8 great ways to tell someone you are alcohol free

When you choose not to drink alcohol, whether it's a one-off or a more long-term decision, you are faced with answering the inevitable question “why aren’t you drinking? So boring!” And whilst it's obvious that going alcohol-free does not make you a boring person, it can be endlessly dull answering the same question again and again.

More than being dull, sometimes you don’t want to have to explain the reason behind your sobriety to other people. It can often mean talking about traumatic experiences, or things that are quite personal. For instance, I am unable to drink due to my sickness which I don't always feel the need to talk about.

So, I like to have some fun with it, and when I turn down a glass of wine or a beer, I often pull out a slightly sassy response. So here are eight of my go-to ways to tell someone I don't drink alcohol!

1. Turn it around on them

It can be a bit awkward having to explain why you don’t drink alcohol. It is often attached to the idea that avoiding drinking makes you uninteresting and the odd one out. So it can be a fun option to turn the awkwardness around onto the other person. “Why don’t I drink? Well, why do you drink?” Now instead of having to answer them the tables have turned!  

2. Be honest about it

Of course, you don’t always need to have a sassy response. Sometimes you might feel like being honest about the reason you don’t drink. You can answer very briefly or go into as much depth as you like. Being open and vulnerable with people can be a great way to connect. 

3. Tell them you just prefer alcohol-free drinks

This is a very simple response. Just explain that you don’t really like the taste of alcohol and much prefer alcohol-free drinks. Given the huge array of alcohol-free drinks now available this is a very understandable opinion to have!

4. Go outlandish 

Something that is endlessly fun to do, especially when interacting with people who are very drunk, is to come up with an incredibly outlandish reason for why you aren't drinking alcohol.

For instance, you could go for something like “last time I drank I ended up thinking I was strong enough to fight a lion, so I broke into the zoo, found the lions and had a wrestling match. This didn’t seem like such a good idea so I’ve decided not to drink for while”.

Your imagination is the only limit to this response. Not only do you make it clear that you don’t want to have an honest conversation about it, but you have fun doing so.

5. Brag about yourself 

Why not use this question, which can feel slightly judgemental at times, to have little humble brag? You could go with “I’m way too fun as it is, you couldn’t handle me with alcohol” or you could even go further and say something like “I am already the life of the party - I don’t need alcohol to be endlessly cool!”

Why not take a little chance to brag - you’ll likely be met with an eye roll, but self-affirmation is always great!

6. Price up your organs

It's no secret that we are currently experiencing a cost of living crisis, so you can play on this. “In this economy, I’ve got to protect my organs. They’ll be worth more on the black market without alcohol.” A little dark humour is always appreciated.

7. Tell them you want to remember the silly drunk things they do

If you want to go for a slightly more threatening response then it's a good time to remind them that you will remember everything that happened the next morning. They, on the other hand, might well not!

If someone is really harping on about your choice not to drink alcohol this can be a great way to keep them quiet!

8. Take the chance to flirt

But what if you are flirting with the person who asks the question? Then get your flirt on! “You don’t need alcohol to get me in bed” is a playful way to keep the mood flirty without having to actually explain in detail why you don’t drink!

Explore The World Of Alcohol-Free Drinks With JOMO

Drinking more mindfully, sober curious or new to the world of alcohol-free? Then JOMO is the best place to dive into the exciting world of alcohol-free drinks.

With a JOMO subscription, you will receive a monthly or quarterly box filled the to brim with mindfully curated alcohol-free drinks. Each box contains a full-sized alcohol-free spirit alongside mixers and garnishes to make exciting non-alcoholic cocktails. Next to this, you will receive a range of ready-to-drink alcohol-free beverages and delicious snacks.

With JOMO you can discover your new favourite alcohol-free drinks and find the joy of missing out!