"Buzzed or Bust!"

Okay i am going into high school next year and my friends are starting to drink and smoke. I dont want to, but i know i will not be invited anywhere if i don't. I know this seems like simple, "just say no", but the only way to keep my friends is to drink with them or lose them. I know it seems like these friends suck, and they do but i cant change groups. And you cant just be like "no I'm not drinking" I'm only 13. I'm turning 14 soon but...what do i do?

I have a few friends that are "straight-edge" meaning they don't drink, smoke, do drugs, or have sex without being in a relationship. This has become a pretty popular trend, especially in concert "scenes". I'm sure there are blogs or sites out there that give some pretty awesome reasons and explanations as to why you don't want to join your friends, but unfortunately the peer pressure you're talking about is real. Even if you go to parties, you could easily be labeled "buzz-kill" or "the sober one".

Because people will treat you differently if you don't have a drink in your hand, my solution is:

Put a drink in your hand!

Pour a soda or some juice into a cup and sip on that. When it comes to mixed drinks (cranberry/vodka, coke/rum, whatever underage kids sneak nowadays..) it would be impossible for anyone to figure out it's not spiked unless they try some. Most people are so caught up in their dramas and drinks that they wont even notice you dont have alcohol in your drink!

There is nothing wrong with not wanting to drink, so try that in the meantime but start looking for some straight-edge friends-- High School is the PERFECT time to find a new social group. Seriously, now is the time to start looking for people that you want to be around.

***TheGivingTree