Hellobee Boards

I think you'll have to address why you're not drinking--I know my friends would be suspicious. The easiest excuse I can think of is to say you're on antibiotics. In college I got a bacterial infection "down there" (BV) and I remember not being able to drink for at least a week while on the meds. If they ask what you're on them for, you could say that (if you're comfortable with it). I feel like with female problems people just accept it and don't question you.

I had a hard time with this too-- I mostly avoided those situations until I was ready to start telling people. However, the few times I did go somewhere and didn't drink, people suspected for sure but were really, really good about not asking questions, which I really appreciated.

I think ordering the special and then asking the waitress to bring you OJ in mimosa glasses is a good compromise. Also in a big group like that, it's entirely possible that no one will notice you not drinking the beverage in front of you. Do you have anyone there you could tell who could switch off drinks with you?

@BabyBoecksMom: If my friends knew we were TTC, they wouldn't buy the antibiotics excuse for a minute depends on how close friends they are, I guess!

Ooooh, tough one! Do any of the girls know you're ttc? If so, you could privately mention how you've been cutting back on alcohol per your OB's recommendation and just leave it at that...from my experience, I think most people get that it's pretty rude to call someone out on something like being pregnant so even if they suspect something from you just sipping on one drink, would anyone really come out and say it aloud?
My (terrible) solution to this issue was to essentially hermit until I was ready to tell people but also, as mentioned above,most of my friends knew we were ttc with issues and that I had pretty much stopped drinking over the summer, so it never really raised any eyebrows....

I went to a happy hour and the waitress charged me for a regular margarita (so it was on the bill and everything) but made sure there was no tequila in it. It looked like the real thing, but definitely didn't taste like it! I just excused myself to go to the bathroom after she went back inside to place our order. Noooobody knew. Even in hindsight, I had people asking, "wow was that a real drink?' ha.

Hopefully after a couple of drinks themselves, they will just totally glaze over you nursing a fake one. You could also say you had a little too much the night before...

@Modern Daisy: I'd definitely ask the waitress for a secret virgin cocktail before sipping on a real one. Not worth it just to trip them up! Then you can drink the whole thing and really throw them off

Excuses not to drink...New Year's Resolution or TTC b/c you have to stop alcohol and cut back on caffeine or new diet you are trying and this happens to be the week/ month you eliminate alcohol (I once had a diet where I changed one habbit at a time- eat breakfast daily for a week).

Or just simply say "no thanks"...

If you would like to be truly incognito...buy the $25 brunch special, order a mimosa with gingerale so it fizzles like champagne from the bar, nurse it while you eat, but mostly drink water. The waitress will likely not ask you if you need another b/c your flute will be full.

Yeah, antibiotics is the oldest trick in the book if any of your friends have been through this before.

I'd probably order a drink and not drink it (fake sip) and then if anyone asks just say you were drinking last night and have a headache. You could say, 'ugh, even the smell of this mimosa' is making me sick'.

I'd be too afraid that the waitress would mess up my secret drink, or that she'd make it too obvious (maybe one out of 11 mimosas on the tray has a little straw in it to ID it as the fake)

I'd get there really early - like 20 minutes or so - and chat with the waitress/manager, etc and just tell them the truth. You don't want anyone to know and are nervous they will pick up on you not drinking. I think a virgin bloody mary is the way to go because you can also easily nurse one of those all brunch and if you get there early enough, you can be sitting with your drink in front of you before anyone arrives. That will take away the stress of ordering as well and the waitress will know to put it in as the $25 special.

P.S. I did this and it worked very well.

I would pull the get there early and talk to the waitress maneuver. I did this when I was about 6 weeks with my son - told the waitress to bring me O'Douls if I asked for a beer. haha! And I'm always the one being the accountant for the group, so it was easy to make sure no one found out about the three O'Doul's on the bill!

I would get there early, speak with the waitress/manager so there is no way it can be messed up and then still order the special so that way it isn't suspicious. Or you could fake sick that day and avoid the whole situation