If all your friends drink and you don''t want to, it can be hard to
say "no, thanks." No one wants to risk feeling rejected or left out. Different strategies for turning down
alcohol work for different people. Some people find it helps to say no without giving an explanation, others think offering their reasons works better ("I''m not into drinking," "I have a game tomorrow," or "my uncle died from drinking," for example).
If
saying no to alcohol makes you feel uncomfortable in front of people you
know, blame your
parents or another adult for your refusal. Saying, "My parents are coming to pick me up soon," "I already got in major trouble for drinking once, I can''t do it again," or "my coach would kill me," can make saying no a bit easier for some.
If you''re going to a party and you know there will be alcohol, plan your strategy in advance. You and a friend can develop a signal for when it''s time to leave, for example. You can also make sure that you have plans to do something besides just hanging out in someone''s basement drinking beer all night. Plan a trip to the movies, the mall, a concert, or a sports event. You might also organize your friends into a volleyball, bowling, or softball team — any activity that gets you moving.
Girls or guys who have strong
self-
esteem are less likely to become problem drinkers than people with low self-esteem
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