Friendzone

One of the trickiest things about giving up alcohol can be dealing with the way others react. But Professor Kate Conigrave, a University of Sydney Addiction Medicine Specialist, says this will pass. “The longer you stick to your non-drinking lifestyle, the easier it gets,” she says. As for learning to socialise with your new-found clarity, “instead of searching for a quick fix to that nervousness, get used to taking a few minutes to settle in”. Plus, there’s no harm arriving with a zero-alcohol wine. TRY: Funky Monkey Pinot Noir, $15.