SOBER CURIOUS

Sober curious is an odd coupling of words, almost an oxymoron when we think of the denotations “quiet or sedate” paired with “eager to learn or know.” The phrase has gained notoriety since Ruby Warrington coined it in the title of her 2018 book on questioning or changing our alcohol consumption habits for reasons of mental and/or physical health. And now a sober curious movement aims to make it less awkward to refrain from drinking, even on social occasions. Sober curious individuals don’t necessarily have an alcohol use disorder.* They don’t need to be ready or planning for total abstinence. They simply decide to satisfy their curiosity about leading a sober life.

Early on the pandemic caused an upswing in alcohol consumption. But in 2021 Statistics Canada reported one in five Canadians and one third of millennials, often referred to as “generation sober,” drink less than they did pre-pandemic. Cautionary words from our millennial son about the perils of drinking, plus observations in Dr. Sanja Gupta’s book on building a better brain, prompted me to examine my relationship with alcohol. Because alcohol not only accelerates brain aging but also increases the risks of liver damage, heart and autoimmune disease, cancer. Plus it’s a depressant.

Social drinking, however, is so ingrained in our culture it’s atypical for someone to decline a drink without citing health, religious or recovery reasons. Like many people, I anticipate Happy Hour, initially a marketing ploy to attract patrons to restaurants for discounted food and beverages but now also a cue for imbibing at day’s end to unwind or socialize. If the alternative is Unhappy Hour, who will participate? But sober curious is a beguiling phrase. Without declaring a New Year’s resolution (by February as many as 80% of NY’s resolutions are abandoned), I opted to join the movement, though admittedly take relief in knowing it permits occasional drinks or, in other words, mindful consumption.

As I don’t much like pop or fruit juices and by the appointed HH have met my daily quota of water intake, my challenge is finding a satisfying non-alcoholic (NA) beer. In the past NA beer tasted insipid. Thanks to new technology breweries now produce NA beers with robust flavour. NA beers lead in sales volume, but NA ciders, wines and spirits are making inroads in the market as well. Another option for adults who want to enjoy the bar scene without quaffing alcohol: goodbye Shirley Temple (a child’s named NA drink invented almost 100 years ago), hello “mocktails” such as Blue Lagoon, Appletini and Hurricane.

Even if sober curiosity doesn’t whet our interest, an oxymoron applies to alcohol consumption: less is more. •

* Alcohol use disorder requires a comprehensive understanding and approach. While sober curiosity explores consumption habits, it’s not treatment. People in need of treatment work hard to keep alcohol out of their lives. Their recovery is ongoing.