Our ambassador Karl Considine (pictured above) joined BBC Breakfast on the red sofa this month to talk about sober raves and the rise in alcohol-free socialising, after reporters attended a sober rave by Bristol Sober Spaces.
Whether it's waking up fresh and hangover free the next day, or being more present and in the moment, Karl highlighted the many benefits to living and socialising without (or with less) alcohol. In the interview, he talked about our research following this year’s Dry January challenge, which found that top learnings among participants include ‘I can have fun without alcohol’ and ‘I can stay dry in situations I thought I might not be able to’.
Watch this clip of Karl on the telly, helping to spread a positive message of how we can remove alcohol from the spotlight and still have fun (if not more!) alcohol-free.
Low and no-alcohol lifestyle goes mainstream
According to the Low + No Drinking Differently 2025 Report by KAM and Lucky Saint (our longstanding Official Beer of the Dry January® challenge), the trend toward low- and no-alcohol consumption is becoming embedded in way we drink, socialise, and define wellness.
A striking 76% of UK adults, which is roughly 40 million over-18s, are now actively moderating their alcohol intake, with many choosing low- or no-alcohol alternatives more often. 34% of respondents now practice “zebra striping”—alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks during a night out—an increase from 28% in 2024. Furthermore, one in three pub visits is now completely alcohol-free, while 25% of Britons opt for a non-alcoholic final drink in order to stay out longer.
Read the full story here.
Reshaping the university experience as wellbeing trumps hangovers
Mark Leyshon, senior research and policy manager at Alcohol Change UK, talked to The Times about how universities are adapting to changing student demands, creating environments where drinking alcohol is not the default for socialising.
“Many universities are working hard to give students more choice by putting on events that don’t revolve around alcohol, and it’s great to see alcohol-free freshers’ weeks — a big step towards changing the culture around university drinking. We’ve also been hearing that alcohol-free accommodation in many universities is heavily oversubscribed and that sober social societies are booming.” - Mark in The Times
If you’re keen to learn more about the evolving student experience, our Community Champion Charlie Martina talks about how she set up Sober Soc at Liverpool University to meet other students who were willing to start having conversations about moderation or sobriety.
