Do you ever walk into a bar, party, or networking event where people are drinking and feel like you should imbibe too in order to fit in? For centuries, alcohol has defined social activities for many adults. However, the sober curious movement has started to cause people to rethink their alcohol consumption. It’s even begun to help destigmatize non-drinking in social settings where drinking is expected, shares the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
But what does sober curious mean, exactly? Is it worth making changes to your drinking habits if you’re sober curious? And where does being sober curious fit among those who are struggling with alcohol dependence and addiction?
What is Sober Curious?
According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF), the term “sober curious” was originally coined in 2018 by author and journalist Ruby Warrington. Since then, it’s grown in popularity on social media and among young people especially.
If you’re wondering what the sober curious meaning entails, it essentially describes the personal reconsideration of the role alcohol plays in your life. A sober curious person is mindful of the ways in which they drink alcohol. They’re revisiting their drinking tendencies and choosing when and if they should drink in various settings.
The sober curious movement doesn’t mean you’re necessarily quitting alcohol entirely. However, your drinking mindfulness may lead you to drink less frequently and in smaller amounts. Or you may give it up altogether. As a whole, the sober curious movement aims to:
- Challenge drinking culture and social norms
- Improve your health and well-being
- Create sustainable, less risky alcohol habits
Sober Curiosity in Practice
Being sober curious involves more than just curiosity. You also take steps to shift your drinking patterns altogether, at least for a season. A great way to start this process is through a period of self-reflection about your drinking, answering questions like these:
- How many times do you drink per week?
- How much alcohol do you typically drink in one setting?
- In what kinds of places or situations do you find yourself drinking (at home, at the bar, at a party)?
- What time of day do you tend to drink (at dinner, right after work, right before bed, at brunch)?
- Why do you drink (because you like the taste, because it helps you relax, because it’s just what people do)?
SOURCE: University of Pennsylvania
If your answers reveal to you that changes are needed, there are a number of ways you can adopt a sober curious lifestyle. Some practical ideas include:
- Observing Dry January or Sober October
- Drinking only on specific days of the week or special occasions
- Establishing a drink limit for each social outing
- Ordering non-alcoholic alternatives, such as non-alcoholic beer or a mocktail
- Abstaining from alcohol completely for a set time
Benefits of Taking a Break From Drinking
What if you feel like you should take an alcohol break if you’re sober curious? Believe it or not, there are actually a number of benefits to abstaining from alcohol for a period of time (or dropping it altogether). If you’re thinking about taking a break, here are some benefits you can expect:
- Improved sleep: Studies have shown that alcohol interferes with our sleep patterns or leads to poorer quality sleep. As a result, people who’ve taken a break from drinking have reported noticeably better sleep in the process.
- Better mental health: It’s common to drink to cope with stress, anxiety, or other negative feelings. However, in the long run, alcohol can make your mental health worse. Consequently, research found that study participants reported less depression and better mental health after quitting drinking for six months.
- Reduced risk of certain diseases: Drinking alcohol increases your risk of various cancers, as well as liver disease and insulin resistance. However, research has shown that even quitting alcohol for a short period of time can reduce cancer-related markers, decrease insulin resistance, and decrease liver damage.
SOURCE: Brown University
Sober Curious and Alcohol Addiction: A Quick Note
The sober curious movement is a healthy exploration for people who drink regularly, but it’s not meant for those who have a physical dependence on alcohol, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). If you have an alcohol addiction, undergoing withdrawal from alcohol on your own can be dangerous and even fatal. If you’ve begun to experience nausea or shaking when trying to cut back, it’s best that you seek professional help (including a medically-supervised detox rehab center).
Overcoming alcohol addiction is not something you can accomplish on your own. You need to partner with an addiction treatment center to help you navigate recovery safely (and recovery involves achieving total abstinence and long-term sobriety from drinking—not just sober curiosity for a season).
At Sana at Stowe in Stowe, Vermont, we provide a full continuum of care to help you break free from alcohol addiction’s grip. Our comprehensive alcohol addiction treatment program addresses the root causes of your addiction, empowering you to achieve lasting recovery. To learn more, call our team today or take our free alcohol use screening test as a next step.
