Even Alcohol Change boss Piper said he has the occasional tipple—although he said he too, like McCarthy, wouldn't be toasting the new year with booze. He was a regular drinker when appointed CEO of the charity in 2017 and reassessed his relationship with alcohol during his first successful Dry January, in 2018. But it wasn't until he was clearing out his T-shirt drawer the following year that he noticed how booze had been such a large part of his identity. One of the toughest things for McCarthy was navigating work or social events without a drink.
How to take a break from alcohol
"How odd it is to have every happy hour, every work event, every celebration and gala, have alcohol. I think there are times when people who go to a lot of fundraisers are like, 'Man, I wish there was an alternative.' Some people feel like in order to socialize, you're almost having to...have something in your hand. Anyone who has ever had one too many drinks likely has had a regrettable social moment. One study of college students reported that 66 percent had regrets after a night of drinking--but even more than just regretting saying something you didn't mean to say or being late to a class or your job, drinkers tend to engage in higher-risk behaviors, including driving while impaired or engaging in unwanted sexual acts.
What are some benefits from taking a break from drinking?
Being sober curious is about reflecting on what impact alcohol has on your life. Some people may choose to give up drinking entirely for a specific amount of time (such as the month of January, or "Sober October"), or they may choose to reduce the quantity of drinks consumed in a given time frame (say, drinking two beers a week instead of four or five) or opting for lower-alcohol options. Some use it as a way to be more creative in their downtime, either looking up or creating mocktail recipes to try or seeking out new ways to engage with friends that aren't centered around a bar. Whatever the reasons for taking a break from alcohol, studies have shown there are a great deal of benefits. And that's one of the things that can make a break from alcohol a success! Finding a buddy, or even a sober social group, can help you feel like you're engaging in your social circle without feeling pressured to drink.
Gen Z Leads the Sober Curious Movement
- But that stat is beginning to drift downward, with 26 percent of Americans polled saying they planned to drink less in 2025.
- He pointed to statistics from the book Paying the Tab by economist Philip J. Cook, who found 80 percent of all alcohol in the U.S. is consumed by just 20 percent of the drinking-age population.
- One of the toughest things for McCarthy was navigating work or social events without a drink.
- You can also call or text 988 nationwide to connect with local support systems.
He pointed to statistics from the book Paying the Tab by economist Philip J. Cook, who found 80 percent of all alcohol in the U.S. is consumed by just 20 percent of the drinking-age population. Since the 1940s, roughly 60 percent of Americans have said they drink occasionally, according to analysis by The New Consumer/Coefficient Capital, a statistic that has stayed consistent until today. But that stat is beginning to drift downward, with 26 being sober sucks percent of Americans polled saying they planned to drink less in 2025. Describing the reasons for this planned decline, 47 percent said they wanted to do it for their physical health, 32 percent to live longer, 24 percent to lose weight and 23 percent for their mental health.
- People who register for the campaign also receive a daily email filled with "inspirational stories" as well as an explanation about what is happening to their bodies while off alcohol.
- Numerous studies have researched the ways in which alcohol disrupts our sleeping patterns.
- Brown University Health, Rhode Island's first health system, was founded in 1994 by Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital.
- "Midway through 2023, I was like, 'It would be really nice to maybe see what I would feel like if I didn't drink for an entire year.' So my husband and I actually both decided that we were going to do it together to just kind of see how it would impact our daily lives.
- One of these new entrants is Spider-Man actor Tom Holland, who at 28 is a millennial close to Gen Z age.
- Some patrons "pre-game" there before heading to a bar, while parents like going for a mocktail with youngsters.
- One survey of over 1,000 participants found that on average, some people spend $300 per month on alcohol.
- Whatever the reasons for taking a break from alcohol, studies have shown there are a great deal of benefits.
- The program has had flak from critics who point out many participants go back to their old ways when Dry January comes to an end.
- This has led to a slew of new entrants into the game and most major brewers now producing a nonalcoholic beer.
- "U.S. citizens make up the second largest group of people using our program, which is fantastic," said Dr. Richard Piper, CEO of Alcohol Change, the U.K.-based charity that created Dry January in 2013 and runs the campaign in the U.S. in partnership with Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.
January 1 is a time when many of those people will decide to give up booze, whether for a month—due to the Dry January campaign—a year or longer. According to the research by The New Consumer/Coefficient, nearly a third of Americans plan to participate in some form of Dry January in 2025, either by cutting down or consuming zero alcohol for the month. Lee blames the pernicious nature of alcohol marketing for preying on people who may be vulnerable to addiction.
Why are people sober curious?
"For me, BERO is personal. After two years on my sobriety journey, I wanted to create something that reflected my lifestyle and values," Holland said. "This beer isn't just for those on a similar path, but for everyone who appreciates quality, craftsmanship and living life to the fullest." The Brown University Health Blog Team is working to provide you with timely and pertinent information that will help keep you and your family happy and healthy. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a 24/7 National Helpline, with services in English and Spanish, that can help with referrals to local treatment centers, support groups, and Substance abuse community-based organizations. You can also call or text 988 nationwide to connect with local support systems. "When we opened, people didn't know what the hell we were," owner Abby Ehmann told Newsweek.
Sucks Being Sober - Single
That apparent need to have a drink in one's hand while socializing, and the lack of quality nonalcoholic options, is what inspired former hedge-fund worker Bill Shufelt in 2017 to co-found, with John Walker, Athletic Brewing Co., which has since grown to become America's largest nonalcoholic beer producer. Gen Z has far less affinity for beer and wine than previous generations, consuming a third less than their millennial predecessors according to https://ecosoberhouse.com/ research by Statista. This has led to a slew of new entrants into the game and most major brewers now producing a nonalcoholic beer. The category dominates the nonalcoholic adult drinks market, taking an 85 percent share, Nielsen IQ said. Turning to alcohol when we're stressed or upset is considered normal or understandable, but alcohol can actually make your mental health worse—and taking a break from alcohol has the opposite effect.
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Chris Marshall, a substance use counselor, found there were no social places without alcohol. So he established Sans Bar, the first of its kind in the U.S., in Austin, Texas, in 2017. "Midway through 2023, I was like, 'It would be really nice to maybe see what I would feel like if I didn't drink for an entire year.' So my husband and I actually both decided that we were going to do it together to just kind of see how it would impact our daily lives. McCarthy, 28, decided to reassess her relationship with alcohol after years of stopping and starting once she graduated from college, where she met her husband, product manager Luke, 27.