Sober Christmas Party Celebrations
The festive season is here, and for many, this means Christmas party time.
Christmas parties often mean drinking more alcohol than usual, more often than usual. What I have just described might not be an issue for you if you can moderate your alcohol intake, but this time of year can be stressful for someone who struggles with this. I know this because that is how I felt before I stopped drinking.
If you are in the hospitality industry and reading this, I want you to appreciate how hard it can be for some people, especially if you do not offer a range of no and low drinks. Also, please take a moment before you ask someone why they are not drinking and try and encourage someone to have alcohol. You do not know how hard it can be for that person to be saying no in the first place.
Most pubs, bars and restaurants have soft drinks on their menus. However, when someone orders an orange juice, their drink looks different to those around them. While this isn't an issue (and it shouldn't be), it is for many, as they may not want to have to spend their evening justifying why they are not drinking alcohol. There are so many reasons for this; one may be that they are at the start of their alcohol-free journey and may not have the self-esteem and confidence to share this choice with others yet. When there are no alcohol-free choices available and/or they feel judged for their choice, this could push a person who had good intentions not to drink into having alcohol to fit in, leading to unwelcome drunken behaviour.
Whilst it is good that venues are starting to have a token alcohol-free drink available on the menu, the goal needs to be for the venue to care about the choice on offer for the consumer and have them promoted on their drink’s menu. Paying more attention to non-drinking customers is good for business. I have ordered one soft drink with my meal when I would have ordered a bottle of alcohol-free bubbly if it had been available. The market is changing, with the number of young people who drink are reducing, and sobriety and moderation are increasing in all age groups. Pubs, bars, and restaurants should be seen as spaces to bring people together, enabling socialising rather than enabling drinking alcohol; this would be a positive cultural shift.
The number one reason to stop drinking used to be losing weight and being healthier. Mental health and well-being are more of a focus now, and it is hard to ignore the negative impact that alcohol can have on these areas. Hospitality, please take note; we should be offering ways to lift peoples' moods and enhance their evenings with healthier alternatives.
On the other hand, if you resonate with the above as a consumer, and you are a regular somewhere, then make sure to ask them to stock your favourite alcohol-free drink. The only way that we will make a change is by asking.
I want to celebrate some of the venues leading the way locally with their range of alcohol-free choices and choosing to update their range before 'Dry January', to encourage responsible, mindful drinking and offer choice to the consumer.
Randalls pub group (my local, the Goose – hurrah!)
P52
Cheffins
Moorings
Mark Jordan
Somerville
Shinzo
WildFire
St Brelade's Bay
Liberation Group pubs
Sober Session Night out
I hosted a Sober Sessions Christmas party at Cheffins last month. Everyone there joined me for a night with like-minded people and without alcohol in the mix. Some people were sober, and some were there to try a different night out without the pressure to drink alcohol. We had everything you would expect at a Christmas party - crackers, hats, terrible jokes. The only difference was that we had a range of alcohol-free drinks on offer, including wines, beers, cocktails and sparkling. The other noticeable difference was that nobody lost control - everyone walked out with a smile on their face, and their head held high, filled with food and memories! We will plan the next event for the end of January, so keep an eye out if you want to join the fun.
Do you need support during the festive period?
Every Thursday at 7 pm, I host a free audio community meet up. People at different stages of their journey join me to support others. Whether you are sober or sober curious, everyone is welcome, and there is no judgement. You can listen to the chat or join in - for more information, check out my website for the link to the next event.
If you need to speak with someone 1:1 rather than in a group setting, please reach out to me to see if coaching might work for you. Having accountability and someone to talk to can make a world of difference.
Do you want a medal?
If you or a family member, friend, colleague have completed an alcohol-free challenge this year and you'd like to celebrate, I have worked with jewellery maker Rock Cakes, to create medals to celebrate.
I will celebrate three years sober and wear my SOBER medal with pride at the end of the year. It hasn't always been easy, but it has been worth it, and I won't look back. It's been great to work with so many amazing people as part of this positive movement, and I look forward to seeing how things move forward in 2022.