For many, the start of the pandemic made drinking alcohol a regular event. Alcohol sales increased by 243 percent as we looked at happy hour at home as a way to self-medicate from the stresses of increased child care, shifting work environments and chronic uncertainty. As the pandemic has continued, we've begun to examine our habits—both healthy and unhealthy—more closely. That examination has extended to our relationship with alcohol. “Sober Curious” is a growing movement that provides an opportunity to re-evaluate the role alcohol plays in our physical, emotional and relationship health.
Trending Away from Alcohol
Taking a break from alcohol as a healthy detox has been growing in popularity, beginning with “Dry January,” which first started in 2013. Now, nearly one in seven Americans participate in the month-long abstinence from alcohol. While Dry January's focus is more of a detox from the holiday excess, being Sober Curious delves deeper into our personal relationship with alcohol. First trademarked by British author Ruby Warrington, who published Sober Curious in 2018 and The Sober Curious Reset in 2020, Sober Curious is just that: being curious in examining the role alcohol plays in one's life, health and relationships as well as questioning societal views and expectations around drinking. A Sober Curious lifestyle puts a pause (temporary or permanent) on drinking and looks to find more life-affirming activities and habits.
The Health Impact of Alcohol
Feeling the morning hangover is an obvious signal of alcohol's poisonous effect, but even in moderation, alcohol can have a significant impact on one's health. The morning lethargy and brain fog may very well be due in part to the cocktail the night before. Alcohol increases inflammation, causes weight gain, impairs memory, weakens the immune system, disrupts sleep and exacerbates insomnia, depression and anxiety. Cancer risks increase everywhere alcohol touches, from the lips to the colon, as does heart disease, liver disease and stroke. It is especially problematic for women, as women process alcohol differently and less efficiently than men, which makes them more susceptible to the adverse effects.
Eyes Open
Being Sober Curious puts a fresh lens on the messaging we are consuming. Advertising assures us that the best way to have fun, to be fun, is with a drink in our hands, but is that really true? “Work hard, play hard” normalizes excess drinking in spite of the health damage, and in the last two decades the alcohol industry has pushed hard to increase the female market. It has been what's called “pinking” the alcohol industry, with products like rosé wine, skinny cocktails and fruit-flavored liquors, all specifically targeted to increase alcohol consumption among women. It's no surprise that, as targeted marketing to women has increased, so has their alcohol consumption. Countless memes flood social media glamorizing a drinking lifestyle while promoting the idea that the best way to de-stress and relax is with a drink. Being Sober Curious means taking a closer look at those notions as well as the marketing drive behind it.
Perks of a Sober Curious Lifestyle
Drinking less or being alcohol-free has many perks both in the short term as well as in the long term. From a physical health perspective, it can mean better sleep, waking up more energized and alert, improved memory and focus, weight loss, lowered blood pressure and a boost to your immune system. From a mental and emotional standpoint, it can result in more balanced moods, lower anxiety, better decision making and healthier relationships. Many who shift to a Sober Curious or alcohol-free lifestyle find a greater sense of autonomy and boost in confidence, seeing it as an important act of self-care and well-being. It can also be a pro for the wallet. On average, Americans save $100–$300 per month when eliminating alcohol.
Why Now?
Tracy Hamill-Walters, LPC, of Bethlehem's The Restoration Space, has seen first-hand the increase in the Sober Curious lifestyle with her clients. “When everything shut down with COVID, we already had a heavy culture of happy hour, and wine o'clock,” she says. “In particular with parents, there was an acceptance of drinking as a coping skill. Then as COVID wore on, time passed, people came into their own awareness.”
Whether weight gain, low energy, fatigue or brain fog, the sense of “I really don't like the way I feel” triggered a self-examination. Hamill-Walters' clients express that it has always been a positive experience, whether abstaining for two weeks, two months or permanently. They find they really appreciate when they take time off from alcohol, gaining a better awareness of the role they want alcohol to play in their lives. There is often a greater sense of control of what they drink, how often and, most importantly, a greater sense of what the alcohol was falsely helping them cope with.
A Mental Health Perspective
Alcohol often masks underlying things like loneliness, depression or social anxiety. Stepping away from the crutch of alcohol can shed light and bring awareness of those underlying issues. “Awareness is really the first step in solving any issue, and from that awareness, whatever the underlying issue is, we can work to address and develop healthier ways to cope,” Hamill-Walters says, noting that it is empowering to mindfully and consciously choose on your own terms. It can help give a greater sense of agency in one's life.
Hamill-Walters appreciates the positive, non-judgmental messaging around the Sober Curious movement and recommends trying it, as there are really no negatives to come out of it.*
What Next?
If interested in exploring a Sober Curious lifestyle, Hamill-Walters suggests the simple first step of learning more about it through research. In the process, you may find you start to take notice of the messaging as well as your own beliefs around drinking. How much truth is there for you? You can begin to ask how many of your social gatherings center around alcohol and if that is working for you. Pay attention when consuming: How does one drink affect you? How do two? How do three? How do you feel when abstaining for several weeks?
In examining our habits and choices as we navigate our way to healthier, more balanced living, re-evaluating our relationship with alcohol through a Sober Curious mindset may be a key piece in providing unexpected and substantial physical, emotional and mental benefits.
*Please note: Alcohol creates physical dependency. If you or someone you know is alcohol dependent, meaning they cannot quit on their own or experience physical withdrawal, or if they are abusing alcohol, in which a person continues to consume despite the negative consequences, please seek professional medical help as withdrawal can be life-threatening.
