sober curious movement: What is the Sober Curious Movement and Why Is It So Popular?

Taylor Haught is a digital nomad and certified yoga instructor writing wellness and travel content for Vacayou. She has been a professional writer for over six years, though her passion for writing started as soon as she could put pen to paper, and her passions for wellness and travel started shortly thereafter. With a wealth of personal experience in the health industry and an unquenchable lust for travel, she loves sharing ways to care for oneself and the world.

The “sober curious” or “zero proof” movement involves bringing mindfulness to one’s drinking habits and intentionally opting out of alcohol consumption at times, without abstaining from drinking altogether. The intention is to encourage exploration of your relationship with drinking in addition to experiencing the myriad of health benefits—both physical and mental—that come as a result of reducing alcohol consumption. This new movement has given people the permission to question their relationship with alcohol.

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The sober curious movement, so to speak, is when someone chooses to be sober for the health benefits, both physical and mental, as opposed to someone who is sober because of an alcohol abuse problem. In other words, people who are sober curious don’t consider themselves alcoholics, but still choose not to drink. Thanks to the growing “sober curious” movement, a term coined by author Ruby Warrington , choosing to live an alcohol-free lifestyle isn’t all club soda and Shirley Temples. As more people choose to swap liqueurs and spirits for zero-proof libations, new social environments are being created — both in-person and on social media — making the experience of ditching alcohol less lonely, and more delicious.

Sober-curious influencers post TikToks and Instagram Reels detailing how they’ve stepped away from drinking, and they partner with brands selling alternatives to booze. Some may argue that the most important aspect of a good bar is a good drink, and the bartenders at zero-proof pop-up bar Suckerpunch in Portland, Oregon agree. Suckerpunch bartenders and owners believe consumers choosing not to drink alcohol don’t need to miss out on complex and innovative drinking experiences, and deliver with an vast menu of bespoke cocktails. Suckerpunch accrued a mailing list of 30,000 curious consumers prior to opening its doors, which the owners attribute to people becoming increasingly health-conscious and sober-curious throughout the pandemic. Benson started her own sober curious journey during the pandemic. Being sober curious can lead to an “increased awareness” of drinking patterns and how alcohol makes you feel, she said.

• “My hope is that extending the invitation to get sober curious will help people realize that there other ways to experience whatever it is are seeking in alcohol—without the toxic, and often devastating, side effects,” Warrington says.
• The term “sober curious” was coined by the author Ruby Warrington, who wrote a book on the topic in 2018.
• The Luckiest, LLC (“Company”, “we”, or “us”) is a web-based, online information-sharing and connection platform which seeks to provide opportunities for like-minded people to find each other and form connections.
• Young Millennials (25-34), on the other hand, are the most likely to say they are drinking less now and are the least likely to drink daily.
• The “sober curious” or “zero proof” movement involves bringing mindfulness to one’s drinking habits and intentionally opting out of alcohol consumption at times, without abstaining from drinking altogether.

Remember, it’s OK not to have a drink, and you’ll often have even more fun if you’re in control and not under the effects of what is essentially America’s most prevalent drug. Allows people to have a variety of mocktails while still having the fun benefits of being in a public social setting with friends and strangers alike. On a recent Friday night, Rob Zaleski and Kim Daniel walk into Marshall’s bar in Austin. They’re going without alcohol for 30 days, they explain, and are documenting their experience in a podcast and on Instagram at #boozelessATX.

What Is the Sober Curious Movement?

In fact, interest in going alcohol-free appears to be driven in large part by a desire to lead a healthy lifestyle. All in all, these sober-curious individuals are much more likely to value living a healthy lifestyle, and nearly one-third of the ‘very curious’ are passionate about it. “It sounds so simple, but the fear of not knowing what you’re going to order—whether you’re at a restaurant, going to a party, at a networking event—the fear of someone saying, ‘What are you drinking?

And because there’s nothing better than posting up at a café with your favorite book or best friend, getting out of the house before 10 A.M. Here’s the scoop on the latest trendy alcohol-free drinks to try, whether you’re out on the town or sipping at home. Within her first month sober, her yoga classes started to fully book, with a waitlist. “If you’re someone who says if I’m anxious or had a stressful day, I want to blow steam off with a drink.

For those who’ve declared ‘I’m never drinking again’, only to find themselves a few weeks later (or, let’s be honest, days) having another drink, it can be hard to imagine a life without ever drinking. Sobriety isn’t for everyone, and sober curious is more about finding that sweet spot in your relationship with alcohol. Drinking alcohol has been a common social pastime in the US it seems. From wine-filled book clubs to bar-hopping adventures with friends after work to even a few beers while watching that night’s football game, our culture glamorizes and encourages people to kick back with a bottle. However, in recent years, alcohol-free festivities are becoming more and more common. In fact, some are calling it a movement—the https://sober-home.org/.

