Editors note: If you are struggling with alcohol addiction or dependance, please speak to a professional.
There’s a lot of reasons not to drink. The potential health benefits, a history of alcoholism or addiction in a person’s family or even just not enjoying the tipsy feeling. So.. given all these reasons, why do people act shocked when a young person decides to abstain from drinking?
One night this past summer at a restaurant, the owner took a liking to our table and offered us a free shot of our choice. When the server came to ask for our spirit preferences, I declined. It was 7:00 PM, I had to walk home and most importantly..I didn’t want to take the shot. The server seemed perplexed. A member of our party asked me if I was trying to stay “on the wagon”.
But does someone need to have a reason in order to want to maintain their sobriety, even for a night? And why are some people so quick to pry, even when you have a reason? Are we stuck in a culture too obsessed with regular drinking?
Tons of people have commited to dry January or damp January year after year. Mocktails are readily available at grocery stores and on menus. Health Canada has even updated their guidelines for safe drinking, indicating that abstaining from alcohol completely has health benefits that include lower risk of cancer and better sleep. Being sober curious is on the rise, with the idea of “mindful drinking“. Mindful drinking is what it sounds like – being mindful of the alcohol you consume.
It’s easy to forget how much you’re drinking. Spontaneous mimosas at brunch on Sunday, followed by a glass of wine after work on Wednesday, followed by spontaneous doubles at dinner on Friday, followed by a Saturday of clubbing or bar hopping can add up to a lot of drinks consumed in a week. But mindful drinking – or being sober curious – encourages you to think twice about social drinking and social pressures or obligations. So even when your friends are getting together for a night out or a “special occasion” calls for celebration, those practing mindful drinking may abstain from alcohol and opt for a cranberry soda instead.
I recently attended a wedding, a notorious drinking occasion thanks to the open bars often featured, and decided to remain sober for the night. I drank water, tea and a trusty Diet Coke and I felt great – my energy stayed the whole night, and instead of waiting in the long lines at the bar, I got to dance and celebrate with the happy couple on the dance floor. I woke up the next morning, ready for a post-wedding brunch – minus the post-wedding hangover. It seemed almost radical, choosing to remain sober at an event so enriched in alcohol, with televison shows and movies reducing “attending a wedding” plotlines to “getting drunk” ones. But I had just as much fun as I’ve had at weddings where I’ve taken advantage of the free bar (and maybe saved the bride and groom a few bucks!).
All this to say, it’s not that I’ve given up completely on drinking. Nor does it mean that those practicing mindful drinking or “sober curiosity” need to abstain forever. It just means that when you decide to enjoy an espresso martini at a birthday dinner or an aperol spritz on vacation, you adopt a more conscious approach. Question your motives for drinking, acknowledge your decision and decide if it’s a smart one – are you working tomorrow, do you have another social event where you plan to drink in the next week, do you feel that you need to drink in order to feel more fun?