Gender diverse and transgender people report elevated alcohol use compared with the general population yet no studies have examined motives to abstain or limit alcohol consumption within this vulnerable population. A thematic analysis of interviews with seven gender diverse people identified two overarching themes: Awareness of the safety implications of alcohol and Access to non-drinking spaces. Participants acknowledged that drinking alcohol was a social norm yet were hesitant to drink, especially in public places, due to safety concerns and highlighted a need for non-drinking, LGBTI-friendly spaces. These findings have implications for promoting non-drinking strategies of benefit to gender diverse communities