Sober Adventures: Creative Ways to Enjoy Life Without Alcohol

If you’re seeking motivation to adhere to your Dry January pledge, you might want to explore alcohol-free events occurring throughout the nation.

A Mindful Drinking Fest is set to return to Washington, D.C., this weekend. There’s Mocktails & Mingle in Chicago, a Dry Vibes event in Kansas City, and a Mocktail Fest taking place in Miami, to mention just a few.

These events feature tastings, live music, dance parties, as well as contests and speakers, all intended to demonstrate that enjoyment can flourish at gatherings that don’t center around alcohol.

“It’s becoming a cultural phenomenon,” remarks acclaimed mixologist Derek Brown, the founder of the Mindful Drinking festival who has played a significant role in bringing attention to alcohol-free options. The festival has transformed into a three-day gathering, witnessing a tenfold increase in attendance compared to a few years prior.

The rise in interest in sober experiences aligns with Derek Brown’s personal journey. Ten years ago, he was crafting cocktails as the proprietor of the Columbia Room, one of the most revered cocktail bars in the United States.

However, in his late 30s, upon reflecting on alcohol’s influence in his life, he recognized it had become problematic.

“My health was suffering, my financial situation was poor, and my relationships were strained. While alcohol was not the sole factor, it certainly did not contribute positively,” Brown explains.

He was advised to take a break from alcohol and reevaluate his relationship with it. As he explored this new avenue, he discovered many others shared his experience, sparking a business opportunity.

Brown notes that many individuals seek means to connect and socialize without involving alcohol.

“It’s incredibly exciting to explore new experiences, and that’s really our mission,” he shares, not just in January, but throughout the entire year.

His instinct proved accurate. Sales of non-alcoholic adult beverages are projected to reach $4 billion in the forthcoming two years. Options include non-alcoholic craft brews from innovators like Athletic Brewing, Partake Brewing, and Surreal Brewing Company.

The Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association, a trade group that has now become a part-owner of the Mindful Drinking Fest, highlights a “broad” moderation movement that is increasing demand. As more individuals contemplate reducing their alcohol intake, the interest in more refined non-alcoholic alternatives is growing.

What about a pomegranate cocktail infused with extracts from the flowering Rhodiola plant? Or a zesty pineapple margarita mixed with pieces of damiana, a shrub known for its delicate, fragrant blooms? These non-alcoholic craft cocktails produced by Curious Elixirs, utilize herbs, spices, roots, and botanicals. The company claims its creations have been featured in prestigious restaurants including the Michelin-starred Daniel in New York City and the renowned French Laundry in Napa Valley.

Additional vendors offering tastings at events this month include Fleure, a producer of non-alcoholic distilled spirits. One of its botanical combinations is positioned as a gin substitute, crafted with coriander seed and lime peel along with lavender and juniper. There’s also Little Saints, which began as a passion project by a woman aiming to recreate classic cocktails using ingredients derived from mushrooms.

“We hope to see individuals going to bars, dining out, attending parties, and connecting with one another, simply not centering alcohol in these experiences,” Brown mentions.

However, challenging societal norms is no simple task. Alcohol is embedded within social customs, from weddings to funerals, and numerous occasions in between. Over two-thirds of adults in the U.S. report consuming at least one drink each week, yet a growing agreement exists regarding the health benefits of reducing alcohol consumption.

Just last week, the surgeon general cautioned about the cancer risks associated with alcohol consumption. Dr. Mike Sevilla, a family doctor in Ohio, acknowledges that addressing patients about reducing alcohol intake can be challenging if the focus is solely on what needs to be given up. Instead, he prefers to emphasize enjoyable alternatives to drinking. Over the years, he has observed individuals replace drinking with various new pastimes.

“They’ve participated in a book club, started knitting, taken up painting, or engaged in sporting activities like bowling,” shares Sevilla.

Establishing more social interactions through novel hobbies or revisiting old pastimes can profoundly impact lives.

“I’ve noticed that my patients experience greater success when attempting to reduce or even completely eliminate their alcohol consumption,” Sevilla notes.

He points to a straightforward method to evaluate drinking patterns—a self-assessment questionnaire known as the CAGE. It poses four inquiries: Have you ever thought you should cut down on drinking? Have people bothered you by criticizing your drinking habits? Have you ever felt guilty or bad about your drinking? Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to alleviate a hangover? Should you respond affirmatively to any of these questions, Sevilla suggests it may be a sign to further examine your relationship with alcohol.

Dry January can act as a springboard for more enduring changes, asserts Dr. Jamie Koprivnikar, an oncologist at Hackensack Meridian Health who advises many patients to cut back or refrain from alcohol. “It can alter our viewpoints,” she elaborates.

A one-month hiatus is unlikely to enhance health if unhealthy drinking patterns are resumed afterward, she cautions.

“However, that month can genuinely open our eyes to the influence drinking has on our lives.”

Story adapted by Jane Greenhalgh

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