> 30+ year old colleagues will demand a reason for why I don't drink Sorry to hear people treat you this way. Depending on the situation and my energy level,

> 30+ year old colleagues will demand a reason for why I don't drink Sorry to hear people treat you this way. Depending on the situation and my energy level, I have a few standard answers. Obviously I'm careful about which one I use in what circumstance, but I get a kick out of shocking people who push when they shouldn't, and I find it teaches them not to push. I'm very aware these are all excuses that I shouldn't have to make, but I feel they teach me more about the person I'm dealing with than just setting up a "dig in the heels" approach of "I don't want to". My favourite is "My parole officer told me not to drink again". Playing with delivery on that one is a lot of fun. Say it quietly like you're scared someone else will hear, or say it super loud like you think it's a massive joke, and you might just drink again anyway! "I promised myself I'd go a month without drinking to see how I feel" (How they respond to that tells you a lot about if they have any care in the world for you and your choices) "A good friend was killed by a drink driver. I've had a hard time with alcohol since" (true story, so I don't feel bad saying it) "I'm a professional athlete, alcohol messes with my training" "Drug testing at work means I can't drink" "I'm driving" "I want to get up early tomorrow and train"