Another month, another holiday. May has a series of triggering holidays such as Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day. Cinco de Mayo, celebrated on May 5th each year, has become widely known in the United States as a day to celebrate Mexican culture. Unfortunately, many people celebrate by binge drinking large amounts of alcohol, consisting of tequila, margaritas, corona, modelo, and other Mexican beers. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NHTSA), about one-third of all crashes on May 5 involved a drunk driver.
Marketing campaigns and sales focus on consuming Mexican foods and the alcohol content associated with that food. Restaurants, liquor, and grocery stores begin their campaigns a week or two before May 5th. If you are an individual in recovery, it can be difficult to constantly be bombarded with the emphasis on drinking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
The best way to avoid a potential relapse situation is to have a plan. With May steadily approaching and Cinco de Mayo which may result in potential event invitations, it’s an excellent idea to begin formulating a plan to protect your sobriety.
Be prepared for cinco de mayo
Suppose you plan on celebrating Cinco de Mayo with friends, family, or by going to a restaurant; it’s best to be prepared. You should plan on what you’ll order and how you’ll make a quick exit if you feel the desire to drink alcohol or use drugs. If this is your first social outing since you entered recovery, you may find it incredibly challenging to be surrounded by alcohol consumption. It’s important to let your sponsor know your plans, have a way of leaving if the surroundings get too much, and, if possible, bring some sober friends along for mutual support.
Remember you are not alone
If you are invited out with friends or are the only one at work happy hour that’s not drowning in margaritas, it can feel isolating. Don’t allow the fear of missing out on heavy drinking to interfere with your sobriety. In recovery, it’s essential to surround yourself with individuals working toward the same goal as you, staying sober. If you are constantly surrounded by people who want to drink or use drugs, you’ll eventually be right back to where you started.
There are sober ways to have fun on cinco de mayo
You can still celebrate Cinco de Mayo and have fun in ways that do not involve alcohol abuse or drugs. Cinco de Mayo doesn’t mean if you can’t drink then you can’t have fun or you need to self-isolate. What it does mean is there are alternative ways individuals in recovery can celebrate and have fun without relapsing and waking up on May 6th with a hangover. Here are some sober ways to celebrate:
- By hosting a fiesta at your home, you can control who is invited and what is served. You can invite other individuals in recovery and serve beverages that don’t contain alcohol.
- Make it a potluck and vote on who made the most authentic dish.
- Make a taco bar.
- Dress festively.
- Create a fun music playlist.
- Trivia Night.
- Be a Designated Driver. If you decide to go out with friends who are drinking, provide them a safe ride home.
However, if you choose to celebrate on May 5th this year, keep your recovery as your priority.
Ask for help
If you are struggling with eliminating alcohol from the celebration, it might be time to consider alcohol use disorder treatment. Avatar Residential Detox Center provides a full continuum of care. We offer detox to aftercare planning. Services offered at our facility include:
Contact us today at (973)-774-7222 to speak with one of our admissions specialists and discover your path to recovery.
