I went to the bar Saturday night with a group of coworkers…
And i drank water!!!!! I’ve only been officially sober for one week so it’s not much, but to be at a bar and not have a single drop of alcohol is a huge win for me!! The temptation was insane, and I ended up leaving way earlier than everyone else because of that, but the fact that I went & kept my willpower makes me so proud of myself.
Well congrats on not picking up. Yet, eventually more than likely you’ll fail if you continue the bars. Hope you can find a new direction then. Good luck. And huge congrats on that hard won week. Keep it going.
Two years sober and I won’t sit in a bar for the sake of sitting in a bar. It’s not safe, for an alcoholic. Testing my recovery is not worth the risk.
I only went because it was after our work Christmas party. Otherwise I would have passed. But like I said too, I realized the temptation and left once I finished my water and removed myself from the environment. Sure, a bar may not be the best place to be, but realizing when I needed to leave and doing so made me proud of myself. I usually give in to peer pressure way too easily. But thankfully my coworkers are aware of my decision and were extremely supportive as well.
Congrats on two years sober, though! That’s amazing!
That’s definitely different:slightly_smiling_face: You had a reason to be there, with an escape plan and were smart about it. I was worried about you.
It was definitely a unique scenario. Thankfully though, the people I usually hang out with aren’t into the bar scene. I appreciate the support and concern! 
I’m a bartender, I do go to bars but I always have an out, and I always leave before “gremlin hour” usually 11ish or so…. I am a club soda w a salted rim and a lime…. And the bars I go to I support my friends and they all know what I drink so it’s not even an issue. I’ve only been to one bar where they didn’t know me and made me super uncomfortable when I ordered my drink. Soooo I stick to supporting my friends and it’s WAY less temptation and uncomfortable situations
I’m really like militant with my recovery. lol Like I don’t give a sh$$ what people think or if someone is offended or hurt. My sobriety is always always first. That’s how I set my boundaries. I think of it like Iron Man’s heart. If I don’t protect my sobriety, I can’t do any good.
Good job having a plan and sticking to it! I think if you can get through situations like that you are definitely on your way. One of the hardest things for me is the loss of feeling like I can go out and do things I enjoy without grabbing a drink. I'm working on that and it feels good if not even better getting through situations like that than if I would just pass because it was a bar or alcohol will be present. I've made it through 2 metal concerts in the last couple of months and I wasn't even tempted because I had it in my head tgat I didn't need to drink and I was going there to enjoy the music. Before the plan was get as tuned up as possible and mosh all night. It was a very nice change to be able to focus on the music, remember the show and not wake up with a black eye and a missing shoe. 
That sounds so yummy though! A great alternative! And I left at 8:30, so I was way before the “gremlin hour”. It was nice though, like you said, that everyone there was so supportive and knew of my sobriety and didn’t pressure me into drinking or even staying when I decided to leave.
Not like we will ever fit in at the bar again a sober folks…but I’ve found having a drink that looks like a drink helps ease everyone else concern. My go to is club soda splash of cranberry with a lime. Make sure you watch the bartender make if because I had I one with cranberry vodka recently! Lol I caught is by smell! Great job on leaving early!
I told my boss I’d go to Christmas party in a bar if he’d celebrate New Years at a 12 step meeting.
So I’m not going to the company holiday party…
Ha! Well played!
That is awesome. I am glad for you. Stay strong. It’s really hard to do but rewarding.
Congratulations that’s awesome it gets easier and easier
Such strength and dedication!
That’s fantastic ! You rock!!!
I try to avoid those scenarios, but when I do have to be sociable in that setting I usually order a non alcoholic beer. Then I excuse myself and leave early before everyone around me gets loaded. It’s an odd perspective to see others getting drunk while you’re sober. It kind of reinforces my sobriety to see how bad I probably looked as well.
If you don’t want to get hit by the train stay off the tracks! Just for today my friend