Why the sober-curious movement is good for your health

Can you relate to any of these scenarios?

Rachel and her friends have a girls' night every Thursday at a local bar, and there's always drinking involved. After waking up with a hangover two Friday mornings in a row, Rachel realizes she doesn’t like the way drinking to excess makes her feel. The next week, she drinks ginger ale instead.

Jordan is preparing to run a 5k. To train, he is going to the gym a couple of times a week and eating more fish and legumes. In the two months leading up to the race, Jordan decides that he also isn't going to drink alcohol.

Lawrence’s father was recently diagnosed with colon cancer—and it may run in the family. After doing some research, Lawrence learns that drinking alcohol can increase his own risk. He decides that he is going to drink wine on special occasions only, instead of a few times a week.

You may have heard of Dry January or Sober October, when people decide not to drink alcohol for a month. But many people are choosing to rethink their drinking habits year-round. All three of these situations are possible reasons someone might consider drinking less—and they’re all examples of people who are sober curious. But what does sober curious really mean?

Rise of the sober curious movement

“Being sober curious is not the same thing as sobriety,” said Jennifer Keah, MD, a primary care physician at Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital.

If you have chosen sobriety, that means you don’t drink alcohol. Some people don’t drink alcohol for health reasons, and some don’t drink for religious reasons. Other people don’t drink because of their or their family’s experiences with addiction. And some people just don’t like drinking at all.

Being sober curious, on the other hand, doesn’t necessarily mean that you never drink alcohol. It simply means that you think and reflect more on why, when and how you drink alcohol — it's being curious about sobriety.

The results of being sober curious will look a little different for everyone. Think about the three stories above. Each person had a reason for considering their drinking habits, and each came to their own choice about how they might change their behaviors permanently or just for a specific period of time.

Reflecting on your drinking habits

“You may find yourself thinking more about how much you drink or why you drink,” said Keah. “Sometimes, your sober curious journey can start with just the reminder that there are other options besides drinking—and that drinking less can benefit many aspects of your life and overall health.”

If you're sober curious, it can be helpful to answer some questions about your drinking habits, like:

• How many times do you drink per week?
• How much alcohol do you typically drink in one setting?
• In what kinds of places or situations do you find yourself drinking (at home, at the bar, at a party)?
• What time of day do you tend to drink (at dinner, right after work, right before bed, at brunch)?
• Why do you drink (because you like the taste, because it helps you relax, because it’s just what people do)?

When reflecting on these questions, pay attention to how you feel about your answers. For example, are you unhappy about how many times per week you drink? Do you wish you had another activity to do to help you relax at the end of the day? Are you just drinking because you go to places where drinking is expected?

Answering these questions can help you decide if and how you may want to change your drinking patterns.

Different ways to be sober curious

If you think that you may be sober curious, or want to try something new, there are many different ways you can approach your own sober curiosity.

After reflecting, if you want to change your drinking habits, you can:

• Choose to only drink on certain days of the week or certain occasions
• Set a specific number of drinks for the times you do drink
• Try ordering a mocktail at the bar instead of an alcoholic beverage
• Stop drinking entirely for a certain period of time
• Use an online tool like the CDC’s change plan to figure out your goals

For some people, being sober curious and just changing their drinking habits isn’t enough.

“If you or your family has a history of alcoholism, any amount of alcohol can have a huge impact on your mental health, safety, or your relationships with other people,” said Keah. “Sober curiosity can be an important tool for many people, but if you are struggling with addiction, you may need more support or treatment than just changing how much or how often you drink.”

Whether you want to stop drinking altogether or are just interested in how you can change your own drinking patterns, the sober curious movement can be beneficial. In addition to the health benefits, drinking less can help you save money and avoid many types of accidents. Just taking time to think about your current drinking is a great step in the right direction and can help you live a better, healthier life.