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Associated Press

Last year, when Lauren Haydel began her first sober holiday season, she wondered how difficult it would be to avoid alcohol at family parties and celebrations with friends.
She owns a boutique, Fleurty Girl, in the French Quarter of New Orleans – a neighbourhood synonymous with drinking – in the United States.
But few people questioned her choice. “Instead of them asking me why,” Haydel says, “they ask me, ‘Oh, do you feel better?’”
Many friends told her they are considering avoiding alcohol themselves.

Sobriety has been having a moment, says Jessica Jeboult, founder of the website and online community A Sober Girl’s Guide.
“This is the ultimate time to rediscover or change your relationship with alcohol,” she says. With so many alcohol-free products available and growing awareness about the benefits of staying sober, “there is maximum support”.
If you are planning to stay sober this holiday season, here are some tips from sober coaches, sober bar managers and happily sober people:
1. Plan drink options in advance of social events
“Having something in your hand just ups your comfort level, because you feel like you’re socialising with this thing in your hand, instead of standing there with your hands at your side,” says Abby Ehmann, who owns Hekate Cafe and Elixir Lounge, a sober bar in New York.

It can help to choose your alcohol-free options in advance. If you prefer something that reminds you of alcohol, sample some of the many non-alcoholic wines and beers on the market – they are not all equally tasty – and check which are on the menu at a bar or restaurant you will be visiting.
If you will be hosting a party or attending one at someone’s home, you also can mix up your own mocktail recipes in advance.
“Treat these drinks like they’re really special,” says US chef Suzanne Podhaizer, who makes an assortment of mocktails when she entertains.
Do not forget the garnish, she says: “Consider putting a sugar rim on your glasses or using lustre dust on top. The more you make the non-alcoholic drinks feel celebratory, the better people are going to feel.”
Mocktails also make great hostess gifts. Mix up a batch of your favourite recipe, pour it into a large Mason jar and tie it with a ribbon to bring with you.

2. Make social plans that do not focus on drinking
This year, plan to gather somewhere other than a bar. It is the perfect season “to have some lovely hot chocolates, take them outdoors and go ice skating”, says Kate Baily, a women’s health coach in the UK and host of the podcast Love Sober.
If you are invited to an event that is all about drinking, give yourself permission to skip it, says Adam Cannon, a US property agent who has been sober for 18 years.
In his industry, “at this time of year, there’s a different networking event every night of the week”, Cannon says. He opts not to go if “ostensibly, it’s about networking, but it’s at a bar. People are getting hammered”.
3. Know your sober social window
Even if it is your habit to stay out late, “you don’t have to do what you’ve always done at this particular Christmas party”, Haydel says. Drop in for the first hour, then allow yourself to leave when you wish.

You will not miss much. “There’s a witching hour when you’re out at a bar or drinking with friends,” Jeboult says. “When people get past two drinks, three drinks, the stories are the same.”
If need be, slip out without explanation. Whether you call it a “French exit” or an “Irish goodbye”, it is totally an option.
4. Take breaks and connect with sober support
If you are feeling stressed during a holiday gathering, “take a time out”, Jeboult says. Escape to the bathroom, step outside for a minute or go for a walk.
Snack breaks help, too. Jay Bridwell, a recovery counsellor in the US, often uses the acronym HALT with patients in addiction recovery. If you are “Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired”, he says, you may be more likely to reach for alcohol. So build in time for rest and meals.

And have a plan if things get tough. Whether it is an Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor, a sober relative or a group text with healthy friends, stay connected with people who will support you, Bridwell says. You can also join an online sober group and follow sobriety-related social media accounts.
5. Plan your transport
Map out multiple transport options, rather than relying on one person for a ride home from a party. You will have less stress, and feel less motivated to temper stress with alcohol, if you have the freedom to leave when you wish.
6. View being sober as a holiday gift to yourself
During her first sober holiday season last year, Haydel revelled in meaningful conversations and the joy of waking up feeling good each morning with clear memories of the night before.

