Sober curious is a cultural movement and lifestyle of practicing none or limited

alcohol Alcohol most commonly refers to: * Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom * Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks Alcohol may also refer to: Chemicals * Ethanol, one of sev ...

consumption that started spreading in the late 2010s, in particular among people from the

millennials Millennials, also known as Generation Y or Gen Y, are the Western demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding Generation Z. Researchers and popular media use the early 1980s as starting birth years and the mid-1990s to early 2000 ...

generation,''Millennials Are Sick of Drinking - But they're not giving up booze just yet'', article by Amanda Mull, April 2, 2019 on theatlantic.com
/ref> and was coined by Ruby Warrington in her 2019 book ''Sober Curious''. It differs from traditional abstinence in that it is not founded on

asceticism Asceticism (; from the el, ἄσκησις, áskesis, exercise', 'training) is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their p ...

, religious condemnation of alcohol or previous

alcohol abuse Alcohol abuse encompasses a spectrum of unhealthy alcohol drinking behaviors, ranging from binge drinking to alcohol dependence, in extreme cases resulting in health problems for individuals and large scale social problems such as alcohol-relat ...

, but motivated by a curiosity of a sober lifestyle. Markets have reacted by offering a wider selection of non-alcoholic beverages.''Sober Curious er det nye sort'', article by Mette Kirstine Goddiksen, January 4, 2023 (in Danish)
/ref>

Definition and characteristics

Sober curiosity is often defined as having the option to question or change one's drinking habits, for mental or physical health reasons.''What Does It Mean to Be Sober Curious?'' article by Sarah Sheppard, January 24, 2021, on verywellmind It may be practised in many ways, ranging from complete abstinence to thinking more about when and how much one actually wants to drink.''Skål – uden alkohol'', article by Eva Guld Boesen in Samvirke , February 2023, p. 18-27 (in Danish) According to Kristine Goddiksen, a Danish opinion columnist on KForum writing on the so-called “sober curious” phenomenon, the fear of being different and being rejected by one's friends is one of the reasons why people drink. If you say no to alcohol, you risk being ''sober shamed'', i.e. labeled as boring, antisocial or restrained, or people may think you are either pregnant, religious or an ex-alcoholic. Goddiksen believes alcohol can be seen as a symbol of the weekend, freedom, and celebration, and the belief may be widespread that alcohol is the only way to loosen up. Goddikson explains that, in the mindset of certain teetotalers or “sober curious” individuals, if one only feels alive and happy when drinking

, and one's life is centered about when it is the weekend or when one can drink again, that person's life apparently tends to become “paltry” and “artificial”, in the estimation of or according to “sober curious” people. According to Ida Fabricius Bruun, CEO of the Danish NGO Alkohol & Samfund, parents play an important role in showing their children that socializing is quite possible without drinking alcohol.

By region

Europe

Since the onset of the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

, more people in Europe have reduced their alcohol consumption. Almost 20% of

Danes Danes ( da, danskere, ) are a North Germanic ethnic group and nationality native to Denmark and a modern nation identified with the country of Denmark. This connection may be ancestral, legal, historical, or cultural. Danes generally regard t ...

drink more alcohol than the limit recommended by the

Danish Health Authority The Danish Health Authority ( da, Sundhedsstyrelsen) is a state-owned entity in Denmark sorting under the Ministry of Health. It was founded in 1909 and is situated in Copenhagen in the area of Islands Brygge. Its areas of responsibility range wid ...

, while year after year, Danish teenagers hold the European record of alcohol intake. Every summer, when first year students start college, Danish media bring stories of how the introductory social activities challenge students, who do not like to be drunk. However, between 2010 and 2023, the sale of non-alcoholic beer in Denmark was six-doubled, while lately the sale of non-alcoholic wine and spirits has also risen. By early 2023, non-alcoholic beverages have a Danish market share of about 4%. At the 2023

Roskilde Festival The Roskilde Festival is a Danish music festival held annually south of Roskilde. It is one of the largest music festivals in Europe and the largest in the Nordic countries. It was created in 1971 by two high school students and a promoter. In 1 ...

, known for its

binge drinking Binge drinking, or heavy episodic drinking, is drinking alcoholic beverages with an intention of becoming intoxicated by heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time, but definitions ( see below) vary considerably. Binge drinking ...

among young people, an increased interest among festival guests in staying sober led the organisers to provide a wider selection of non-alcoholic beverages, especially beer, and display messages of 'Drink responsibly' and 'Enjoy the music' on big screens and banners.

Asia

In Japanese business life, drinking alcohol with colleagues after work is considered quite normal, and difficult to refuse, giving non-drinking colleagues a disadvantage, in particular about promotions. Japanese sober curious were therefore greatly encouraged, when in 2020 non-drinking Yoshihide Suga was appointed prime minister.

USA

In comparison to their parents, part of the

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

Millennials seem more concerned with maintaining their health, e.g. through physical activity and limited alcohol intake, yet believe that a healthier relationship with alcohol doesn't require them to give up drinking entirely. Moreover,

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: ''Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternatively ...

seems to some degree to replace alcohol: A 2017 study found that in US counties with legalized medicinal cannabis, alcohol sales dropped more than 12 percent when compared with similar counties without cannabis.

Literature

* *

References

External links

The Dry January Story, on alcoholchange.org.uk
{{socio-stub Lifestyle Temperance movement