Congratulations on your sobriety. I recently gave up booze completely. The hardest thing was returning to a social life without booze. Many friends were shocked and some gave me a hard time about it. I use a various scripted responses (white lies) to people who ask or pressure me to drink.

To new acquaintances:
"My stomach is very sensitive to alcohol. One drink seems to make me vomit. My doctor told me to stop before I get an ulcer. Some sort of food allergy he thinks." (A medical excuse is usually enough for people not to ask again, I've found.)

or

"I'm on blood pressure pills and the doctor told me never to mix it with alcohol." (This is true for me.)

I use this last excuse with ex-drinking buddies who just won't quit pestering: "Come on buddy, I can't. Drink as much as you want, don't let me stop you. But we don't have much of a friendship if a glass of cola is going to come between us."

On a personal note, most people will understand... but if the friend refuses to get off your back about your sobriety, YOU NEED TO FIRE YOUR DRINKING BUDDIES.

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To the reader:

I can relate. I'm going on seven years of soberity and it is still hard to date! Most men freak out when they discover that I'm not going to be a drunk quick lay. Hang in there! You have to be true to yourself and have faith that you will not be alone. You don't want someone who can't see the courage that it takes to live as we do. Take this time to learn about yourself. The first five years of soberity are very useful in learning your sexual ideal and not needing to morph into who others think you should be. We will both find a partner who admires our perserverence!