I Quit Social Drinking A Year Ago And You Can Too.
Alcohol out. California sober in.
Just over a year ago, as the true Gen-Z native I am, I decided to quit drinking alcohol. Social drinking came into my life during college. Then, the global pandemic caused me to have an even deeper relationship with booze. However, the moment the bars re-opened, I could no longer hang. First, I became sober-curious, which was just over two years ago. But one quick year later, I realized the only spirit I need is the one I was born with. Also, tart cherry juice mocktails entered the chat, and this is where we landed.
Phase 1: The Incident
January 9, 2022. A day that will be burned into my memory until the end of my days. I was celebrating one of my closest friends’ 24th birthday, you'd think we were celebrating me the way I was tossing ‘em back. In hindsight, I was getting raw-dogged by life, and maybe that was why I went so hard, but you can bet your bottom dollar I will never go that hard again. Long story short, after five hours of partying and ten shots, I was in the fetal position on my shower floor as the pleasantly boiling water dribbled on my skin. At that moment, I promised God I’d never drink again, as I had in the past, but this time I meant it. The smell of hand sanitizer gave me severe nausea for a good week after my friend’s birthday. That felt like a sign that I had to keep my word; lo and behold, phase 2.
Phase 2: Sober Curiosity
Since the most mundane things took me back to a place that started so pure but ended the opposite, I had to find new ways to be social. Going out to dinner, on a date, or anything of that nature didn’t make me feel like I had to drink—it was the nightlife that made the liquor call my name. Quickly, I realized that if I had any drink, even something as simple as sparkling water, in hand, I didn’t feel what I thought was the pressure from others to be drinking. Getting used to being sober around others who were not was an experience in itself. Sometimes, I took an edible to make the night more exciting, but ultimately, I realized I was aging out of the nightlife… at age 24.
Phase 3: Healthier Vices
Alcohol has never been a substance that consumed my life, but going out gobbled up many of my weekends for years. Once I stopped that, I needed to find something to do with all of the energy I got from my restful nights. Fitness has always been a passion of mine, so I leaned in—hard. Yoga, spin, running groups, everything ClassPass, TruFusion, and Equinox offered had me in there like swimwear.
I started experimenting with mocktails and CBD beverages. Not to mention, 2022 was the dawn of the THC seltzer—at least for me. I do not recommend swapping one substance out for another, but Mary Jane is my girl, and at the time, I had no interest in making her an acquaintance. California sobriety is my new wave, which comes with its challenges, but that’s a conversation for a different day.
Phase 4: Bye-Bye Spirits
After about a year of mocktails and weed, I realized I could live in an alcohol-free future. I feel energized, no more encounters with the Sunday scaries, my skin has been flourishing, and so many new studies on alcohol consumption led me to turn my cheek to the substance for real. I even wrote a piece titled Your Favorite Cocktail is Killing You Slowly that might be one of my most informative pieces yet. My life goals are becoming clearer by the day, and I have found balance in parts of my life I didn’t realize were disoriented.
With Dry January, 75 Hard, and alcohol-free bars on the rise, more people are starting to experience booze-free benefits for themselves. If sober curiosity has been a looming idea, this is your sign to give it a go. There is nothing more eye-opening than being painfully sober in a room full of people who are not (I say painfully because the sight might get cringey). If you feel like you need alcohol in specific settings, maybe do away with that setting for a period. I love a good time as much as the next person, and that can still be had without alcohol. So, if I can do it, then anyone can.