Sober curious movement: trend or here to stay?

Many people who quit drinking find themselves with more free time than usual. Dedicating this time to self-care and satisfying hobbies can help you stay motivated to maintain a sober curious lifestyle. There are a growing number of resources and support groups available for people who are sober curious. This includes new sober bars where people can socialize and have fun without alcohol! It also includes online communities and support groups where people can share their experiences and get advice and support from others who are going through the same thing.

To maintain this atmosphere, the eco-wellness retreat is a smoke-free and alcohol-free environment. This commitment to wellness and sustainability has earned Fivelements a total of 18 international awards in various categories, including hotel, wellness, spa, culinary and sustainable design. “I moved to Abu Dhabi when I was 25 because I thought the solution to my unhappiness was to move to a country where alcohol was legal.

Make a plan for what you’re going to drink instead —and for what you’re going to say. Understanding the reasons behind your drinking can help you make better, healthier choices around if and when to drink. Gave cosmos their moment, 20 years later, many of us would rather Netflix and chill than go out to a bar, non-alcoholic bevvie of choice in hand. Scheller explains there’s been a shift in understanding over the past seven years. “We’re now starting to see more research that shows any level of alcohol is actually problematic,” she says. While it might be common to believe that consuming alcohol in moderation is beneficial , the nutritional benefits may be outweighed by the risks.

If you find yourself questioning how alcohol impacts your life—like why you drink, how it makes you feel, and what it might be like to cut back on drinking or stop entirely—you may benefit from exploring a sober curious lifestyle. According to an article by the New York Times, the non-alcoholic beverage market is going to be worth an estimated $1.6 trillion by 2026. The movement is rooted in mindfulness about what one puts in their body and a desire eco sober house for authentic connection, especially in the post-COVID era. With health being top of mind for many, consumers are drawing the connection between alcohol consumption and how it makes them feel. It is no surprise that the pandemic dramatically shifted how people lived their lives. Women, especially mothers, were forced to take on huge loads during the pandemic including balancing motherhood, work from home, and distance learning for kids.

Younger generations are particularly interested in being sober curious

So build a support system and contact us today to learn more about our online sober community. Through Sober October, Dry July or Dry January, there’s an opportunity to examine alcohol consumption and make changes with a community. Preventing substance use among youth and focusing on long term recovery for anyone impacted by alcohol and drug addiction. One reason sober bars are popping up across the country is that they remove the pressures and dangers of alcohol, while providing a space for socialization and community, which all humans crave. Dubbed a new wellness trend, hundreds of thousands of #sobercurious posts are flooding TikTok and Instagram accounts with positive reinforcement messages about creating a healthy exploration of alcohol. It’s interesting to note that growth in the non-alcoholic spirits space outpaced the non-alcoholic beer, wine, and malt beverages segment.

“All my drinking was really centered around community and wanting that connection so badly with other people,” he says. Chris Marshall is a certified substance abuse counselor and the founder of Sans Bar, a venue for “the nightlife experience” without the alcohol, in Austin, Texas. “They found that at the end of that month — just after one month — people, by and large, lost some weight,” says Aaron White, the senior scientific adviser to the director at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. A 2016 British study of about 850 men and women who volunteered to abstain from alcohol during Dry January found that participants reported a range of benefits.

Drinking impacts everything from your nervous system to your sexual and reproductive health. As more information becomes widely available and the long-term effects of drinking, it’s no wonder why so many people are turning away from it. It’s a form of self-care, and a way of being compassionate and kind to yourself. This movement reflects a strong cultural shift in how consumers are re-evaluating their relationship with alcohol and how it aligns with other aspects of their lives and lifestyles.

Another reason that people are becoming sober curious is because of the role that alcohol plays in our lives. Many people find that they are relying on alcohol to cope with stress, to relax after a long day, or to socialize with friends and family. However, as people become more aware of the negative effects of alcohol, they are experimenting with alternative ways to cope with stress, relax and socialize without relying on alcohol. First let’s talk about the reasons that people are becoming sober curious. Usually the main reason is because of the negative health side effects of drinking too much alcohol.

It isn’t necessarily a permanent change

The more of a community you can build, the easier it’ll be to handle not drinking, even if you’re out at a party. Try making yourself some alcohol-free mocktails or drinking punch instead, and you and your friends can still eco sober house ma have fun without getting drunk. Being sober might sometimes be described as “stone-cold” and “boring,” but people like me who have truly suffered from alcohol dependency tend to see sobriety as warming and energizing.