THE SOCIAL (R)EVOLUTION IS ALREADY HAPPENING

Had a few too many hangovers lately? Fed up with the morning fuzziness and vague headache that follow your nightly glass or two of wine? Beginning to question the way alcohol affects your mood?

If you’re starting to wonder whether giving up drinking might have a positive impact on your life, know that you’re not alone with these thoughts. READ MORE – (Source: Healthline.com)

At the beginning of the global pandemic, uncorking a bottle of wine seemed to be the thing to do. A grip on a champagne stem felt like a girp on life, virtual happy hours were all the rage and plenty of memes about drinking making the rounds. But a year into quarantine, “Dry January” has come and gone, yet evidence suggests sobriety is sticking around. READ MORE – (Source: USA Today)

The one-off mocktail has evolved to full non-alcoholic menus and evenings that cater to a spectrum of patrons. The sober ones, yes, but also a growing cadre of “sober curious” drinkers who are opting out of alcohol – whether for physical or mental health reasons, or because they just don’t feel like boozing.

It’s all part of a nationwide trend that’s gained traction in places like Los Angeles and New York City. READ MORE – (Source: Washingtonian)

Not long ago, people who were interested in sober dating spent lots of time trying to figure out how they would come out to potential partners about their sobriety. Today, there’s no need to worry, since sober dating has become downright trendy.

Instagram influencers and companies cooking up mocktails to die for are strengthening the trend. READ MORE – (Source: The Fix)

Most trends turn over quickly, but drinking – from mimosas at brunch to post-work beers – has always been portrayed as the ultimate way to have a good time. Conversely, not drinking seems somewhat suspect.

Yet recently, a shift has begun. Enter the “sober curious”: those who drink less or not at all, and broadcast their abstinence with pride as part of their social media personas. READ MORE – (Source: The Guardian)

Think of sober curiosity as a “wellness” approach to (not) drinking alcohol. The idea isn’t a hard stop to drinking or a 12-step process to sobriety… It’s not a recovery method for alcoholics, either. It’s about recognizing drinking habits and acting on that understanding. 

Maybe it means cutting out all alcohol, or just not drinking on weekdays. It’s the idea that alcohol determines our fun, intimacy, friendships, and experiences to the point that some Americans have tapped out of the present and aren’t fully living. READ MORE – (Source: Vox)

Forget bars and nightclubs. You’ll find me at one of these sober social venues. Wondering what this sober-curious movement is all about and where you can get your hands on a non-alcoholic cocktail that – rather surprisingly – makes you feel just as lively as the real thing? 

In this article, I discuss how sobriety is becoming accepted and even celebrated, plus where and how to experience the sober social scene. READ MORE – (Source: cnet.com)