HOW TO STAY IN THE SOCIAL MIX IF YOU’RE NOT DRINKING

Although I’m a moderate drinker, alcohol (or the lack thereof) still dictates how dressed up I’ll get, how late I’ll stay out and what conversation topics I’ll put forward. Also (and this is terrible), when I meet someone for the first time, my brain automatically wanders to the question “Day friend or night friend?” A new friend who doesn’t drink is a day friend—a category that includes breastfeeders, people who wake up

at 4 a.m. to jog and couples who eat cereal for dinner. If I were to stop drinking, would I become the dreaded day friend? Warrington has the following advice for staying in the social mix while Sober Curious.

Don’t judge, and don’t preach. No matter how stoked you are about the positive side effects of not drinking (which can include better sleep, skin and digestion), don’t make it a mission to show your old drinking buddies the error of their ways. Instead, before saying something judgmental, stop, observe and ask yourself what their behaviour is triggering in you.

Wear red lipstick and heels for breakfast. Even if you have no intention of partaking in the mimosas, embrace the extroverted and conversational spirit of the occasion by showing up with style and attitude. Find a day DJ party—it doesn’t have to be all yoga and coffee dates. Get a fix on the sober dance party and social scene in your area by checking out VYVE and Daybreaker, both of which host engaging, active events designed to induce a natural high. Start edgy conversations. You don’t have to be drunk to share juicy sex stories or wade into a political debate. In fact, it’s more exciting when you can feel the impact of your words.

Be direct. Let your friends know it sucks to not be invited out at night just because you’re not drinking, and call out their sober prejudice. Be indirect. When someone asks why you’re not drinking, say “Why are you?”