These Tips are Key When Trying to Remain Alcohol-Free!

 

1.      Explain to your friends exactly why you chose to abstain from alcohol or drug use.  Explain your strong feelings and also the positive outcomes or benefits of not drinking.  If they make fun of you or cut you down, they are not very good friends to have.  You are who you hang out with.   

2.      Order a soda instead of a rum and coke.  Order cranberry juice instead of vodka and cranberry.  Carry around an empty beer bottle.  Bring a water bottle full of iced tea and drink that.  You will still have a drink in your hand so no one will bother you about why your hands are empty. 

3.      Join different groups, clubs, and organizations and engage with different people in each group as well as your residence hall and classroom.  You are bound to find some friends who share the same interests and hobbies as you.  Many GW students choose not to drink.  It is easier to remain steadfast in your decision if you are not alone.   

4.      Put water in the beer pong cups so you and your partner drink out of your own cup; have your cup filled with a non-alcoholic beverage.  No one will even know the difference.  And water in pong cups is much more sanitary!

5.      When your friends suggest going to a party with alcohol; counter offer a trip to the monuments, or a cool museum, a free show at the Kennedy center or go to Chinatown to a new restaurant.  There are free live music shows in Federal Triangle and Farragut Square.  Google ‘night-life in DC’ and you will find tons of things to do. 

6.      Tell your friends you will be the ‘DD’ for the night and remain sober to ensure everyone gets home safe.  They will thank you for it.  Remember, if you say you will do this; please make sure to follow through.

7.      Become friends with the CADE Peer Educators on Facebook.  The Peer Educators will send you messages about upcoming late night alcohol-free events across campus either hosted by the CADE Peer Educators or hosted by the Colonial Nightcap.  Attend a few events and meet some new people.

8.      It might be a struggle for you to remain abstinent for a variety of reasons.  Make a personal list of pros and cons of drinking alcohol and keep in a safe place.  Remind yourself why you originally decided to be alcohol-free.  Talk to your parents, family, friends and/or CADE about the difficulty in this decision. 

9.      Remember that everyone makes their own decisions.  Be yourself, be strong, remain true to your values and you will go very far here at GW and in your future.  Peer pressure can be hard to manage but you can do it!  Abstaining from alcohol and drug use is a remarkable and positive choice. 

10.  Contact the CADE Peer Educators for event options, to discuss your decision or locate more information.

Thurston Hall

1900 F Street NW    

Phone: (202) 994-2599

Peer Educator’s Email: gwpeereds@gmail.com

CADE’s Email: cade@gwu.edu

Website: www.gwired.geu.edu/CADE