If someone is pressuring you to do anything that's not right or good for you, you have the right to resist. You have the right to say no, the right not to give a reason why, and the right to just walk away from a situation.
Resisting pressure can be hard for some people.Why?
They…
- are afraid of being rejected by others
- want to be liked and don’t want to lose a friend
- don’t want to be made fun of
- don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings
- aren’t sure of what they really want
- don’t know how to get out of the situation
Sometimes resisting isn’t easy, but you can do it with practice and a little know-how. Keep trying, even if you don’t get it right at first.
Spoken pressure—when someone pressures you with words—can be difficult to resist. Most people don’t want to risk making others feel bad, but it’s important to stand up for yourself.
Do
- Say no assertively
- Stay alcohol free
- Suggest something else to do
- Stand up for others
- Walk away from the situation
- Find something else to do with other friends
Don't
- Attend a party unprepared to resist alcohol
- Be afraid to say no
- Mumble
- Say no too aggressively
- Act like a know-it-all when saying no
Sometimes you can feel pressure just from watching how others act or dress, without them saying a word to you. This "unspoken pressure" is especially hard to resist, because instead of standing up to a friend, you're standing up to how you feel inside.
Unspoken pressure may come from role models like your parents, your older siblings, teachers, coaches, or celebrities you see in movies and on TV. Unspoken pressure may also come from peers—your friends or other people your age. If you are concerned about the drinking of someone close to you.
Here are some tips for resisting unspoken pressure:
- Take a reality check—most teens don’t drink
- Remember it’s risky—alcohol can be dangerous
- Walk away from the situation
- Find something else to do with other friends
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