Learning library
Help with alcohol use
Reducing Alcohol at Business Dinners: Tips and Strategies to Try

Reducing Alcohol at Business Dinners: Tips and Strategies to Try

If you want to cut back alcohol at dinners with your colleagues, try these tips.

The first step to reducing your drinking at business dinners is to approach the night with confidence. By developing a game-plan before you enter the room, you can comfortably enjoy your evening. Consider these seven tips for drinking less while at a business dinner. 

1. Set Limits and Remain Aware of How Much You Drink 

Set a reasonable limit for how much you would like to drink throughout the evening. Maybe you would prefer to hold off until you've eaten, for example. Consuming alcohol with a meal will likely slow your absorption, which can help you to stick to your limit. 

As the night continues, be sure to remain aware of how much you drank. If you set a mental limit of only having three drinks, make a conscious effort to switch to something non-alcoholic after number three.

2. Pace Yourself 

Find ways to pace yourself. For instance, have one drink before dinner, one with your main course, and one afterward. Not only will this method help you stick to your limit, but it will also prevent over-drinking early in the evening.

3. Keep Cocktails to a Minimum

Cocktails, and hard liquor in general, have a much higher percentage of alcohol by volume compared to wine or beer. If you want to reduce your drinking at business dinners, keep the cocktails to a minimum. Instead, order a glass of wine or beer. If you do choose to order a cocktail, drink it slowly, and do not have more than one. 

📞
Request an Enrollment Call

Our team will call you to answer any questions you have or to help you schedule an appointment.

Request an enrollment call

4. Alternate with Water or Seltzer

Always keep a glass of water or seltzer by you throughout a business dinner. A water glass allows you to alternate between alcoholic beverages and stay hydrated throughout the evening. 

Plus, holding seltzer water with a garnish like lime or orange is an easy way of making it look as though you're still drinking, so you don't have to feel uncomfortable around colleagues.

5. Watch What People Around You Are Doing

Be sure to read the room at a professional event. If your peers aren't drinking much, that's a sign you shouldn't either. If people are drinking quickly, and you're trying to stick to your limit, slow your pace, and remain aware of what you're drinking. Swapping out an alcoholic drink for a seltzer or cranberry juice with a garnish is a simple way of adhering to your limit without standing out from the crowd. 

6. Strike a Conversation (or Several) 

Remember, a business dinner is a networking event for yourself and your colleagues. So, get to chatting! 

Strike a conversation with the person seated next to you or across the table, but if they are drinking faster than you would like to, feel free to excuse yourself and join another discussion. 

🗓️
Book with Confidant

Book with a vetted Confidant Health provider

Book appointment

7. Speak with Confidant 

If attending professional events that involve alcohol intimidates you, reach out to Confidant today. We can provide you with educational resources and connect you with a qualified professional. 

If you're struggling to get your drinking under control, Confidant can also provide a safe, affordable medication aimed at helping you drink less. Naltrexone is a clinically-tested and FDA-cleared medication that removes your desire to drink by blocking your reception to endorphins, the chemical that encourages you to consume more alcohol. 

By taking Naltrexone 30 minutes before drinking or as a daily-use medication, you can still feel the effects of alcohol without the nagging desire to have another drink.

Business dinners are your chance to interact with colleagues and professionals in your industry. Don't let a fear of over-drinking cloud your opportunity to participate. By following these tips to reduce drinking and seeking assistance from Confidant, you can confidently enjoy your next business dinner.

This article has been medically reviewed by
Erin Hillers
Erin Hillers
Erin Hillers
Nurse Practitioner

Erin is a Nurse Practitioner with 8 years of experience in midwifery and women's health. She has spent the past 5 years specializing in the treatment of opioid and alcohol use disorders.

Book appointment
👍
Recommended reading
3 mins
read time
10 Helpful Tips for Stress Management in Recovery
7 mins
read time
Naltrexone and Drinking: What You Need to Know
3 mins
read time
Sober Dating Tips for Those in Relationships with Drinkers
3 mins
read time
Strategies to Fight Urges and Cravings for Alcohol
2 mins
read time
How to Get Naltrexone: Options and Considerations
2 mins
read time
Building a Support System for Sobriety: Tips and Strategies to Try
4 mins
read time
Exercise and Sobriety: How Physical Activity Can Help
4 mins
read time
Nausea After Drinking: Causes and Remedies
4 mins
read time
How to Take a Break from Alcohol: Tips and Advice
3 mins
read time
Is Naltrexone an Opioid?
5 mins
read time
Naltrexone Dosage for Alcohol Use Disorder: What You Need to Know
7 mins
read time
What is Naltrexone? How It Works for Alcohol Use Disorder
3 mins
read time
Staying Sober After a Breakup: Tips and Strategies for Success
2 mins
read time
The Sinclair Method (TSM) for Alcoholism: How It Works
4 mins
read time
Drinking Less at Family Gatherings: Tips and Strategies to Try
4 mins
read time
Drinking Less During the Holidays: Tips for Enjoying the Season Sober
4 mins
read time
Drinking Less on Weeknights: Tips for Cutting Back on Alcohol
4 mins
read time
Drinking Less at Bars: Tips for Staying Sober While Socializing
4 mins
read time
Sobriety at Company Happy Hour: Tips and Strategies to Try
4 mins
read time
Overcoming Anxiety in Sobriety: Tips and Tools for Success
3 mins
read time
Sober Business Travel: Tips and Strategies for Staying on Track
4 mins
read time
Reducing Alcohol at Business Dinners: Tips and Strategies to Try
3 mins
read time
How to Resist Alcohol Cravings: Tips for Staying Sober
4 mins
read time
Support Systems for Sobriety: Understanding Their Importance
2 mins
read time
Balancing Your Life: Tips for Achieving Harmony and Wellness
2 mins
read time
Understanding Harm Reduction: Minimizing the Risks of Alcohol Use
4 mins
read time
Naltrexone: How the Medication Works and Its Benefits
3 mins
read time
Who Benefits from Naltrexone Treatment? Exploring the Options
4 mins
read time
The Role of Healthy Eating in Sobriety: Tips and Strategies to Try
2 mins
read time
Why Choose Naltrexone? Understanding the Benefits and Risks
Confidant mobile app screens
Get immediate access to the care you need today

Scan the QR code below to download the app.

QR code to download the app
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play