'll have one. I'll have a soda water ice and a piece of lime. Thanks. Yeah. No, I'm not sure good at the moment Actually, I'm taking a break. Yeah, I've been going like three months now. I actually feel feel pretty good Key distinction here though. Don't make someone else feel bad for Drinking so don't get on your high horse or preachy and start like judging people because They're drinking and you're not all right Just own yourself own your own situation be light be fun be easy be confident smile No one will be able to make you feel bad. Go ahead post a comment down below like this video share it And let me know what you think what other tips have you got for having a good time? Socializing with friends who are encouraging you to have a drink What are some key phrases that you have said so people trying to get you to drink? I want to hear from you post a comment down below Thank you so much for listening. I have some free stuff for you If you go to James swanick.com forward slash guide I will send you my formula for reducing or quitting alcohol If you'd like to watch the video versions of these episodes Then you can watch them at my YouTube channel, which is at James swanick If you'd like to send me a direct message on Instagram You can do so at James swanick if you would like to try a three-day challenge a free three-day challenge You can go to James swanick.com forward slash Three-day challenge if you would like to try the 30 day no alcohol challenge You can go to 30 day no alcohol challenge if you would like to schedule a 15 minute Exploratory call with one of my coaches to see how we may be able to help you in your alcohol free journey You can go to James swanick.com forward slash schedule and my request is if indeed you enjoyed this episode Or you have enjoyed the podcast would you please go ahead and rate the show in iTunes? And would you please write a review a review might just be a sentence saying great listen? Hey, this was Fantastic. Oh, I really enjoyed this whenever you give a rating whenever you write a review It surges our podcast up in the rankings Enabling more people to see it and hear it and potentially inspiring someone out there to reduce or quit alcohol and potentially Transform their life. So yes while it does help me to get ratings and to get reviews You will actually be directly contributing to helping someone's life by having them discover this podcast So if you are open to inspiring others and to helping me in the process Would you please go ahead and give this episode a ranking and would you please write a review? Thank you so much for listening and I will catch you on the next one