Christmas is a time for indulgence, especially when it comes to alcohol.
Dry January is typically when we give up the booze, but it seems more of us are searching for ways to ditch the hangover in December.
In fact, searches for ‘alcohol-free holidays’ are +120% in the UK on last year, while the #SoberChristmas has +578k views on TikTok.
The sale of non-alcoholic beverages appears to be on the rise too, not just from those who don’t drink at all but those who are perhaps trying to do so less often.
Research and insight experts KAM found that 29% of pub and 36% of restaurant visits contain no alcohol in 2022 – up 25% and 34% in 2021.
Wellness expert and founder of non-alcoholic drink brand TRIP, Olivia Ferdi, says: “January is typically the time we try to improve our health by cutting out or limiting alcohol intake, so it can be especially hard to go sober in December amongst so many festivities.”
Below are Olivia’s top tips on having a festive season with low or no alcohol, without the FOMO (fear of missing out):
Figure out your WHY
There can be many reasons why you may want to reduce your alcohol reliance in December, from improving your wellness to preventing ‘hangxiety’. Search deep and ask yourself why you want to do this. Is it because you want to live a more active lifestyle? Or prove to yourself that you can be sociable without alcohol reliance?
Find that deep-rooted reason and write it down somewhere you can easily reference it during those trying times.
Don’t forget about the ripple effect
Alcohol can be expensive, especially if you’re buying a lot. One added benefit of going alcohol-free or reducing your alcohol intake is saving money.
Either treat yourself to a little reward with that money or pop it into a pot (digital or physical) so you’re reminded about the positive impact you’re having on your life and wellness.
Find your replacement tipple
Toasting with water just doesn’t have the same effect as it does with bubbles. Instead of sipping on something tasteless, find an alcohol-free replacement and pour it into sophisticated glassware, so you still feel a part of the celebrations.
It’s all about trial and error to find what’s right for you. I personally use CBD drinks to unwind naturally without the stress of a hangover the next day.
Use the resources available to you
Know you’re not alone! Many people will look to reduce their alcohol intake during the festive season – even if they’re not in your immediate circle.
Join online support groups such as the Club Soda Facebook Group to connect with people on a similar journey. Search tips and tricks under #SoberChristmas on TikTok to see what other people are doing and if you can incorporate this into your life.
There are also great apps such as I Am Sober that help tracks your sobriety or alcohol reduction and incentivise you to continue!
Plan an activity for the day after big social events
No or low alcohol means no hangover and the ability to make the most of the following day. Plan a fun activity for the day after a big social event to help you stay on track the night before.
It also gives you a reason to wrap up the night at a reasonable time and a valid excuse to say goodbye to the late-night crowd.
Go easy on yourself
We’re human, so we’re going to make mistakes! If you do end up drinking or drinking too much, don’t beat yourself up, but learn from it. Where did it go wrong? What can you do to stop that in the future?
