Dry January: I Went to a Club Sober – and Survived

By Mia Constantinescu

The club in question, Kremlin.

‘Sober-curious’ is a term used to describe the ever growing movement of people wishing to question their relationship to alcohol – be it reducing their consumption or cutting it out completely [1]. Undoubtedly, Gen Z is increasingly focused on leading healthier, more balanced lifestyles, and evidence shows reducing their alcohol intake is a big part of this – young people just aren’t as interested in getting drunk anymore [2] [3] .

Commitments to physical and mental well-being are gaining momentum, with popular trends like the 75 Hard Challenge encouraging healthier habits—one of which is eliminating alcohol entirely. Emphasis on prioritising self-care, fitness, and overall health is definitely a January ideal, with more and more people partaking in Dry January [4].

While I always prided myself on having a hangover free next day (routinely waking up before 10 regardless of what time I had been out until), drinking alcohol began leaving me with overwhelming low mood, particularly towards the end of last year. I found that after a night of drinking (and I mean even just a few at the SU) I felt at rock-bottom – it made me pick apart my relationships leaving me to feel like nothing mattered. This began to feel unbearable, especially after just being through a breakup, and lead me to begin exploring the world of sober-curiosity.

I had met people who didn’t drink before, of course, but unfortunately I met them with judgement . A good friend of mine, the first time we went out, told me she wasn’t drinking. With my initial surprise, my split-second first thoughts were questioning: ‘Are you really going out sober?’, worried for a moment that maybe it wouldn’t be as fun if we weren’t all drunk. Yet while she was sober, happy and content, I was taking a vodka shot that instantly came out of my nose (yes it hurt) as I physically couldn’t take anymore.

In the moment, alcohol at low levels, allows you to feel less anxious, more relaxed and chatty, but a change in chemicals can lead to anger, depression or anxiety (termed ‘Hangxiety’ or ‘The Fear’ in the south [5]). It silences the critical voice in your head that evaluates everything you do – in way this can be a good thing, allowing you to socialise without the pressure of worrying you’ve said something stupid, but it can also impede your rational thinking. Alcohol is a proven a depressant drug, that disrupts the neurotransmitters of the brain, particularly Glutamate and GABA [6], and experiencing this to the detriment of my mental health lead me to experience my first sober night out.

Since then, I’ve been on countless nights out without drinking, and the reactions are usually mixed. For the most part, my friends are accepting of it. In fact it rarely affects their night out because of the studied placebo effect of being around drunk people (where you yourself feel as though you’ve drank) [7] – loud music, dim lighting and the party setting are all cues that trick the brain into ‘acting the part’ [8] . I’ve talked about this with other friends who’ve been out sober, and nearly all have corroborated my experience, with one friend stating this effect ‘makes going out sober pretty easy’. The next day some of my friends are even oblivious to the fact I hadn’t drank the night before.

One of the biggest reasons people hesitate to go out sober, I believe, is the fear of being questioned or facing judgment. This is a sign of just how deeply binge drinking is embedded into British culture—where being drunk is the default, and deviations from this feel out of place. Studies show that the UK consistently has some of the highest rates of alcohol consumption in Europe [9], which highlights how the expectation to drink is ingrained in our social lives.

The odd time someone will ask me ‘Are you REALLY going to Kremlin sober?’ (yes, I am really going to Kremlin sober). Followed by ‘I could never do that’ (honestly it’s not that bad at all). In fact I actually enjoy my sober nights out just as much – I dance just as carefree, have energy to stay out later, usually experience placebo drunkenness, and the next day effects are non-existent (except maybe for some tiredness). If people question it, I usually tell them I’m just ‘taking a break’ from alcohol.

If you do want to start reducing your alcohol consumption, for whatever reason, I’ve learned it’s important to always have a drink in your hand. This reduces any awkwardness you may be feeling due to not drinking. My go-to is a Diet Coke, and asking for a slice of lime makes any drink look alcoholic. Ordering a half pint of blackcurrant – which people will assume is a vodka black anyways – will save you so much money (side grievance: the student union charges 80p for it now), and hassle. Dedicate just a night to trying it out – a risk free way to see what it’s like to be sober – but set it up in your mind that your default is ‘no I’m not drinking’. If you go out undecided whether or not you’ll drink, you’re most likely going to drink. I reckon you’ll be surprised by how social you feel anyways surrounded by friends, and by the amount of people you meet who are also not drinking (sober people tend to gravitate towards each other I have found).

Don’t get me wrong, I’m from Ireland – I had my first drink at 15 and at this stage have probably gotten through a lifetime supply. While I do enjoy the buzz that comes with drinking, I’ve come to realize that the ‘enhancement’ of the night rarely outweighs the consequences I face the next day. The decision to cut back or completely eliminate alcohol from a night out doesn’t have to mean sacrificing fun or connection. While overcoming social pressure may seem daunting, it’s entirely possible to enjoy the night just as much, if not more, without a drink (other than a Diet Coke & a slice of lime) in hand. If you’re simply curious or wanting to make a change, giving sobriety a try could lead to an unexpected perspective on what a night out can be, and trust me it’s really not that bad!!

Sources:

[1] Curious about being sober curious? Here’s how to try it yourself, 2024. . Cosmopolitan. URL https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/body/health/a43873565/sober-curious/

[2] Ng Fat, L., Shelton, N., Cable, N., 2018. Investigating the growing trend of non-drinking among young people; analysis of repeated cross-sectional surveys in England 2005–2015. BMC Public Health 18, 1090. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5995-3

[3] Why Gen Z Is Drinking Less  | TIME n.d. URL https://time.com/7203140/gen-z-drinking-less-alcohol/

[4] Dry January Is Becoming A Lifestyle n.d. URL https://www.forbes.com/sites/yolarobert1/2023/01/31/dry-january-is-becoming-a-lifestyle/

[5] Hangovers and feeling down n.d. . HSE.ie. URL https://www2.hse.ie/living-well/alcohol/health/mental-health/hangovers-and-feeling-down/

[6] Alcohol and mental health n.d. URL https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/alcohol-and-mental-health

[7] Bodnár, V., Nagy, K., Cziboly, Á., Bárdos, G., 2021. Alcohol and Placebo: The Role of Expectations and Social Influence. Int J Ment Health Addiction 19, 2292–2305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00321-0

[8] Researchers have been studying the effects of pretend alcohol for decades n.d. URL https://slate.com/technology/2024/01/nonalcoholic-beer-tipsy-effects-dry-january-ideas.html

[9] Drinking trends in the UK n.d. . Alcohol Change UK. URL https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets/drinking-trends-in-the-uk