How To Not Drink: Dealing With Peer Pressure 

"Can't i'm pregnant" usually gets a laugh (i'm a dude).

If you say something like "My dad died from drinking" you're good to go.

When I tell people in my city that I don't drink they look at me as if I'm crazy. It's so strange how socially expected drinking alcohol is.

Saying no with conviction worked pretty well for me. I'm 27 and I never had a single drop of alcohol. ^^ (Only once: when I thought I was drinking apple juice and it turned out to be a very light cider.) The reason for me is because I like my brain the way it is and I just don't want it to be under any drug's influence.

How to deal with peer pressure: Get new peers.

I don't like the idea of hiding behind an excuse to NOT drink alcohol. I mean, it's still significantly better to tell someone that you don't drink because of some shitty reason than be submissive and drink as they tell you. But I think you shouldn't stop there. What I personally do is just look people in the eyes and tell that I don't drink at all. Just that. Because I don't like it. Because I don't feel like. And that's true. I don't let anyone persuade me into thinking that not drinking alcohol makes me an evil person and I should feel guilty. I strongly believe that there's nothing wrong with not drinking, so I have no problem with refusing it

This is why I just avoid bars and social events with drinking. It's a shame, because I'm not at all antisocial, I'm just tired of hearing the same old thing.

My brothers uni has a College for a weekend program and he wanted me to go drink with his friends. I ditched that group completely. I am super introverted and just left them there. I don’t regret it, I’d rather sit in a cafeteria alone than feel uncomfortable and lower my standards for a night

Why can't the reason be honest like "Drinking is whack, that's why"?

Part of how my parents could get my brother and me to be obedient without being harsh: if we asked why we had to do something, instead of just saying "because I said so," they explained why. I remember that, as a kid, even if I didn't understand the reason, knowing that at least there was a reason and that my parents weren't arbitrarily making me do stuff made me more compliant and I respected them more.

I use alcohol as a crutch as well. Have done so for years. And somehow it feels like the right time to stop doing that. Maybe stop drinking at all, at least for a while. Thank you!

"Actually, It's for medical reasons." works for me pretty well.

Charlie, this is great, and not just about saying no to drinking, but saying no to anything at all! I'm going to use these tips with all the pushy people in my life!

Your Channel's killing it Mr. Charisma

I’ve never had a drop of alcohol in my life! (For many personal reasons) So my school mates and I decided to go out to the pub and we were all lined up ordering our drinks at the bar... and it came to me to order and I said ‘Coke, please’ and all my friends just turned their heads one by one. That was the last time they invited me out...

This works for not eating sugar, too. "Don't you want a slice of cake?" "No" "Why?" "Because I don't eat sugar" I get bitchy if they insist

You say "Dude, it's more for you". Done.

I was afraid that they would felt belittled if I turned them down. But once I said yes I regretted it immediately 🙁 now I don't mind hurting people feelings for me saying no. But after all they really don't care. They just want one more miserable soul to suffer with them (drinking) 💩

I waited for me to turn legal to drink. It's my own choice. My friends were pressuring me to drink as early as 13 years old but I always said no.

I don't drink and when I say "No, I don't drink" when someone asks me if I want some there are always one of two reactions. Either the person thinks I'm weird and starts to "But why?" or "What, are you pregnant or something?" and so on or either the person thinks I'm going to make them quit drinking and starts to say things like "I love the taste of beer" or "But you can't stop me". The same goes for vegetarianism, but then change the "I love the taste of beer" to "I love the taste of bacon"...

Well done Charlie! Peer pressure can be very powerful. I'll show this video to my daughter just in case she encounters this situation. Thank you!! By the way I love your videos ;) Keep on making more!! :)

This works great for the examples given. It gets more complicated when your career is stuck and you cant get promoted because your not one of the drinking buddies of the Boss. I finally went back to running my own business. It was one of the best moves I ever made.

I recently went vegan, and I've been struggling with how to explain it to people, but I'm gonna start applying this idea. Thanks so much.

Ive not drunk since 2001. It is a big reason I have the hottest gf's of any youtuber dont you agree?

Who ever dislike this video is a toxic person I’m sorry 👎

I can relate to alot of what you are saying. When I was 13 and first heard about the effects of alcohol on your health I was shocked and refused to ever drink in my life. Over the years I have dealt with countless of people that tried to pursuade me to just have this "one drink". In defending myself against grouppressure, I learned alot about human psychology on the way. You say its best to have a reason, but it also depends on how you frame that reason, I have noticed. My first reason was just that it was bad for your health, but bringing up that one always ended up in a discussion and the other defending why alcohol wasnt 'that bad'. I learned from that, that people will always justify their behavior, even when irrational and when confronted with an opposing view, they will usually downplay it. It also didnt really relieve the pressure on me, so not the best approach :p After that, I just framed it as being bad for 'my' health, which is a less general statement and got more acceptance. And today I just say I am honoring an old promise, which works great. Like your copymachine example, reasons can be very short and can completly lack any detail for people to go along with them :)

With me its wierd i used to drink when it was illegal for me to drink (under 18) but now I'm 18 and I have quit drinking XD

I want to stay healthy! If I drink a water every day! It will help me to focus better

Being latino makes this 100x harder :( it's a culture thing, I'm not insinuating we're all a bunch of drunks lol

The opening statement of "you know what... Is just correct" 1 single snap and done. No need to explain further to them and. Blah blah.. Ur right man! It needs a strong conviction. 😊

great topic. You ned 100% of yourself to improve. Don't make what 95% of people make.

