Although it may seem fun and many people are quick to pull out a bottle of alcohol on several different occasions, there are many downfalls to drinking. Hangovers, weight gain, regret, skin problems, and morning-after bruises are some of the many negative consequences. These don’t even include long-term issues such as legal trouble, health problems, and potentially addiction. For those who are sick of all these negatives, the sober curious movement may be for you.
What is Sober Curious?
Sober curious is a term used to describe people who question typical drinking culture, the desires that motivate people to drink, and their own relationship with alcohol. As a result, someone who is sober curious might refrain from drinking as often or choose not to drink altogether. Being sober curious is different from being in recovery from an alcohol use disorder because people who are sober curious typically aren’t giving up alcohol because they need to and don’t struggle to do so. Instead, they are choosing to cut back or cut out alcohol for another reason such as the health benefits or simply because they don’t enjoy it. While taking a break from alcohol can help people who are sober curious reexamine their relationship with alcohol, drinking occasionally is usually not an option for someone who went through alcohol addiction treatment and is now in recovery. You might want to join the sober curious movement if you:
- Find yourself drinking just because you feel obligated to
- Question why you are drinking in the first place
- Make a conscious decision to not drink
- Don’t like the wide-spread presence of alcohol
- Want to reap the benefits of giving up alcohol
- Only drink socially
The Rise of Sober Curious
The term sober curious originates from the book Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, Limitless Presence, and Deep Connection Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol by Ruby Warrington. The book goes into great detail about the motivations behind why people drink as well as what happens when you stop. Drinking has long been ingrained in our culture. People drink at sporting events, birthday parties, weddings, and even baby showers. Celebrations like Cinco de Mayo and St. Patrick’s Day have transformed into drinking holidays, and you can buy alcohol pretty much anywhere from bowling alleys to the local zoo. The sober curious movement takes a step back and looks more closely into this drinking culture. Like Dry January, being sober curious is a newer idea but has quickly risen in popularity. The sober curious book only came out in 2018, but there is an entire sober curious movement as well as an off-shoot “sober sometimes” movement for people who do not want to give up alcohol entirely and want to make that distinction. With the rise of the sober curious movement have also come sober curious bars as well as more non-alcoholic drink choices on the market. As the sober curious movement continues to grow in popularity, it may impact the typical drinking culture even more. While the sober curious lifestyle may be trendy, alcohol dependence is not so lighthearted. If you find yourself struggling to quit drinking or know someone else who can’t stop, it is okay to ask for help. At Vertava Health, we can help with everything from alcohol detox to ongoing recovery support. Contact us today to learn more.
