The summertime brings wedding season, and seeing your friends and loved ones get married is always a lovely experience. But before the wedding there’s of course, the stag.
If you’re sober, whether it be a choice or you’ve struggled in the past and have gone through alcohol rehab recovery, stag dos can be quite difficult to navigate. There are pressures to deal with, the temptation of booze all around you, so it takes some planning to ensure that you do indeed stay on the straight and narrow.
If you’ve got a stag do coming up, here are five top tips to get through it sober and ensure that you are actually enjoying it too!
Be Clear and Confident About Your Choice
One of the most powerful tools in your sober toolkit is confidence. Before the weekend even begins, make peace with your decision and be ready to own it. You don’t need to explain yourself to anyone, but it can help to have a simple, confident response prepared if the questions start flying.
A casual “I’m not drinking this weekend, but I’m here for the laughs” usually does the job. Most people won’t press further, and those who do are often projecting their own discomfort. Remember, you’re not the odd one out, you’re just doing what’s right for you.
Plan Ahead with the Organizer
If you’re close with the groom or best man, it’s worth having a quiet word before the event. Let them know you’re not drinking and would appreciate their support if any awkward moments arise. Most people will be respectful once they know where you stand, and a bit of backup from the organizer can go a long way.
If you’re helping plan the stag do yourself, even better, you can make sure there’s a good mix of activities that don’t revolve around booze, like go-karting, hiking, escape rooms or comedy clubs.
Bring Your Own (Better) Drinks
Not drinking doesn’t mean settling for tap water all night. Stock up on alcohol-free beers, mocktails, or whatever you enjoy sipping socially. Having a drink in hand that looks the part helps you blend in and avoids questions from the “go on, just one” crowd.
You could even introduce the group to some great non-alcoholic options, there are plenty of impressive zero-proof spirits and beers available now that taste just as good, if not better, than the real thing.
Stay Involved and Bring the Energy
Just because you’re not drinking doesn’t mean you can’t fully join in the banter and silliness. Be the one rallying the group for karaoke, getting stuck into the games, or dancing like nobody’s watching. Stag dos are about celebrating friendship and letting loose, not just knocking back shots.
When you’re engaged, present, and having fun, others will be too busy laughing with you to care what’s in your glass. Plus, being hangover-free means you’ll likely be the one leading the charge the next morning when everyone else is nursing sore heads.
Know When to Call It a Night (Guilt-Free)
Let’s be honest, there’s a point in every booze-fueled evening where things start to unravel. If you’re beginning to feel out of place or bored of the same slurred stories on repeat, it’s perfectly fine to call it a night.
Book your own accommodation if possible so you’ve got a personal escape route, or arrange a quiet activity for the next day, like a coffee catch-up or brunch with a smaller group. Protecting your peace is not only acceptable, it’s essential.
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