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Sober-Curious Trends and How They Can Change Your Relationship With Alcohol

Discover the benefits of adopting a more mindful approach when it comes to drinking alcohol.
Nick Padio
Nick Padio

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According to studies, more than half of the people over the age of 18 in the U.S. report heavy drinking, from occasional binging to everyday use. Alcohol consumption goes hand-in-hand with many of American’s favorite pastimes, such as having lunch with the girls (or guys), attending a concert, or even hosting family gatherings around the holidays.

This widespread normalization of alcohol consumption has led to a backlash of sorts in the form of sobriety challenges—such as Dry January—and sober-curious trends. These sober-curious movements are changing the way people view their relationship with alcohol and teaching people valuable mindfulness skills when it comes to drinking. More than just a trend, the sober-curious movement is a generational shift paving the way for a future not so dependent on alcohol.

The rise of sober curiosity

The sober-curious trend can be traced back to Ruby Warrington’s 2018 book Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, Limitless Presence, and Deep Connection Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol. The book dove into the concept of exploring sobriety without committing to total sobriety. The concept resonated with many, especially younger people, who may not have been ready to give up alcohol altogether but wanted to change their relationship with alcohol.

There has been a marked cultural shift in attitudes toward alcohol in recent years. The number of millennial and Gen Z people who drink regularly has fallen to 62 percent versus the 72 percent of people who regularly consumed alcohol just a decade ago. With each generation, the desire to drink to excess seems to lessen. The sober-curious movement has ushered in a more mindful approach to alcohol. While those partaking in the sober-curious trend are not necessarily committing to full, lifelong sobriety, they are acknowledging the negative impact that alcohol can have on their lives and working to curb those effects.

According to studies, the emotional impact of drinking to excess is a primary concern of many who are sober curious. There are also priorities they wish to focus on, such as saving money, improving their physical health, and making lifestyle changes, including being more intentional about whom they surround themselves with or where they spend their time.

The trend has taken hold across most generations, with 34 percent of people in a recent survey reporting that they felt they were “mindful drinkers.” 

How to be sober curious

The key aspects of the sober-curious movement surround mindfulness and exploring personal motivations. It is a way to get in touch with who we are as individuals, why we drink, and what drinking does to us.

Social media has played a tremendous role in driving the sober-curious movement. Instagram and TikTok host sobriety influencers who persuade their followers to explore the trend and apply it to their own lives. These influencers showcase the positive aspects of sobriety and detail what sober living can look like, even if it is just temporary or not complete abstinence. Coexisting trends such as mocktail bars allow the sober-curious movement to thrive, especially among younger generations.

To join the sober-curious movement, one has to dedicate themselves to being more mindful of their alcohol consumption. Perhaps explore non-alcoholic alternatives for when you go out or spend time with friends. Work with friends who may also be interested in embracing the sober-curious movement to plan events that are not centered around drinking. 

There can be a lot of societal and peer pressure to continue drinking to excess. Friends may not understand why you would want to abstain from drinking. However, once you discover ways of coping with that pressure and having a fun, fulfilling life without alcohol, it will become easier for that to become your new lifestyle—turning sober curious into sober living.

The benefits of being sober curious

Even cutting back a little on drinking can have many benefits to one’s health and wellbeing. A sober-curious lifestyle can lead to improved physical health, better sleep, an improved immune system, and even weight loss.

Mentally, you may experience better clarity and focus, reduced anxiety, a more positive mindset, and overall better self-awareness. Cutting back can even help you improve your relationships and strengthen bonds with friends and family.

When people dabble in the sober-curiosity movement, they may find that they understand their relationship to alcohol far better than they ever have before. They may come to realize why they felt compelled to drink and how to avoid situations that could negatively impact their physical and mental health in the future.

Representing a significant shift in our cultural attitudes towards alcohol, the sober-curious movement is helping more people embrace mindful consumption and usher in a change in social norms. As the trend continues to take hold among the younger generations, we are likely to see more buy-in in the form of alcohol-free events and social spaces, alcohol-free options, and more organized sobriety celebrations like Dry January. 

Exploring the sober-curious movement gives people an opportunity to examine their relationship with alcohol and become more mindful of how they consume it and what it can do to their bodies. Even if sober curiosity doesn’t lead to full abstinence, it is still a worthwhile movement to explore.

About The Author
Nick Padio

As seen in USA Today, MSN  and Tampa Bay’s Morning Blend, Nick Padio is the founder and CEO of Sophros Recovery and a Florida native. He received his undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy (West Point) and served for five years in the U.S. Army. Nick spent 27 months in combat operations between Afghanistan and Iraq, earning the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge. He attended Stanford University for business school and later went on to become CEO of an Inc1000 growth company. His move into substance abuse treatment is a result of his personal battle with depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. After getting treatment himself, Nick defined his personal mission as helping others through similarly dark times. He believes that everyone can find their way back, regain their lives, and live a life free of suffering. Sophros Recovery was designed to be just that place to help clients recover from addiction.