To drink or not to drink?: the rise of sober-curious young adults

According to new statistics, the number of sober young people is rising, signifying a change in attitudes towards drinking. A recent survey of 2,000 adults aged 18 to 34 revealed that 43% have given up drinking entirely, with more than half the cohort reporting having reduced their alcohol consumption. 

So why is a sober lifestyle becoming increasingly attractive to young people? Not only is drinking expensive and a gateway to poor decision making: alcohol is a chemical depressant and can cause unwelcome mental suffering. Whilst the memories of awful hangovers make my stomach turn, the thought of struggling for days with ‘hangxiety’ after one night out is undeniably worse. 

Furthermore, as drinking forms the foundations of most of our social activities, I am often left questioning the value of always going out with friends, rather than spending quality time together. If we are heavily drinking every time we meet our friends, are we really forming deep and meaningful relationships? Especially when you can’t even remember half your conversations.

An overreliance on alcohol during social situations can also leave you feeling stumped when encountering a sober scenario, such as going for coffee with a new friend.

Encouraging oneself to socialise without the help of ‘dutch courage’ could lead to personal growth, as your confidence is forced to strengthen without the safety net of being buzzed. 

However, drinking is such an integral part of British culture and is used in response to almost every situation, from a successful job interview to a breakup. Drinking is labelled as ‘fun’ by the majority of young people as it enables us to relax and forget our problems for the night, meaning our days off and weekends always revolve around drinking. Unfortunately, this makes the concept of being ‘sober-curious’ confusing to many, as alcohol is a staple in most of our lives and is readily encouraged by our peers. Particularly at university, which is dominated by binge drinking, choosing to say no to a pint is often frowned upon, making it difficult to break the mold.

If the thought of a sober lifestyle piques your interest, but you don’t want to miss out on nightlife, taking small steps is key. Plunging in at the deep end may seem scary, particularly as most of us rely on alcohol to socialise. Therefore experimenting is important: see how it feels to go out whilst drinking a little less than usual or try limiting yourself to only one drink. If you find your energy levels dropping on nights out without the added adrenaline from alcohol, don’t be afraid to call it a night. The most difficult part of going out sober is strictly reminding yourself that you can still have a good time without drinking and that choosing to refrain from drinking does not make you less of a fun person. Without overcoming these thoughts of self-doubt, socialising without alcohol will probably feel like an uphill struggle and the comfort of a drink may be too tempting. However, the freedom of being able to choose to drink or not to drink, regardless of those around you, is surely a more rewarding end goal.

Alternatively, remember that going to the pub is not the only way to socialise! Make an effort to organise more sober activities with friends such as long walks or coffee dates and relish in this new found quality time. If nights out without alcohol sound too boring, involving yourself in more sober scenarios may help open your mind to a lifestyle change. Ultimately, the real importance lies in finding the perfect balance for you, whether that means cutting out alcohol completely or not. 

Words by Rosa Neather (she/her), Image by Gemma Rose (she/her)