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How to Embrace Sobriety During the Festive Season without Going Insane
In the words of Matt Haig, “If people aren’t drinking, it’s not because they don’t want fun.”
Last Friday I had just got back from my first Christmas party fully sober. As I took off my coat and heeled boats that had been causing me discomfort for the whole four hours, a sense of relief washed over me.
This wasn’t the same type of relief I usually experience at the end of social situations, but the unique kind of relief I had managed to be amongst a group of incredibly drunk people but still have a good time.
Although sobriety amongst young people is becoming more common — the percentage of young adults who don’t drink alcohol increased from 14% in 2017 to 21% in 2023 — not drinking during festivities or periods of celebration is still a taboo.
Especially in Britain, where we are famously a nation of binge drinkers. It can be especially hard to avoid booze at this time of year when it gets dark at 3 pm and the evening feels like it’s never going to end.
According to drinkaware, almost two-thirds (64%) of UK drinkers intend to drink more alcohol over Christmas than they typically would at other times of the year. When the wine is flowing and everyone around you is…