“Sobriety is the gift that you keep on giving to your future self over and over and over again,” says Eliott Edge, who manages Hekate, the sober bar in New York.
Focus on enjoying this very real gift, Baily says. Take your time getting dressed, visualising yourself having a great time, and imagine how you will feel as your head hits the pillow when you get home.
As a finishing touch, plan a reward for the next day. Maybe a breakfast date with a friend or a morning walk in the park that will feel especially good because you will not be hungover.
“You’ve got the best bits of the evening,” Baily says, “and there are no costs.”


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You do not have to drink alcohol to have a good time this Christmas. Sober people offer tips on staying tipple-free. Photo: Shutterstock

If you prefer something that reminds you of alcohol, sample some of the many non-alcoholic wines and beers on the market. Photo: Shutterstock

“The more you make the non-alcoholic drinks feel celebratory, the better people are going to feel,” says US chef Suzanne Podhaizer. Photo: Shutterstock

If you are invited to an event that is all about drinking, give yourself permission to skip it. Photo: Shutterstock

Map out multiple transport options, rather than relying on one person for a ride home from a party. Photo: Jelly Tse

Enjoy a breakfast date with a friend that will feel especially good because you will not be hungover. Photo: Shutterstock

Take a morning walk in the park. Photo: Shutterstock

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Artist Funnyjun teaches non-Koreans the art of drinking soju in his book How to Drink Soju. He equates a soju drinking session to a polygraph test, because how a person handles it reveals much about their character. Photo: Shutterstock

Kim Wan-jun, known by the artist name Funnyjun, has released an authentic guide to drinking soju. Photo: Instagram/@funnyjun_ 

APT, by Rosé and Bruno Mars, references a Korean drinking game. Photo: Instagram/@mnet_mama

Two person toasting soju drinks during dinner in Korean barbecue restaurant while enjoying grilled meats. Photo: Shutterstock 

Soju’s cultural significance in Korea is that it brings people together regardless of setting and social class, according to Kim. Photo: Shutterstock 

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Exercising while travelling helps strengthen the immune system and can be done in the comfort of your hotel room. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong-based naturopath Ally van de Pol recommends avoiding alcohol in the run-up to trips and while on flights and in transit. Photo: Ally van de Pol

Monica Xu, a naturopath at the Integrated Medicine Institute in Hong Kong, recommends taking herbal remedies on trips in case you fall ill. Photo: Monica Xu

Activated carbon, or activated charcoal, tablets are good for stomach discomfort caused by food that is spoiled or tainted, according to van de Pol. Photo: Shutterstock

Van de Pol suggests wearing compression socks on flights for those prone to ankle swelling. They also help prevent deep vein thrombosis. Photo: Shutterstock

For those who have trouble sleeping in a new environment, Xu recommends taking magnesium glycinate. Melatonin is also a helpful sleep aid, but can cause hangover-like symptoms. Photo: Shutterstock

Travelling doesn’t have to mean taking a break from fitness. Stay active by trying new things, such as snowboarding if you’re from somewhere hot. Photo: Shutterstock 

Why are we still sober shaming during Dry January? It’s not just the memes – bars and restaurants often don’t help

More people are adopting no-alcohol lifestyles or attempting challenges like Dry January but many bars and restaurants still offer little in the way of interesting low-ABV or zero-proof beverages, often resorting to just the usual soft drinks like coke. Photo: Shutterstock

The non-alcoholic drinks pairings at Roganic, a one-Michelin-star restaurant in Hong Kong, highlight sustainability, making use of surplus and unused kitchen ingredients. Photo: Roganic

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Jia Ling shed over 50kg (110 pounds) in a year for her role in the hit movie YOLO. How? Afterwards the Chinese actress revealed the diet plan she followed, and other steps she took,  to lose the weight. Photo: Sony Pictures

Jia at the premiere of her film YOLO, which means “You Only Live Once”, in Beijing, China. Photo: Getty Images

Eggs feature in all three meals on day two of the diet. Photo: Shutterstock

A still from YOLO. Photo: Weibo

Day five’s lunch features chicken breast. Photo: Shutterstock

Eat oatmeal for breakfast on day seven. Photo: Shutterstock

Have sea bass on day 10. Photo: Shutterstock

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Sober coaches, sober bar managers and happily sober people give their tips on avoiding alcohol – one trick is to leave a party early


Sober coaches, sober bar managers and happily sober people give their tips on avoiding alcohol – one trick is to leave a party early.


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Wine and Spirits