Drinking

[t27ertwine]

I am 27, who used to social drink, now that I found out that I have Hep. C.  Are their any alternatives for me when I go out with my husband and friends?  Or anything that I can buy at the store or make at home that is like a IPA (beer) or apple martini etc...i know this shouldn't be a concern but I used to go  out 2-3 a week with friends after work. Now it's very hard for me to go out with friends bc they drink and I can't.   Now I find myself being anti-social bc I can't drink.

[fretboard]

I would go with that suggestion up there to drink cranberry juice in a wine glass, don't even trip about not having any fun because you will have plenty.  I've been both a non-drinker and an outright lush, so I've been in both houses.  At times when I recently went to party's I felt like a complete drag, but you have to roll with it.  After you gather a few times and compare wine or whatever vs alcohol-free you will see right off what you're missing and I think you will agree that it's truly not much.  There's alot of fun watching ppl drink, it's even more fun if you compare notes with someone else.lol  You will grow tired of it quickly, I'm certain of it.  Your other choice is to continue going and adjust your drinking to 1 drink a session.  You will find that so truly boring, and you will quit.  Honestly at 27, I think you're gonna have to do what works for you.  The fact that you know you're not supposed to drink is already a step in the right direction.  Personally I still used to drink until just a few years ago, but I never drank more than 2 drinks.  At your age it would be completely awkward, be sure you don't tell too many ppl that you can't drink.  Even more important, don't tell them why.  good luck

[can-do-man]

No........not throwing any gasoline OR mojitos this time if I can help it (but I'm weak dear God help me, I'm weak!)!
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Come on girl, you can do it. How about "just one more for the road?"   :)

[nygirl7]

I always put salt, extra sugar and fruit juice into my vodka.......figure I might as well go out with a big bang.

No........not throwing any gasoline OR mojitos this time if I can help it (but I'm weak dear God help me, I'm weak!)!

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On a serious note: I would love to answer your question but I have a BIG mouth and have been down this road many, many too many times before. As such, I will let the others respond and then duke it out if they want to.

My best advice to you is to use common sense. In the end after everyone makes their opinion known, it is the best thing you have to use and only can be your decision.

[GreatBird]

It's real easy to just say "I don't drink." It requires no explanation. Actually, drinking--while socially acceptable--isn't good for anyone, even people who don't have hep. JMHO.

[epiphiny]

I had to attend a work function the other night, it would have been rude not to and very poor form.  Everyone was drinking champagne, mohitos, brandy alexanders, wine.  I really didn't want to stand there, sipping on orange juice because I knew people would ask me questions about why I wasn't sampling the cocktails.  

My friend thoughtfully made me a drink of apple juice with soda water in a champers glass and it looked just like the champagne everyone was drinking, bubbles and all!  I didn't feel like I stood out, and I felt like part of the group, it was all good.

Usually I don't have a problem being the only non drinker in a group, I gave up drinking when I first found out I had HCV.  But I still wanted to socialise with people, go to parties etc.  At first I felt uncomfortable and then I realised that everyone feels uncomfortable before the first drink kicks in and after that they generally don't notice whether anyone else is drinking or not cos they are too busy getting tipsy.  After a while I actually started to enjoy watching other people in various stages of inebriation and I never woke up with a hangover again!  Yes!

[Kristina538]

Clear apple juice or cranberry in a wine glass, and your friends won't know the difference.

Lime and gingerale,  Lime and soda,  or at a pinch, lemonade & bitters (n.b. bitters is alcoholic but makes your lemonade look like pink champagne and is served with a slice of lemon also)...  I actually changed many of my friends to drinking it  (although I did stop drinking lemonade a few years ago also and now just do the lime and soda).