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What Is the Sober Curious Movement?

a person overlooking a sunset wonders about being sober curious

Alcohol use is an everyday social norm for American adults. As well, since the beginning of the pandemic, the rate of drinking has risen significantly. This trend is worrying. Why? A pattern of excessive drinking can quickly leave you needing alcohol detox and rehab. The sober curious movement has recently risen as a counterpoint to society’s drinking behaviors. This movement challenges the role of alcohol use as a behavioral norm. In this way, it may help you avoid developing any future drinking problems.

Reasons for Being Sober Curious

Excessive alcohol use comes with a broad range of risks. Not only can you be diagnosed with alcoholism or alcohol use disorder, but you can also increase your exposure to an array of significant health problems, including:

  • Heart disease
  • Liver disease
  • Breast cancer
  • Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia

Nevertheless, drinking is firmly entrenched in American society. Almost anywhere you go, you’ll find alcohol served at parties, holiday celebrations, and various other social gatherings. You’ll also see drinking heavily advertised in large-scale commercial campaigns.

Today, some adults are pushing back on the normalization of alcohol use. They’re starting to imagine what life would be like if drinking didn’t play such a prominent social role. In other words, they’re becoming sober curious.

Basics of the Sober Curious Movement

The term sober curious first appeared in the late 2010s. Generally speaking, it describes a more mindful attitude toward drinking. That means questioning such things as:

  • When you typically drink
  • Why you drink
  • How much alcohol you usually consume
  • Whether or not you should drink at all

The movement has no specific structure or guiding organization. Instead, it’s a loose collection of individuals who feel uncomfortable with alcohol’s dominant social role. Some people questioning this role are health professionals. In addition, some are members of advocacy groups. However, people who have developed a sober curious perspective come from many other walks of life.

Sober curiosity is not the same as sobriety. A person who establishes and maintains sobriety doesn’t drink at all. In contrast, a sober curious person tends to start drinking less often. You may do this by drinking in smaller amounts than you would in the past on any given day. You may also decide to avoid drinking altogether on certain days. In addition, you may go on longer alcohol fasts from time to time.

Today, nonalcoholic drink options are widely available. These products come in the form of alcohol-free beer, wine, and even hard liquor. If you like, you can use them to make your break from the drinking norm less obvious. You may also choose drink alternatives not designed to look or taste like alcohol.

Potential Benefits of a Sober Curious Approach

There are many possible benefits to a sober curious pattern of drinking. First and foremost, it can help you reduce your risks for diagnosable alcohol problems. In addition, limiting the amount you drink makes it easier for the body to process alcohol. This can help you feel better in the short run. It can also help reduce your long-term risks for significant health problems associated with drinking.

Be aware that you may need to avoid drinking entirely. That’s especially true if you already have a serious alcohol problem. It can also be true for a variety of other reasons.

Seek Advice on a Sober Curious Lifestyle at Northpoint Colorado

For more information on the sober curious movement, talk to the professionals at Northpoint Colorado. We’ll gladly explain more about the ins and outs of this questioning approach. Northpoint also provides a full range of customized alcohol recovery services. If you’re in need of help, just call us today at 888.231.1281 or fill out our online contact form.