I made the decision to go alcohol free for nine years at the age of 18 - I'm now 27. With this blog, I want to show young people that you don’t have to drink if you don’t want to, and that you shouldn’t feel pressured. You can still go on nights out and have a great time without alcohol!
The reason why I stopped drinking was that I felt drinking booze had affected my anxiety. Along with that, alcohol could really affect and make my medical condition a lot worse than it is at the moment. On top of that, I felt uncomfortable about the idea of throwing up from drinking too much.
Like many others my age at the time I felt pressured to drink, but I felt the taste of alcoholic drinks didn’t agree with me. I realised I liked to do things differently and that I just didn’t like booze.
People often ask me why I’m not drinking, or say “come on mate, let’s get pissed.” or “here mate have a beer!”. I respond by telling them that drinking isn’t me – I just want to be myself, naturally sober. Some people find that weird. Others find it different, responsible, encouraging, and they see me as safe and reliable. And, luckily, my friends still believe I’m fun and a good laugh sober – so, all in all, what’s the point of me drinking?
I still love going on nights out with friends, even though people always say nights out can’t happen without alcohol or drugs. Then I say: but you go to the cinema without popcorn? You can go bowling without having a burger or hotdog? Then why can’t people go to bars, pubs and clubs and not have alcohol? Because if you think about it, a night out is all about going out and having fun with friends. And, I’ve noticed that when I’m in a bar or club, a lot of the time people don’t even notice or care that I’m not drinking – all they see is me being myself.
My mental health has been a lot better without alcohol. Not perfect, but much better compared to how it is when I’m drinking. And not drinking on nights out saves money too – non-alcoholic drinks are cheaper than booze in most places I’ve been.
People also always ask me how I can go out sober and still have a great time. So, here are the things I consider for having a good night without alcohol:
1. Mindset: First things first, it all depends on how I’m feeling at the time and whether I’m in the right mindset for a night out.
2. Music: For me, the music is genuinely important for a night out. If I’m not enjoying the music wherever I’m at, then that could make it harder for me to have a good time.
3. Friends: The most important thing on a night out is what friends you are with. Even if I’m not feeling the music, I’m at least still with people who make my nights out entertaining.
4. Safety: On a night out, safety is definitely important. I need to feel safe, not uncomfortable or uneasy.
5. Location: Along with wellbeing, the location is key for a night out because if I’m somewhere that I don’t like, that can kill the mood.
I would love to see nightclubs, pubs and bars doing more to promote that you don’t have to have alcohol if you don’t want to, and that you shouldn’t feel pressured into drinking if you don’t want to, whatever your reason.
