"All Americans do is drink."

A while back, I ran into a lady from Southern Asia that made this comment regarding the American office and weekend entertainment.

"I don't understand it, all Americans do is drink. Why can't they just have a good time?"

I'm not a big drinker (aside from some occasional wines and sake), so I could definitely see where she was coming from. It's a difficult aspect of the culture to navigate if you choose not to drink for personal reasons, and even harder if you don't because of religious ones.

With the recent rise of "icing" in the office environment, the trend doesn't seem to be changing. It's possible to just ignore it and excuse yourself from parties and gatherings after work, but then you risk being labeled the "weird one" in the office and missing out on valuable networking opportunities.

Solution:
Since I do drink, but not heavily, I get my one glass of wine and stretch it out to last me as long as possible. A glass can get me through an hour, so if I'm only spending a few out, two at most will get me through a night. If you don't drink at all, try ordering a club soda with a lime wedge...add in some juice if you like and sip it slowly. Your primary goal is to avoid questions about why you're not drinking. I never lie about this, but I do my best to avoid them. Just remember, as long as you keep your hands full, you should be fine.