Managing pressure to drink

It is not uncommon to want to be part of a group and feel like you belong. In Australia we have a culture of socially accepting the drinking of alcohol, with many people drinking after work, at barbeques, on the weekend, and at sporting events amongst other things.

45% of risky and/or high risk alcohol consumption, occurring at least monthly, takes place amongst 18-25 year old drinkers. (1)

Sometimes you might find it hard not to drink if you are surrounded by others who are drinking and who are expecting you to drink as well. People who expect you to drink might include parents as well as peers, so it's important to be ready to resist pressure from various angles.

It's also important to remember that parents and other adults aren't always the best role models when it comes to drinking. Australian adults have high rates of long term risky drinking compared with other countries, equalled only by people born in the United Kingdom.

Staying with non-alcoholic drinks and resisting the pressure to drink a lot can take self-confidence and determination, but there are a few simple things you might be able to do to make sticking to your decision easier.

What is peer pressure?

Peer pressure can happen when we are influenced to do something we usually would not do or stopped from doing something we would like to do. This may be because we want to be accepted by our peers.

A peer can be anyone you look up to or someone who you would think is an equal in age or ability. A peer could be a friend, someone in the community or even someone on TV.

You may experience peer pressure as you live up to either the individual's or group's expectations or follow a particular fashion or trend. For more information check out the fact sheet on Peer pressure.

How might peer pressure effect you in relation to alcohol consumption?

Peer pressure may be a positive influence and help to challenge or motivate you to do your best. For example, if your friends tell you you've had enough to drink and you are embarrassing yourself (and them) you might feel pressured to stop.

Peer pressure may also result in you doing stuff that may not fit with your sense of what is right and wrong. For example, you may feel like you've had enough to drink on a night out, but be pressured by friends to drink more because they want a big night and everyone else is still drinking.

Where might peer pressure to drink come from?

Peer pressure to drink may be present in the workplace, at school, at uni or within the general community. It can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. It may affect people in different ways. Some of the ways it may affect you include:

• Directly - You may experience peer pressure to drink as someone telling you directly that you should be drinking to fit in with the crowd. It may be a good idea to talk to someone you trust if you are being pressured into drinking when you don't want to. This may be a family member, teacher, youth worker or counsellor. Check out the Who can help you section for more information about how they can help.
• Indirectly - Peer pressure may not always be obvious to you. It is not uncommon for a group of friends to have particular habits or activities that they do together - for example, drinking. This might be particularly common in certain industries where drinking is part of the business of getting clients or where work pressure means that the natural thing for everyone to do at the end of the day is to grab a drink or five at the pub. It may be that when you are with a different group of friends you are unlikely to have an unhealthy amount to drink.
• Individual - Sometimes the pressure to drink too much might come from you. Feeling different from the group may be hard. To avoid this, sometimes we do things to make sure we feel like the rest of the group.

Moving to a new area or starting at a new high school or university may be scary. Often it means having to make new friends and fit into a new environment. When you are feeling unsure about yourself you may be more likely to feel the effects of peer pressure, and may resort to drinking a lot to boost your confidence and reduce anxiety about meeting new people. For tips on feeling less anxious in social situations check out the Anxiety fact sheet.

Coping with peer pressure

Part of being an individual involves making decisions based on what is best for you. It can mean you take ownership and responsibility for what you do and how you think. Being an individual can still mean that you are a valued part of a group. It may be hard to resist peer pressure and stay an individual.

You can always say no to alcohol. Here are some tips for what to do when you feel under pressure to drink.

What should I say?

• 'No thanks'
• 'I don't feel like it'
• 'I'll just have a soft drink thanks'
• 'Not for me'
• 'I'll pass this time thanks'.

Saying no and standing up for what you believe will often seem hard at first but feels good once you do it.

What should I do?

• Being assertive and saying how you feel can earn you respect among your friends. Make it clear to your friends that you expect them to be supportive and not pressure you into something you don’t want to do. Explaining to people in a calm way why you don't want to be part of something may earn you respect from others. For more information on how to be assertive check out the fact sheet on Effective Communication.

• Hang out with friends that make you feel good about yourself and who don’t pressure you into drinking. Being part of the ‘cool’ crowd isn’t always as fun as it may look.

• In a difficult situation, you can always put a drink down and walk away from it, or order a lime and soda – it looks the same as vodka, lime and soda.

• Suggest activities that you and your friends can do that don’t involve alcohol, such as dancing, a games night, movie night or dinner where everyone brings a specially cooked dish.

• Stand up for others facing peer pressure. If you feel comfortable in a particular environment take a stand against those who pressure others into drinking.

Remember, making decisions that are best for you is all part of being an individual. Taking ownership of your actions can feel empowering.

What do you think?

Let us know what you think. Is peer pressure to drink more a big issue for young people? Have you felt pressured to drink more than you wanted to, and if so, how did it affect you? Do you have any other suggestions for resisting peer pressure to drink more?
 
Acknowledgement: Alcohol Education & Rehabilitation Foundation (AER)