And I've passed on that "having a drink in your hand" advice, too. That way you're unlikely to be offered anything. And the other thing I learned when I joined AA (in 2008) was to bring a buddy if you're worried about having someone insist or you'll be tempted. I also decide where I belong and where I don't. Though I went to a class reunion with a friend last week (not my class) and I expected there'd be coffee since there usually is, but all I saw was a loaded bar. So I finally spoke to a waitress who was kind enough to bring me a cup of coffee - twice. But then I've been doing this for awhile. Kudos on your sobriety! 
And when I started in AA, it was with a women's group who used to go out to dinner when anyone celebrated an anniversary. My sponsor told me to go so I'd get to know them. At one of those anniversaries I gave one woman a 50 year coin!
Anyway, we became regulars at this nice place - and the first time the waitress was curious if it was someone's birthday since there were at least a dozen of us - and she'd obviously asked some others, but no one had let on. So when I went to leave, she asked me. My first thought was anonymity, so I finally said "we're sober women." And she replies "oh, that kind of birthday!" turns out that the waitress had 27 years! Just goes to show, you never know!
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