Is it Time to Get on the Sober Curious Bandwagon?

 

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“The idea behind it is that you’re starting to get curious about the way that alcohol shows up in your life.”

The term was coined by Ruby Warrington in her book Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, and Deep Connection Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol. 

When she read Sober Curious, Jordan said something just clicked. She hadn’t been happy about her relationship with alcohol for a long time, reflecting on intensified mental health struggles and hangovers that would emotionally “take her out” for a week. So she took on Warrington’s 100-Day Sober Curious Reset and treated it like “an extended dry January.”

In the end, she said the break from alcohol gave her space and permission to really explore and understand her relationship with alcohol.

Jordan describes sober curiosity as part of a spectrum, ranging from frequent drinking to a damp lifestyle, mindful or intentional drinking, sober curiosity, and teetotal sobriety.

The non-alcoholic beverage industry is exploding

We’re not the only ones noticing that more people are talking about ditching alcohol. Brands are noticing, too. In fact, the inspiration from this article was born when someone at Blogilates HQ noticed alcohol alternative brands in her IG ads. It seems like a new non-alcoholic bevvie is popping up every day. Non-alcoholic wine shops are popping up everywhere too – even where I live in Indiana, where it feels like we’re normally behind the trend.

I spoke with Marcus Sakey, Co-Founder of Ritual Zero-Proof to learn more about the growth of non-alcoholic drinking.

“Non-alcoholic drinking isn’t a moment, it’s a movement. This isn’t a niche product or consumer we’re talking about. A non-alcoholic cocktail is for anyone who is dieting, training, making a baby, already had a couple drinks, is doing Dry January, has to work in the morning, or is simply trying to be healthy and wants a clean cocktail.

And by no means is it an all-or-nothing proposition. 78% of people who drink non-alcoholic cocktails also drink alcohol. For us, it’s about balance, and Ritual offers a tool for each of us to find our own sense of balance.”

This completely aligns with the premise of sober curiosity, but also serves as an important reminder that there’s a place for these products beyond actively cutting back on alcohol.

Oh, and the marketing of these products is absolutely stunning. Everything from the packaging to the social media aesthetic to the promise to make you feel “euphoric” or “focused.” But of course I had to wonder…

Are these drinks healthier than alcohol?

If you’re wondering why a dietitian is writing this article…. this is why. Obviously drinking less alcohol is going to be a healthy change all around. But are there any downsides to replacing alcohol with non-alcoholic products?

I assumed that most of these products would remind me of mixers, mainly in terms of sugar content. However, I was surprised to learn that most of the popular products out there actually aren’t high in added sugar. Obviously the non-alcoholic spirits like Ritual Zero-Proof aren’t sweetened at all, because they’re intended to be combined with some kind of mixer. But even the products meant to be consumed on their own like Kin Euphorics use little to no sugar. Most are light sweetened with monk fruit or stevia.

What about ‘mood enhancers?’

If you’re wondering why you wouldn’t just drink a Sprite or some kombucha to replace alcohol, I had the same question. However, some non-alcoholic brands found a way to “take the edge off,” even without alcohol. Here are some common ingredients, often referred to as nootropics, and how they claim to boost your mood:

CBD – Many people use CBD to manage anxiety, help with sleep, and to alleviate chronic pain. The amount and type in non-alcoholic beverages varies, so this may benefit some more than others. Also, research on these claims is still ongoing.
Adaptogenic mushrooms – Several types exist that may help with focus, mental clarity, energy, stress, and anxiety. Although these mushrooms have been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years, more research is needed to back these claims up.
L-theanine – An amino acid used to boost mental function, increase feelings of calm, and boost creativity. However, only a few small studies have found this to be effective.
Caffeine – This one’s nothing new, and helps with energy and concentration. Pay attention to the amount of caffeine in a product, as some people need to be careful not to consume too much. Caffeine could also induce anxiety or make you feel jittery.
Melatonin – To help you relax. However, if you’re sensitive to melatonin or not used to taking it, this could just make you sleepy.

Health is about more than the nutrition label

If you replace alcohol with a beverage that doesn’t have textbook “healthy” nutrition label, it could still benefit your overall wellbeing. So keep that in mind if you embark on a sober curiosity journey.

At the end of the day, it’s about finding the most sustainable healthy lifestyle FOR YOU. Maybe you’ll have fewer drinks at social events, or you’ll set a limit for how often you want to drink. Maybe you’ll experiment with sobriety for a while to see how you feel. Or maybe nothing is changing about alcohol in your life.

Stay tuned for a sober curious taste test!

If you want to learn more about sober curiosity (there is SO much more!), check out Jordan’s TikTok and the book that started her journey, Sober Curious.

If you want to learn more about non-alcoholic products to try, STAY TUNED! Obviously we had to try some, right?! I’m currently taste-testing some brands and mixing up some non-alcoholic mocktails and so far I am looooving them. Once I’m done testing, I’ll write up a full review so you can try some too!

*This post may contain referral links for products we love, and all opinions are our own. Blogilates.com earns a small commission from these links, at no additional cost to you.