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Zoe
Lv 6
Zoe asked in Family & RelationshipsFamily · 1 decade ago

How can I stop my family from pressuring me to drink?

At any social gathering - Christmas, New Years, Birthdays etc, my grandmother (and aunt, sometimes) always pressure me to drink wine or champagne. It's not that I want to be a party pooper, but I just don't enjoy the flavour or how it makes me feel. Even a sip seems to make my stomach ache, and the taste makes me feel ill - it probably doesn't help that my mom (who I rarely see and doesn't attend these events) is an alcoholic.

Obviously I recover quickly and it's not the end of the world, but I resent being pressured to drink when I really have no desire to.

I have tried politely declining, saying I don't like it, but it doesn't work. It will typically go down like this:

Them: "Do you want some champagne?"

Me: "No thanks, I'm good with my water."

Them: "Just have a little bit!"

Me: "No, really, I'm good, I don't like champagne."

Them: "Well, if you have some, you'll learn to like it. Just have a sip when we toast."

Me: "Thanks anyway, but it would be wasted on me! I'll toast with my water."

Them: "Here just have a sip and I'll drink the rest after."

Me: "No thank you, I don't want any."

Them: "Oh common, it's my birthday, just have a little! Don't ruin the toast, just have a little."

All this while having a glass pushed towards me. Last time I got so irritated that I dumped out the champagne onto the grass after 5 minutes of this back-and-forth, and was told angrilly by others not to waste it.

I really don't want to be a crank, so is there something magical I can say that will cause them to stop asking me right away without them thinking I'm ruining their evening or insulting their champagne? I would like them to respect my wishes.

3 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Tell them to respect your wishes. Tell them you feel out of place when the pressure is on.

    It can make you wish you never have to go to their social gatherings.

    If they care then they'll back off. Good luck

  • 1 decade ago

    You have the right to say NO, and be forceful about it.

    If people try to push things on you, you can let them know you have certain limits and drinking crosses your personal boundaries... insist they not ask ever again.

    Your family are all way too pushy.

  • 1 decade ago

    I would say just say no at first. Then if they keep pressuring you then lay downn the law. That should send them the message.

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