"i'm coming down with something" (this one has the benefit of being true, more or less)
"just took some cold meds"
"on a diet"
"have to drive later"
"gave it up for lent"
"not tonight"

my friends saw right through this - they know darn well I don't pass up a happy hour bourbon because of the sniffles - but were polite enough not to say anything until I revealed a few weeks later.

recovering from food poisoning

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"I'm pregnant"

May as well cut to the chase. That's what they'll think even if you use lame excuses.

They can think what they'd like, we are not ready to tell yet for several reasons. If they assume I'm pregnant, that's fine and it will be confirmed in a few weeks when we do share the news.

If you don't care that they actually figure it out, then why not just say, "No thanks to the drinks" without offering some goofy excuse?

You could say that you're on a diet. I know a lot of people who cut out booze when they are trying to lose weight.

I actually went with the excuse that I was trying to get pregnant and didn't want to risk drinking. As soon as someone hears that you are trying, they usually get uncomfortable enough not to ask any questions. It worked for a few weeks but then people figured it out.

I got "outed" this way. Was out with friends and my husband and he got me a ginger ale. He handed to me and said "here's your ginger ale." I immediately got looks and questions. Maybe you could get there early and tell the bartendar to give you something that looks alcoholic and keep serving you that.