Staying sober-ish w/ clients (informal meet ups)

Sadly the next few months i'm on a strict limit from the doc for no more than ~one drink per day, and even if I can drink it screws with my sleep so I like to cap it at ~2 during the week.

I often am out w/ clients from different countries/backgrounds and it's much easier to keep it quiet that I can't drink than to have to explain why.

Ideas for how I can refuse that 2nd+ drink w/out giving an explanation / being "that guy"? Or tricks for pretending i'm keeping up with them?

Besides just explaining I can't drink for xyz reason, so far I've taken my drink(s) w/ me to the restroom and poured out half, found the waiter/waitress after ordering to hold the gin in my gin/tonic (they never look surprised, figure they get all the time, especially on a Monday night).

Getting drinks with a date tonight... hoping she goes 2+ but I can't keep up, so obviously this advice applies in more than one scenario.

Thanks monkeys

 
Best Response

Etiquette for dealing with the situation is pretty well established and easy to follow.

If you have a one-drink limit, you take the first drink, finish it, and all subsequent drink orders are "club soda with lime," or local equivalent. If you can't drink at all, make it club soda with lime from the start.

If you're brought an alcoholic drink despite your request for club and lime, leave it on the table unconsumed, and keep ordering club and lime until you get it.

If anyone is so rude as to ask why you're not drinking alcohol, say "doctor's orders." Ignore any subsequent impertinent questions. If rudeness continues, excuse yourself politely and leave, or sucker punch griefer in the face, according to circumstances. For example, if somebody tries to spike your club and lime, he's earned a trip to the hospital. For a real alcoholic, that's like putting cyanide in the glass.

I'm not an alcoholic, but I know my limit and I'll "86" myself if one more would incapacitate me or if I have to drive. I've never had a problem using the protocol described above.

 

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