Stated another way, it doesn’t necessitate complete sobriety, as the focus is on personal choice and exploration rather than strict rules. It’s more about being mindful of alcohol’s impact on your mind and body and making informed decisions about its place in one’s life for health reasons. According to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2020, the percentage of college students aged 18 to 22 in the United States who stated that they refrained from drinking alcohol rose from 20% in 2002 to 28% in 2018. Giving up alcohol isn’t always easy, especially if you are regularly in social situations sober curious where you might feel pressured to drink by friends, family, or co-workers. If you want to try being sober curious, some strategies can help you take a more mindful approach to drinking.
Barriers and challenges to reducing drinking
Being sober curious means, literally, to choose to question, or get curious about, every impulse, invitation, and expectation to drink, versus mindlessly going along with the dominant drinking culture. Often, sober curious individuals think more consciously about the decision to drink alcohol. What makes sober curiosity so widespread, though, is its adaptable meaning. ‘Sober curious’ tends to mean something different to every sober curious individual, making it an inclusive cultural movement. In reality, though, people recovering from alcohol use disorder can go on to drink occasionally.
What Is Sober Curiosity?
It doesn’t necessarily mean giving up booze altogether or signing up to sobriety indefinitely. Rather, it involves considering drinking less – and in some cases, not at all – and deciding to fit alcohol into your life more thoughtfully instead of mindlessly participating in drinking culture out of habit. With a search volume of over 1.3k per month, it’s definitely a movement that’s gaining in popularity. 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. A growing number of “sober curious” people are starting to take a closer look at the role alcohol plays in their lives.
- Many bars and restaurants are also expanding their non-alcohol or ‘mocktail’ offerings to include inventive drinks.
- ‘Sober curious’ tends to mean something different to every sober curious individual, making it an inclusive cultural movement.
- See some examples and ideas in our article Tips for avoiding drinking at events.
- Whatever your reasons for wanting to quit drinking, there are so many benefits for all of us to be more mindful of reducing the harmful effects of alcohol in our lives.
- Additionally, a study published in the journal Nature in March 2022 suggested that consuming one glass of alcohol per day may lead to brain shrinkage.
Alcohol intensifies violence against women
A more open dialogue surrounding mental health means Gen Z are also increasingly aware of alcohol’s tendency to impair emotional regulation and lower mood. Holding a drink – whether it’s sparkling water, a soda, or a mocktail – makes it less likely anyone will ask why you’re not drinking. Understanding your triggers makes it easier to decide when you genuinely want a drink and when you don’t. Sober curious people pay attention to how alcohol affects them physically and mentally. They drink deliberately, with more awareness and consideration, heroin addiction prioritising quality over quantity.
One recommendation given by many experts is to begin by journaling. Each time you want to drink, write down what you’re feeling, doing and where you are. It’s a potentially powerful way to understand your motivations and triggers to drink. For some, it’s anxiety and feeling down that calls for a drink, while others desire drinks for celebratory reasons or out of boredom. Knowing your reasons to drink and not to drink will help you find the resolve and real-time awareness to help meet your goals.
