Are You Sober Curious About Sober October?
Think of it as Dry January's little sibling
By now most people have heard of dry January — that month-long penance for holiday indulgences. This alcohol-free challenge has grown each year since its 4,000-follower beginning in 2013 in the U.K., when a woman preparing for a half-marathon eliminated alcohol as part of her training. Now, it’s estimated that about 35% of Americans planned to be part of Dry January, though only about 16% make it through the entire month. Still, 30 million Dry Januarians in 2023 is something not to drink to.
If you didn’t abstain for the full 31 days this past January, you’ve got a second chance to give your body a break, reset your relationship with alcohol, and discover the many benefits of being alcohol free. Welcome Sober October, another movement originating in the U.K., this one to benefit cancer support. (Yet another option for the month is Stoptober, which focuses on quitting smoking.)
Experts say taking a break from alcohol, even briefly, has multiple health benefits. For example, the American Cancer Society cited alcohol as the third-leading controllable risk factor for cancer, after tobacco and excess weight. Other benefits range from lowering blood pressure, cholesterol levels and diabetes risk to better sleep, better immune function and even weight loss. Add to that the cost savings (cocktails aren’t free!) and a chance to test your willpower.
You’ll also be on trend by joining Sober October. Searches for “Dry January” increased 66% in the U.S., while searches for “Sober October” almost doubled since 2022, demonstrating broad interest in mindful drinking. And you can feel young, since Gen Z drinks less than millennials, who drink less than Gen X, and they all drink less than Boomers. Increasingly, younger Americans are passing up beer pong, unless it’s with NA (non-alcoholic) beer.
Why not join Sober October and make a plan, share it (better to hold yourself accountable) and remove alcoholic beverages from your home. Then plan your alcohol-free fun.
So, order a mocktail this October. Just don’t binge on November 1!
More at GoSober.org.uk.
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