DEAR HARRIETTE: I have never been a big drinker. In college, I drank here and there, but not often. I don’t like the taste of alcohol, and it usually makes me sick. My doctor says I have a sensitive stomach and to stay away from beer and hard liquor.
I am now out of college and living with some girlfriends in Boston. We love going out to happy hours after work. I can’t help but want to suck it up and order a drink because everyone else is. I don’t want to be that person who orders water while everyone else is sharing a bottle of rose. Do you have any advice as to how I can make these social settings more comfortable? -- Not a Big Drinker, Boston
DEAR NOT A BIG DRINKER: You are one of the lucky ones, even though it may not feel like it right now. That you do not have the desire to drink is a great quality. Yes, you can still hang out with your friends. You can have fun doing so, too. Plenty of bars and restaurants offer colorful non-alcoholic cocktails that look like fun and are tasty -- without the booze. You can also be the designated driver for your friends, which can make you that much more valuable to the group.
(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)