Advice for staying sober on Super Bowl Sunday

On Behalf of | Jan 31, 2019 | dwi/dui

While Super Bowl Sunday isn’t an official American holiday, it might as well be for millions of football fans and those who just enjoy having a reason to party on a winter Sunday. It’s also one of the heaviest drinking days of the year. Most Super Bowl parties, whether they’re in a home or a bar, involve copious amounts of alcohol. Law enforcement officers are out in force looking for drunk drivers.

Whether you’ve decided not to drink on Super Bowl Sunday because you want to get home without a DWI/DUI (and get others home safely), or you no longer drink at all, avoiding alcoholic beverages can be a challenge. Assuming that you don’t want to stay home and binge-watch something on Amazon Prime or Netflix, let’s look at some ways that you can enjoy a Super Bowl celebration without drinking.

If you can choose a party where alcohol won’t be served, that’s great. However, unless you’re in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or another recovery program, finding a sober Super Bowl party where you’ll know anyone may be impossible.

Your next best choice is a party where you won’t be pressured to drink. If you have friends whose parties include both nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages and who don’t pressure guests to drink, that can be a more comfortable experience than a get-together where everyone is imbibing.

Even if you’re not drinking or being pressured to, the seemingly endless Super Bowl ads for liquor carry their own pressure. If it’s too much, leave the room during those commercials, start a conversation with someone or check your emails.

Find others at the party who aren’t drinking. If you can’t, find people who are seriously watching the game. If you’re focused on that, you’re less likely to look around at who is drinking what.

If watching the game isn’t really your thing, find other things to occupy yourself. Help out in the kitchen (unless it means being surrounded by booze). Play with the kids or offer to walk the dogs.

If you give in to temptation and have a drink or two, don’t assume that you can still safely drive. Alcohol affects everyone differently. You may not realize how many drinks you’ve had. If you’ve consumed any alcohol, it’s best not to drive. If you are arrested for suspected DWI/DUI, don’t deal with the charges on your own. Seek legal guidance.