Updated on 1/31/2023
People celebrating Valentine’s Day may find themselves with flowers (to give or receive), chocolate, a romantic candlelit dinner and a glass of wine. While social media, movies, commercials and TV shows make it seem like alcohol is a key-component of Valentine’s day, this is never the case for any holiday. If you have a date this Valentine’s Day, they may not know your limits with alcohol, and being served wine may be setting you up to be in a dangerous position regarding your addiction recovery. It could also be the reverse. You may be the one trying to make sure your date is having a good time or trying to be polite by offering them another glass, unaware of their addiction recovery journey.
Setting Expectations Surrounding Alcohol on Valentine’s Day Dates
In general, it’s advised that in your first year of addiction recovery, dating should be set aside so you can focus fully on your recovery journey. In the years following, you may find yourself asking someone, or being asked on a Valentine’s date and accepting the invitation.
One of the most important things you can do in addiction recovery is set expectations for social events through effective communication. If you do not want to be offered a drink on your Valentine’s Day date, or if someone is cooking a meal for you and you do not drink alcohol, you can let them know in advance. If you are not in recovery and are going on a Valentine’s date with someone new, check-in with them before about their alcohol use. If they do not order an alcoholic beverage or accept one, don’t push them. Whether you’re in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) or not, there are many people who choose not to drink alcohol for various reasons.
Alternatives to Drinking Alcohol on Valentine’s Day Dates
If you feel like an evening Valentine’s Day date over dinner may be threatening to your sobriety, try doing something different. There are many ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day that don’t involve evening meals. Going outdoors during the day or taking a class can be great alternatives. Here is a list of activities that may be fun for a date:
- Walk or hike together
- Have coffee and pastries at a local coffee shop
- Take a day-trip
- See a movie together
- Go to a group workout class
- Watch the sunset or sunrise
- Go to the zoo
- Listen to music
Valentine’s Day Mocktails
If you find yourself at a restaurant, remember that there are hundreds of recipes and combinations of drinks that can be made alcohol-free. More and more restaurants are adding mocktails to their menus. You can also ask your waiter or bartender to make a non-alcoholic drink that sounds good to you. If mocktails feel triggering to your sobriety, water, soda, or seltzers are always great drinks, too.
We at Pinelands Recovery Center of Medford, a premier drug and alcohol treatment center, believe in utilizing individualized care when treating substance use disorder. Our philosophy and programs prove that we believe in treating the person rather than the disease. Through several different treatment programs and modalities, we ensure we meet each of our patient’s needs to the best of our ability. To learn more about our facility and programs, call (877) 557-5372.