Recovery · Recovery
Sober Refusal Scripts
Three rehearsed refusal lines, plus the broken-record for the pushy person
Rehearsed refusal lines for the moments social pressure arrives. Short beats vague — vague invites negotiation. Have three ready before the wedding, the work happy hour, the family dinner.
Draft your three
Short — for strangers ('No thanks, I'm good')
Medium — for acquaintances ('I don't drink' / 'I'm driving')
Honest — for people who need to know ('I'm in recovery')
For the pushy person
My broken-record line (repeat unchanged, do not explain)
My exit plan if they keep going
You owe no one your reason
'No thanks' is a complete sentence. The people who need an explanation aren't the people whose opinion should decide what's in your glass.