Happy hours have long been a time to meet with friends, have a few drinks, and unwind from a busy day. For those who are trying to stay sober, though, they can be an unwelcome reminder of their past or could lead to a relapse and restarting the sobriety journey. Today, though, happy hours are being redefined, with added support for those who are sober and who want more than just a place to drink to hang out with friends.
Focus on Community, Not Drinking
From sober living arrangements to parties where drinking isn’t involved, there is a growing focus on community instead of drinking. It’s not necessary or needed for someone to have a few drinks just because they’re hanging out with friends and family. In fact, there are many events now that don’t include drinks anymore, so everyone is sober and having fun. Those working on their sobriety can look into the different housing arrangements and other options to start having fun and creating a community around them without turning back to drinking.
Social Spaces Centered on Wellness
Many people are choosing to forego the bar and meet at other locations for fun and friendship today, and that’s perfect for those who are trying to stay sober. Instead of meeting at the bar, friends may meet at a yoga class, get together to learn how to do different crafts, or have a fun movie night at someone’s home with kid-friendly snacks like popcorn and soda instead of drinking. These options are increasing rapidly in many different locations, so friends have many different places they can go and things they can do without drinking. There is even an increase in sober-friendly events like concerts to enjoy.
Zero-Proof Cocktails Increasingly Available
Sometimes, there will be events a person will want to attend where there is an expectation to drink. The person may not want to explain why they aren’t drinking, as it is their own business. However, there are increasingly places that offer zero-proof cocktails, so they can enjoy the friendship and fun without having any alcohol. These are often listed in the same menu, so it’s easy to order without anyone noticing that it’s not an alcoholic beverage. In most cases, they look and taste just like the alcoholic counterparts, but they have no alcohol in them for those who want to avoid drinking or work on their sobriety.
Better Mental Health Support
Mental health support is crucial for those who want to work on their sobriety. Having mental health support in place enables them to learn more about how to ease their anxiety, how to handle their sobriety when attending events or activities with friends, and how to make better choices for their own mental health to help prevent a relapse. Increases in mental health support and awareness are helping those on the path to sobriety by offering them more choices and assistance.
On the journey of sobriety, it can be challenging to avoid drinking, especially in social settings. However, today there are more options than ever before for those who want the socialization implied by happy hours without the drinking. Use the ideas here or try out different sober options in your local area to learn how you can still enjoy time with friends after work without drinking.
