The Sober Curious Movement

Sober curious is not the same as sober. The phrase — popularised by author Ruby Warrington in her 2018 book of the same name — describes a state of questioning your relationship with alcohol rather than categorically rejecting it. It is curiosity, not commitment. Exploration, not ideology.

What Does "Sober Curious" Mean in Practice?

A sober curious person might: - Choose not to drink at certain occasions without announcing it as a permanent lifestyle choice - Drink occasionally but consciously, rather than out of social habit - Experiment with alcohol-free months (Dry January, Sober October) - Seek out high-quality non-alcoholic alternatives rather than defaulting to soft drinks - Question whether they would make the same choice about drinking if social pressure were removed

It is a spectrum, and the movement explicitly does not require anyone to stop drinking permanently. The question being asked is simply: am I drinking because I want to, or because it has become automatic?

Why the Movement Has Grown

Several cultural shifts have converged:

The wellness era: Broader interest in sleep quality, exercise, mental health, and nutrition has led many people to notice alcohol's impact on their wellbeing and reconsider its default presence.

Better NA options: The non-alcoholic spirits revolution (see The Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Revolution) means that choosing not to drink no longer means accepting a diminished social experience. Excellent mocktails (Mocktail Recipes That Don't Compromise), NA spirits, and alcohol-free wine and beer have closed the quality gap significantly.

Generational shift: Research consistently shows that younger adults in the UK, US, and Australia are drinking less than previous generations. Sobriety carries less social stigma than it once did.

Mental health awareness: Alcohol's relationship with anxiety and depression is better understood. Many people have made the connection between their drinking and their mental health, and chosen to experiment with reduction.

Social Strategies for Sober Curious Occasions

One of the genuine challenges of sober curiosity is navigating social situations that are built around alcohol. Some practical approaches:

Hold a drink — the social pressure around not drinking is largely triggered by the absence of a glass. With a non-alcoholic cocktail or sparkling water with lemon in hand, most people stop noticing or caring.

Have a simple, comfortable answer — "I'm pacing myself tonight" or "I'm taking a break" are both honest and socially smooth. You do not owe anyone an explanation, but a calm, confident response deflects further questions.

Choose the right venues — London, New York, Melbourne, and many other cities now have dedicated alcohol-free bars (Club Soda in London, Getaway in Brooklyn, Brunswick Aces in Melbourne). These spaces explicitly centre the non-drinking experience. Cocktail bars that take their NA menu seriously are also increasingly common.

Find your community — the sober curious community is substantial online. Club Soda (clubsoda.co.uk) in the UK is one of the largest, offering events, bar guides, and a nonjudgmental community. Instagram communities around #sobercurious and #mindfuldrinking offer social connection without the assumption that you have committed to anything permanent.

The NA Bar Scene

Dedicated non-alcoholic bars have moved from novelty to established industry segment:

• Redemption Bar (London) — alcohol-free since 2012, one of the earliest
• Club Soda Tasting Room (London) — a shop and bar dedicated to low/no alcohol products
• Getaway (Brooklyn) — cocktail-forward, zero-proof menu
• Awake (various US cities) — coffee-forward, non-alcoholic cocktail bar
• Sans Bar (Austin) — one of the first dedicated sober bars in Texas

Most major cocktail bars now offer dedicated non-alcoholic menus rather than afterthought options. When visiting a new bar, it is worth asking what their NA programme looks like — the answer tells you a great deal about their overall level of care.

Dry January: How to Make It Stick

If you want to experiment with a full month of no alcohol:

1. Remove alcohol from your immediate environment — put it in a cupboard, out of automatic reach
2. Stock your fridge with compelling alternatives — interesting sparkling waters, good NA spirits, premium mixers
3. Tell the people you spend time with — social accountability is a significant predictor of success
4. Plan for difficult moments — identify in advance the situation most likely to trigger a lapse (Friday evening stress, a specific social event) and prepare a response
5. Track how you feel — sleep, morning energy, mood, skin. The changes are often noticeable within the first week.

The evidence is clear: a month off resets habits. Research shows that Dry January participants are drinking significantly less at 6-month follow-up even if they return to drinking. It is one of the most evidence-backed behaviour change experiments available.

Sober curiosity is not a rigid identity — it is a permission to ask a question that most of us never think to ask: what would my life look like with less alcohol in it?