The Soberist | No Drink Tastes as Good as Sobriety Feels – An international community of likeminded individuals celebrating the joy and benefits of sobriety.

No drink tastes as good as sobriety feels

Take your first real steps toward sobriety and freedom. Understand these certain truths:

1. ALCOHOL IS A POISON

Alcohol is a poison, pure and simple.

Make no mistake: That ice-cold beer, that complex merlot, or that double vodka on the rocks resides squarely in ethanol’s (ethyl alcohol’s) “family tree”.

2. BREAKING THE ADDICTIVE CYCLE OF DRINKING ALCOHOL ENABLES YOU TO:

be fully present for yourself, your family and your friends,
give yourself the best opportunity for optimal mental and physical health, and
halt the incessant internal noise of "I'm not that bad, am I?" , "I may have a problem", "I can't go to that liquor store again so soon", "Is everyone else going to have a second glass?" and so on and so on.

3. ATTEMPTS AT MODERATING/ RULE-BASED ALCOHOL INTAKE DO NOT WORK!

Truth (discovered the hard way): It is harder to moderate your drinking than it is to just stop drinking entirely. The amount of energy and brain power required to keep track of your promised rules for when and how much to drink is exhausting, and constitutes a recipe for failure. Who needs that?

4. LIFE’S UPS AND DOWNS STILL OCCUR WHETHER OR NOT You DRINK ALCOHOL...

...but in sobriety, you can appropriately assess what you can control (and act upon) vs. that which you cannot control (and just allow yourself to simply experience your feelings-What a concept!). Living life alcohol-free allows you to make it through the downs and celebrate the ups with a clarity and strength you simply cannot know with alcohol coursing through your body.

5. THERE will be LIMITLESS PRIDE KNOWING you WON'T EVER AGAIN have to experience:

The incessant, awful, internal dialogue before, during, and after drinking,
The shame of yet another failed attempt to stop or limit your drinking,
Another hangover, and
The dreaded wake up at 2 AM with cotton mouth and memory lapses

Ever wonder why commercials for alcohol always show happy, smiling imbibers at the beginning of the party, and not what happens at the end?

A drawing of a girl in a dress, leaning to the side with spirals inside of her eyes on a purple background.

Stop drinking the poison (alcohol)*. Start right now!

See how you feel in the morning. Do you wish you had a drink last night? Bet not! Try it again the next day. String more days together. What a great sense of accomplishment! Try sober day counting apps, e.g., Sobertool, I am Sober, Nomo, EasyQuitDrinking, etc.

*If there is a possibility of withdrawal symptoms requiring medical supervision, please be sure to consult with a doctor before starting your sober journey.

Join a sober community!

Addiction to ANY substance thrives on isolation. Connection is the key! It is THE game-changing ingredient for success. You cannot do it alone. Here are some groups to start with (there are others!)-look them up and see which ones are right for you. Start building your sober safe space today!

This Side of Alcohol, Zero Proof Experiences

Women for Sobriety, Sobersis (Women Only)

The Luckiest Club

Alcoholics Anonymous

Search "Sober" on Instagram Accounts!

OK, so you will not drink alcohol today. What ELSE can go in your glass?

To satisfy the "muscle memory" of having a drink in your hand at parties, or at home after work, you have plenty of delicious options*:

Anything from seltzer with a splash of cranberry juice and a wedge of lime, to a plethora of delicious easy-to-make non-alcoholic cocktails (search "Mocktails" on your browser, on Pintrest, etc.)

At a restaurant, ask for a "virgin" version of your (previously) favorite cocktail, or just ask the bartender to make you their favorite (they usually love the challenge!) m

There are plenty of surprisingly tasty non-alcoholic beers out there now (so much so, that you'll find yourself checking the label to make sure you didn't grab the wrong one!) Item

Many brands have popped up that focus on the sober drinker. Search for "non-alcoholic______" (wine/gin/rum/tequila) on the internet. There are also social media groups dedicated to finding and reviewing non-alcoholic options, and can be helpful in your search for what works for you.

*NOTE: For some individuals, a non-alcoholic drink that resembles an alcoholic drink may be "triggering" (i.e., may make you crave the real thing). If that describes you, choose your beverages carefully!

Be empowered, proud, and proactive!

Don't say: "Uh, I can't drink alcohol anymore"

Say (proudly and loudly!): "I don't drink alcohol anymore"

This website was borne out of one person's experience, someone who drank alcohol for decades. It began with a complete certainty that she would never be able to break free from alcohol's grip. She was proven wrong, after joining the Hola Sober modern recovery community (www.holasober.com), an international group of women (and now men) who thrive in their sobriety. Educational programming, meetings, sharing, and an incredible community of support, created a strength and pride in sobriety that is wholeheartedly embraced. Stop drinking the poison. Start today!.

Finally, be prepared for the reactions from friends and family when they hear the news...

...and know that it will say more about their relationship with alcohol than it does about yours. Would they react that way if you told them you weren't drinking soda anymore?!