How to resist 'drink pushers' during the festive season

[Northerner]

When actor Stephen McGann recently tweeted about his frustration with people who pressurised others to drink alcohol, he received an outpouring of support on social media.

"Many people talked to me about the agonies they go through during Christmas. If you don't drink, for health or addiction reasons, then imagine how hard it is to be pressured into drinking," says the Call the Midwife actor.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-46632332

 

[Ralph-YK]

McGann, who is 55, gave up alcohol 18 years ago after training for a charity trek. "I grew up in the North in that beer culture, where you would sit in the pub and get a bladder-full.
"One friend really got wound up by me not drinking. ... Booze is so deeply ingrained in our culture. Recently I was at a do where a waiter put a glass of wine in my hand before I'd even said hello."

I'm the same age, and have always lived in The North. I so recognise this. Most all social things I've found in the last 4 years involved going a Looong way, loads of money, and most often drinking.
My home town, a night out only involves getting drunk, kebabs, and (if it's a good night) drunken sex and passing out. None of it necessarily in that order.

 

[Amigo]

I'm the same age, and have always lived in The North. I so recognise this. Most all social things I've found in the last 4 years involved going a Looong way, loads of money, and most often drinking.
My home town, a night out only involves getting drunk, kebabs, and (if it's a good night) drunken sex and passing out. None of it necessarily in that order.

Wow Ralph, your home town needs to cash in on the stag and hen market!

 

[trophywench]

I was only thinking this morning - over the last 2 days, Xmas Day at eldest daughter's house, 9 for lunch - we both had one glass of wine - we could quite freely have had more, just hardly anyone felt the need for a refill. Yesterday here - where they've always known there's alcohol, quite a few of em since birth! - none was drunk at all.

Went to an Xmas lunch for a local cancer 'support' charity we belong to, at a pub where wine is included in the meal price, hence we only needed to put our hands in our pockets for pre-lunch drinks if we wanted one. A pint of cider and a G&T - over £9. Admittedly it would be 'lounge bar price' but even so, how the HELL can people AFFORD to drink in licensed premises regularly?

So many people need to drive to get anywhere they want or need to go, seems to me in our social groups that the vast bulk of folk drink less and less booze. You DO absolutely get out of the habit !