Interesting ... I've actually heard the complete opposite when it comes to your first tip. In other words, you should NOT give a reason or a justification, because you're implicitly telling them that if they can disprove/attack your reasoning, then they might be able to convince you to drink. Whereas, if you just say "I don't drink", they have nothing to latch on to and argue about.

i blatantly lie. if they are going to use emotional blackmail on you. why not

you glow

I had a few too many glasses of wine over lunch once, which was my first real experience drinking, and I wasn't drunk but I remember feeling like I wasn't totally in control, I felt a bit light headed and by 5pm I was in bed with a killer headache haha! I decided then that alcohol wasn't for me, and today when people ask I say "I don't like how it feels." Some people still don't accept that which completely blows my mind that they'd want to pressure someone into doing something that they don't enjoy. Like really?

I say I converted to islam . Works pretty great.

this is really great. I'm not supposed to drink on my medication but i dont wanna discuss that with people, so having a reason to help me out is gonna be great. thanks man

Great idea about using it as a crutch :) I tell them that it is a promise I made to myself some years ago Who am I to go against a promise ? It is such a pure thing when you do it for yourself, no one can go against that .

I simply say I am allergic to alcohol.

Great video! Agree with everything. Idea for next video: explain why friends at a party feel compelled to beg/ cajole/persuade you to drink with them, is it to rationalize or validate their own behavior or are there other dynamics at play in situations like the that generate so much peer pressure? Thank you. SP

Well here's the thing for me, I went to my first college party and told my friends I wouldn't drink very much. As it turns out, when you drink a little bit, continuing to drink seems like a better and better idea! So, I got pretty drunk and though I don't necessarily regret my decisions because it wasn't a bad experience, now if I tell my friends I don't drink they just refer to that one time I got drunk. I say it's not something I want to do, but now they think I'm all about drinking because of that one night.

I just say "no, it s not healthy for me". And then often they reply with "oh, yeah I understand, that makes sense" Sure, you have people that are mindblown about it but I haven't had anyone belittle me.

I use this one with a group of friends that I don't drink after I worked in a bar and I knew that barmans and bar attendants used to pee in the beer and alcoholic beverages to improve the flavor..., but you can still enjoy your tasty beer my friend, cheers !!!, works very well.

Ive neveeer liked drinking... and all ive always done is be very clear n to the point, just saying.. Oh no thanks ive never liked drinkin.....and u can even see how almost immediately they even start feelin a lil guilty for actually drinkin on the 1sr place haha.. Which of course is never the motive, but its just how ppl feel when u like, show them that, just because somethin looks so """normal""" and accepted in crazy society nowadays, it doesnt have to be that way...period...... We can all raise above everything n become much hetter versions of ourselves all the time, instead of setteling for what everybody else does even when we purselves know its not good or kinda twisted...anyhoo... Thanks for anotjer amazing video! :))

As a lady, if I get pushed, I say ‘I’m allergic.’ - sometimes gotta add a wink, but they usually quit pushing.

here drinking alcohol is a bad thing ..it is really bad for health i dont know why they love it ..what is the nice thing in being drunken and acting foolishly

You can also say you're on antibiotic medication, the fact that you don't look sick is because you've been taking them for 5 days already but still have 2 to go. Or some other medication that is commonly know to not go well with alcohol. But yeah, like some have pointed out below, it's only worth doing in bars where you are able to talk to other people. If there's loud music, it's just better to find some other place or way to spend that evening (which is what I do).

say your allergic to alcohol...problem solved xD

Nice. I'm tryina stop drinking and whats stopping me are my friends.

Hi! Love your videos :) Could I ask something? I've noticed that you have almost - probably - never said "um" or "yeah" during your entire videos...How did you master this? Are there tricks? Did you actively work on it, and if so, how? It's very powerful and I really want to learn :)

I've had people try to persuade me to drink even though I told them I don't drink (actually for religious reasons but it doesn't matter, people shouldn't pressurise someone else to drink). I just politely but firmly insist that it won't happen. You also have to be immune to any shaming or name calling. Not drinking doesn't make you a wuss. Do you think Khabib drinks? Whenever they tell me "never trust a man who doesn't drink" I remind them that the guy who said that died of alcohol poisoning.

if a buddy of mine would have said that last add on i would have slapped him one upside the head lol

This advice can be used not only for drinking but for anything else.

What should I say if I don't really have a reason & I don't want to lie? I'm 28 & I just never tried any alcohol in my life. People just seeking for a reason & I don't have any

How do you do this without sounding cocky or too overconfident if you have a legit reason?

