How to not give in to peer pressure

I’m on the hunt for the perfect cowboy boot

Hello friends! Welcome back.

London has actually seen some sun this week. Actual sun - not too hot but not too cold, all you need is a light jacket - kind of sun. But as the temperature gets hotter, drinks start flowing and after-work drinks are added to your Google calendar. So let’s chat about how we can still enjoy the sunny socialising if we are trying to quit or cut back on drinking, as well as how to navigate peer pressure.

Some pretty major news is that the demand for alcohol-free drinks at bars is increasing. Who’s seen WhiteClaw now offering alcohol-free drinks? It’s actually expected that non-alcoholic drink consumption will rise by a third by 2026. Cheers to that! So you’re not alone if this time you’re reaching for a Lucky Saint instead of a Peroni. 

Now the weather’s warmer, we’ll see pubs, pavements and parks filling up with people with drinks in hand, so how do we still enjoy the fun but say no to the alcohol?

Pick your poison (or not).

Find drinks that actually make you feel good. Sure we may love a Diet Coke but drinking this all night and each time we go for drinks… bad for our teeth and boring for our tastebuds. Greater demand for alcohol-free means more places are offering virgin cocktails so mix it up. Keep reading for the first of (hopefully many) virgin cocktails I’m making this spring/summer!

Don’t take it personally. 

It can be easy to go on the defensive and be shocked by your feeling pressured by those around you to have a “proper drink”, but, say we’re excluding religious reasons, it’s still quite uncommon to choose not to drink for health reasons. Strangers may see it as an act of politeness or a bad habit, and friends may still be getting used to this new lifestyle change. 

It sucks to be tempted, but I don’t think we need to instantly get annoyed by this (unless of course we’ve raised it in confidence as alcohol being a problem). We should be able to say no, have this respected, and then move on. I've had an occasion when a coworker tried to get me to drink several times in one evening, even though he’d known for months I did not drink. This to me was a whole other deal!!

Stand your ground. 

Have you ever tried to start a new diet where you cut out junk food? But after you’ve eaten healthy and nutritious food all day, you find yourself bingeing on cookies and ice cream before bed so you feel right back at square one. When I first quit and people offered me drinks, I knew if I gave in it would derail my plan to be healthier physically and mentally. After watching the days sober rack up and the benefits roll in, it felt counterintuitive to dip back and start from the beginning.

Have an exit strategy.

I may be far too much of a fan of the Irish goodbye (or is it French exit?), so while I’m not recommending this, I do think there’s comfort in knowing you can leave when the time is right. Namely, when those around you are just drunk enough that they won’t remember the rest of the night where you’re not there. This is genuinely why I try to opt for dinner and drinks, rather than immediate bar hopping. You get the food, more time together, and a much more acceptable reason to bolt before carriages turn back into pumpkins.

What‘s been playing 🎶

Was anyone else’s social feed full of Stagecoach Festival content? To cope with the intense envy, I turned to listening to a lot of country music. Specifically Zach Bryan and Jelly Roll are my current favourites.

I am not a fitness class kind of person (unless it’s a pilates studio) as I prefer to do my own thing. But… the gym involves a lot of repetition! Same kind of movements and same location and can get boring fast… so I need to frequently switch up my music. This week it’s been Charli XCX. 

 

What I’ve been wearing 🛍️

I actually had reasons to dress up this week so was loving my Abercrombie black skort. Between the gym, wfh, and hibernation at home, it hasn’t had a lot of wear. Also after a pretty significant internal battle, I picked up some Ralph Lauren capri pants in TK Maxx which I’m still undecided about. I don’t know if it will give Bella Hadid and Carrie Bradshaw… or Florida dad at Disney World. Thoughts on Capris?

weekly wishlist

Here’s my weekly wishlist of the things I desperately wish I wearing:

1. This Croissant Graphic Skimming Tee from Abercombie: https://www.abercrombie.com/shop/uk/p/short-sleeve-croissant-graphic-skimming-tee-53824322? 

2. This Cowboy Caviar cap from Revolve: https://www.revolve.com/eleven-eleven-caviar-cowboy-cap-in-beige-forest-green/dp/EELE-WA5/? 

3. These Casey Flare - Selina jeans from Rag & Bone: https://www.rag-bone.com/sale/womens/jeans/casey-flare---selina-WDD23S2908CLSE.html?gc=GB 

4. This Ergo Bag In Patchwork Upcrushed Upcrafted Leather from Coach: https://uk.coach.com/products/coachtopia/ergo-bag-in-patchwork-upcrushed-upcrafted-leather/CP404-L38.html? 

5. This Sport Dress from Lacoste: https://www.lacoste.com/gb/lacoste/women/clothing/dresses-skirts/sport-dress-with-removable-pique-shorts/EF1031-00.html?color=7WJ 

6. These Black Embroidered Western Boots from Ganni: https://www.ganni.com/en-gb/black-mid-shaft-embroidered-western-boots-S2283.html

Can someone please recommend cute affordable cowboy boots? PLEASE.

What products I’m loving 🧖🏼‍♀️

products i'm loving

1. Caudalie Vinoperfect serum - I saw a tweet calling this microneedling in a bottle. I’ve never had microneedling, but I do see a brighter and smoother appearance. So we’ll stick with this for now.

2. La Roche Posay Anthelios Uvmune tinted sunscreen - We definitely should be wearing SPF50 all year round but especially now the sun is out more, it’s good to have a glow and UV protection. 

3. Chilli Jam - I may try to make my own but last time I made jam I cooked it for too long and it became basically solid… but this one is delightful with toast and eggs.

4. Mason Pearson hairbrush - I was actually given this as a gift by my Mum many many years ago and sort of neglected using it but after these brushes finding their way onto my Tiktok FYP for helping with hair growth and shine I’ve started using it again and loving it.

What’s been cooking 👩🏼‍🍳

Hot honey virgin margarita with a peach and mango puree. I found the recipe through Wishbone Kitchen but only could find less than half a bag of frozen peach in the freezer so added mango too! Despite being alcohol-free for almost 2 years, I rarely would make my own mocktails so as I was hosting a dinner party I decided it was the right time. 

I also served lemon salmon pasta (forgot to take a pic of) and a mixed cheese board with pesto burrata, hot honey ricotta with fried garlic (recipe here), walnuts, hummus, roasted cherry tomatoes and homemade focaccia (recipe here). 

Double chocolate and espresso cookies - the ultimate uncomplicated comfort cookie. Ground espresso cuts through the sweetness and the brown butter adds a nutty taste. They never last long.

my kitchen this week

I had some pretty good news at the start of this week so trying to peel myself out of the funk by being more sociable. After a dinner party on Friday night and friends’ farewell drinks on Saturday night, my social battery was definitely put to use, but now I’m spending the day on the sofa. Time to recharge!

I hope everyone enjoys their long weekend!

Just remember, it’s okay if you’re the only one not drinking. 

See you next Sunday!

Sophie