By Nick Padlo, Founder & CEO — Sophros Recovery
In recent years, the relationship between people and alcohol has undergone a noticeable shift. It may have been standard in years past to celebrate holidays or time with friends with alcohol. However, a new trend emerging is leading people to consider short-term or even long-term sobriety. The “sober curious” movement, inspired by the book of the same name by Ruby Warrington, has been taking hold across the US — especially with younger generations.
The sober curious movement is reshaping cultural norms and allowing people to explore mindful drinking and a more intentional approach to overall wellness. Recent studies show that 52.8% of people over the age of 18 regularly consume alcohol. Drinking has been historically intertwined with socializing, stress relief, and everything from sporting events to rites of passage into adulthood. Drinking among women has also been on the rise, as the “Wine Moms” trend that has been prolific online has shown.
This new sobriety movement is a direct response to the drinking culture that has permeated almost everything that we do socially. It encourages individuals to reevaluate their relationship with alcohol and leads people to lifestyle changes that can have long-lasting positive impacts.
What is the sober curious trend?
Ruby Warrington’s book “Sober Curious” and the subsequent podcast of the same name have kicked off a movement that many have gravitated toward. The crux of the sober curious movement is exploring sober living without committing to complete sobriety — at least not right away. The concepts outlined in Warrington’s book resonated with people, especially younger people who may be grappling with trying to structure their lifestyle around widespread drinking culture.
The movement is already making a noted impact on drinking rates. The number of millennial and Gen Z people who drink regularly has fallen to 62% versus the 72% of people who regularly consumed alcohol just ten years ago. The desire to build events and entertainment around drinking seems to have lessened with each generation, and movements such as the sober curious trend are leading people to more mindful drinking.
People wishing to prioritize their physical, emotional, and financial wellness are turning to the sober curious movement to get those aspects of their lives in better alignment. The trend has spread across the generational divides, with 34% of people of varying ages reporting that they felt they were more “mindful” drinkers.
Choosing to be sober curious
Upon hearing about the sober curious movement, one may wonder if it is right for them. The key aspects of the movement involve mindfulness and a more intentional approach to alcohol consumption. If one finds that they are drinking to excess more than they would like or that they are relying on alcohol to have a good time, sober curiosity may be good for them to explore.
It doesn’t require a scorched earth approach to sobriety where one never takes another drink; rather, it requires that a person looks at their consumption habits and considers where they can cut back or become more mindful about how much they drink and when they drink. Much of what is driving people to explore the sober curious trend is social media popularity. Popular accounts such as The Sober Mom Life target the specific needs of women who may lean too heavily on alcohol to cope with stress at work or at home. Sober influencers on platforms such as TikTok are driving the sober curious movement and influencing people to try sobriety on for size. There is also a noted uptick in trends that go hand-in-hand with sober curiosity, such as mocktail bars and events like Dry January.
Whether or not to participate in the sober curiosity movement is a personal decision, but once someone decides to explore sobriety — even if it is temporary — there is a significant amount of support available.
People may find that once they decide to explore sober curiosity, they come up against peer pressure or larger societal pressure to drink. Friends or family members may not fully understand your decision to abstain from drinking. However, people who join the sober curiosity movement can often lead by example. Once friends and family see someone enjoying the various benefits of sobriety, they may be led to explore the sober curiosity trend themselves.
The benefits of the sober curious movement
Even temporary sobriety can have a wealth of benefits to one’s emotional and physical health. People who choose to be more mindful about their drinking can experience better sleep, improved mental clarity, lowered blood pressure, and even weight loss.
If a person chooses to expand their sober curiosity to three to six months without drinking, they may find that major changes are taking place. The liver begins to repair itself, and inflammation is reduced throughout the body, leading to better overall health. Between six months and a year without alcohol, heart health and blood pressure begin to improve. One’s immune system improves, allowing them to fight off illness. After a year of sobriety, long-term improvements take hold, with better mental clarity and cognitive performance, a decrease in the chance of chronic illness or serious disease, and a longer lifespan expectancy. People may find that they like themselves sober and choose to carry the sobriety out on a permanent basis.
In addition to the physical improvements, people begin to understand themselves and their attitude toward alcohol better with sober curiosity. People who join the sober curious movement may begin to understand why they drank in the past and what they can do to enjoy themselves in the future without alcohol.
As abstinence challenges become more popular and prevalent, younger generations are becoming more in touch with alcohol use and abuse tendencies. Indicative of a wider interest in overall mindfulness, the sober curious movement could be called a sign of the times or a generational shift.
Whatever it may be considered within the cultural zeitgeist, the sober curious movement is leading to opportunities for people of all ages to evaluate why we drink, when we drink, and how we can move forward with socialization, self-care, and entertainment without the presence of alcohol. Even if those who choose to explore sobriety do not ultimately make it a permanent lifestyle change, the sober curious movement gives people an opportunity to become more in tune with themselves and their motivations to drink, making it a worthwhile trend to follow.
Nick Padlo is an addiction expert and entrepreneur, dedicated to helping individuals reclaim their lives. At Sophros Recovery in Florida—where drug abuse and related deaths exceed national averages—Nick and his team provide essential tools and support for lasting recovery. His transition into substance abuse treatment was deeply personal, sparked by his own battle with depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. After successfully undergoing treatment, Nick made it his mission to help others navigate similarly dark times.