Can I have fun without alcohol outdoors?
Will fellow guests understand that I don’t want to drink? Will a place like Lagos be fun for me? If these questions run through your mind, then you need to read on to find out how you can have a blast without booze.
Lagos as a major entertainment focal point in Nigeria offers a wide variety of entertaining platters for its beaming and hungry residents.
In Lagos, ‘Faaji’ is a universal language that means enjoyment. With beer parlours, restaurants, bars, clubs, resorts, etc., it is a city that indeed never sleeps.
I have heard people say, they visit Lagos only to have fun and would return back to their ‘base’, which is usually outside Lagos.
But when it comes to having fun in Lagos, the majority of it is usually filled with booze, wine, smokes, etc. Does it mean people who don’t drink can’t have fun in this city that never sleeps, is it possible to enjoy a social life in Lagos without alcohol?
Have you ever wondered why you get side-eyed when you opt for soda instead of whisky, lager or stout that’s popularly served at informal social gatherings?
Well, based on social media evaluation, you would think everyone drinks alcohol in Lagos, but this assertion is so not true, as there is a large percentage of Lagosians who don’t drink.
How then can you have fun when in places where you are surrounded by alcohol and faced with pressure from party hosts, friends or party animals making faces at you or snarky comments when you refuse.
Finding an excuse before your outing and rehearsing it well can help temporarily, for example, “I’m on a medication” or “I have a meeting tomorrow, and I need to stay sharp”. Remember, this can only hold for a while.
Always remember why you are not drinking because, peer pressure is real, and you can get pressured to take a cup or a bottle, especially if you are trying to cut down on drinking.
What you should know is, sometimes, people try to project their insecurities on you, especially when you show assertiveness in your resolution not to drink.
If you’re trying to stay sober, it is advisable to avoid such gatherings, this is to avoid been tempted to binge on drinking.
If you think someone might be supportive of you in the gathering, then make them an ally, you might even inform them before the event, so as to prepare them to help you withhold pressure from the other.
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If it’s an invitation, kindly let them know, you would be taking non-alcoholic drinks, so as to prepare the host ahead.
And if you all are ordering, make sure you order for a non-alcoholic drink, without shame, remember, it is your choice and not anyone’s business.
Finally, If you feel, nothing you’ll do will withstand the pressure, leave the party, or don’t go at all.
Avoiding such parties is not only for those staying sober if you feel you may not be able to handle the pressure from your friends, especially if there has been a recurring attempt to get you to drink, please do avoid such parties.
This is Lagos, you can have fun with or without booze, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, thank goodness there are numerous non-alcoholic drinks in the market. You’ll be surprised that there are lots of people like you who are cutting down on their drinking and those who don’t even drink at all.
If it is any consolation, Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t drink, yeah right, well, I had to bring him in, cause he’s my celebrity crush, and he is hot!