Well said

I doubt I know people going to a bar, party, or nightclub with the intention of being sober lol unless including family parties (it’s all they do 🍺), otherwise I’m definitely expecting a drug driven atmosphere because it exists outside, especially in those places. I used to go clubbing stay out late and drink & smoke. Now, I avoid drinking, and especially avoid clubbing cus I know what atmosphere to expect and don’t have an interest in participating and being a part of unless I allow myself to indulge

I used some of your techniques, not only they work, I get congratulations from all over the place "You beat the bottle and not even thirsty ... yeah ... you're thirsty ... for mineral or sparkling water. Good on you mate." Cigarette and social shyness you're my next targets ... and the latter has already received some serious blows.

Your shirt is so bright

If peer pressure can cause unhealthy relationship with your spouses, it's a simple logic--just refuse for whatever reasons it is. I believe, a person just have to be matured enough bro..

Anyone have a good answer to why many young people like to get drunk? All my friends love drinking until they get messed up, but I don't think anything good comes from it. Can someone explain?

I say "alcohol is poison" .makes drunk people's jaws drop

Say you're an alcoholic. I used to use that excuse, not too often. I just don't want to drink, I dont know why people have such a problem with it. Most people dont want to drink anyway, I find.

Easy, "I'm on a regimen of drug i'm not comfortable disclosing to you". Works every time

Good video... I just turned 22 haven't had a drink in over year after at least 5 years of drinking almost everyday... Peer pressure is just noise, if you're truly devoted to whatever your reason might be you'll learn to tune it out...

Charlie seems like such a cool dude, I'd love to get to know him, he has such a brilliant mind

hey bro i love the channel i dont drink and im in 1st year college and what i say to people is either 1 of 2 things: 1) i dont need alcohol for any purpose because a) i feel comfortable in social settings sober b) i can talk to girls better when i am sober or 2) i am allergic to alcohol (which is a lie but it works)

i'll admitbthis guy can be annoying at times a lot actually n is easy to pick on but hes a real one for this укее 🙏🏾

I like how you gave people something that they could walk away with and use in a real setting. Great video.

I literally always pretend I'm sick when someone asks me if I wanna go out

Damn man! You inspired me so much! I'm ready to get sober and conquer the world!

You're amazing Charlie! Thank you so much for your videos man!

Where did you learn about all of those things? You look like a therapist lol

the best excuse I use is that I'm the soberbob (driver for the night)

I wish you were my friend IRL

I want to address ALL the videos I have seen here. Awesome stuff! Wow. Please! More! I like the analysis you do more than these because I am not a drinker. But these are still great.

hello dude Thanks for the informative video

So the "bonus" part is to basically tell the truth XD

Or just tell them firmly it's none of their business

Link to that study please!!! That sounds hilarious and I want to read it

You don’t need a reason - just say I don’t drink.

I say "I don't drink.". It has worked so far.

This video is so cool and helpful, thanks!!

Are you a friend of Bill's?

just say you are with the car here.

This kid is so yuppie

Love the video & want to see your chest tattoo

How does "I don't drink because it's a horrible drug with even worse societal and health effects", is that a good reason?

Simply follow this very hard to follow step by step guide!: JUST SAY NO! ITS NOT F'ING HARD!

Clean your lens :p

The movie Demolition Man " anything that's not good for you salt spicy food red meat alcohol smoking has been deemed illegal" 😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲

I wish my reason were more inspiring. I simply don't like the taste of beer lol

AMEN!!!!!!!

It's should be as Simple I don't want to drink... Stick to your NO... Alchol is something not to be forced

I gave a reason but someone still peer pressured me....I already ordered a drink but someone insist I get a second drink. Then she shamed me into get a second drink.... I think what I was missing was conviction. Thanks for the tip!

Say you’re allergic. Would they tell you “come on just have a lil bit of peanut butter” if you were allergic to peanuts? No if they weren’t trying to kill you. I’ve been saying that because that’s the only thing people listen to. I don’t drink cus alcohol tase nasty af

Thankyou for the message. It happens in the work place alot. I just never had a taste for alcohol. But I would never ever think less of a person that wants a drink. That is up to them if they want to drink. As long as there safe and I could be the designated driver.The way I look at this is you know who your friends are . When you say no to drinking if they treat you that you don't belong because you don't drink than I question the friendship. I know this sounds odd. Have a good day. Happy memorial day.

Like you said . "I don't drink " it's simple and too the point .it doesn't need an explanation. i find it obviously a stellar response to Policeman who have just pulled you over.Even if you've drank 5 six-packs ."I don't drink is absolutely the perfect answer .Do i drink ? sure ,,,but whose business is it really ? When I quit smoking I ran into idiots trying to offer me cigarettes .Even non smokers weren't impressed with multiple years of quitting .Mostly because of their stupidity i just started avoiding both subjects entirely and started just saying .i don't drink or ..I don't smoke

I'm disagree. This is not about "any reason", this is about "some copies". So, he gave a promise, that it won't take a long time. And if you will say "any stupid reason", maybe they won't ask again (they don't care or they feel that you obviously don't want to tell if said a stupid reason like this)

My new plan is to only drink tea or other non al drinks and if someone offers just say some low al beer and not say yes to more than 2 beers in 1 night but make sure its only beer-no shots or mixed drinks and only 2 and only if someone offers/insists.