Date night is something that can be a bit of a double-edged sword. If you are going out with someone you are in an established relationship with, it’s a chance to relax, unwind, and de-stress. However, it can be hard to maintain a sober evening during the festivities.
You and your partner will be able to spend some quality time together and reconnect while sharing a pleasant evening. Hopefully, neither of you decide to take this opportunity to start airing grievances you have been saving for some private time to discuss in detail; this will only make the evening stressful. And one or both of you may decide you want to have a drink to deal with the rush of emotions that come from this type of conversation.
Another scenario where alcohol may play a role in date night is when you are out on a date with someone you either just met or don’t know all that well. You want to make a good impression and feel that having a drink or two (or more) will help you feel more at ease, especially if your date is drinking too. Keep in mind that after a certain point, you will start to become sloppy instead of sophisticated if you take this approach. You may end up making choices that you wouldn’t necessarily make if you were sober.
Tips On How To Have A Sober Evening
Rather than run the risk of letting alcohol use put you or your partner or date in an embarrassing position, causing a problem in your relationship, or worse, a better choice is to forego it entirely. Here are some tips for a sober evening to consider instead:
- Avoid going to bars on a date if you want to keep the evening alcohol-free. It may be too tempting to stick to non-alcoholic drinks if they are readily available. Having “just one” can lead to drinking alcohol all evening.
- Just about any activity that doesn’t involve alcohol can be enjoyed on a date night. If you want to get away from just going out for dinner, get creative. You could consider going to a sporting event, having a picnic, going dancing, taking a class together, going bowling, enjoying a concert, visiting a museum or gallery, or playing mini golf. A holistic approach to date night can prove more beneficial in the long run.
- Instead of focusing on what you can’t have (alcohol), think about what you are gaining. You don’t need to worry if you get pulled over for a traffic stop if you haven’t been drinking. Avoiding the need for legal services is always a plus. It may feel a bit more awkward to get to know someone when you are completely sober, but he or she will get to know the “real” you (and you won’t need to apologize the next day for something you said or did while “under the influence”.
Date night can be even more fun when you approach it without alcohol. You don’t need it to enjoy each other’s company. Try it and see!
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction, contact The Dunes East Hampton on Long Island.