Sober Curious and Alcohol Statistics 2025 Trends

For beverage manufacturers, this shift in consumer behavior and mindset represents an opportunity to create new alcohol-free products to market. Even though now is probably the time to focus on being our healthiest, it’s so easy to turn to alcohol at the end the day to wind down. While we can easily argue that a big glass fo wine may sober curious help with our mental health, we all know that we’ve never regretted saying “no” to a drink.

“Herby. Complex. Not too sweet. Great for social situations without the hangover.”

• NCS’s representative and balanced consumer CPG purchase data set consists of the industry’s preeminent and comprehensive sources.
• In 2023, 25% of women who gave birth within the last three years had an NA drink while pregnant or nursing.
• Advise clients to do their own taste tests to find a product that pleases both their palates and their budgets.
• On a recent Friday night, Rob Zaleski and Kim Daniel walk into Marshall’s bar in Austin.
• And Golden Hour was botanical, punchy, and refreshing — what I thought was a strong ginger flavor was really yuzu, bergamot, and hops.
• I love how this one didn’t try to imitate booze, but rather became its own thing.

Benders made up a large part of our adolescent years as did hangovers every Sunday. The presence of alcohol was normalized and justified through seemingly harmless leisure activities like day drinking, happy hour, and nightcaps. Cannabis drinks also have a faster onset of effects and allow for better dosage control, making them particularly attractive for both new and seasoned cannabis users in a health-conscious market. That’s where we at 3CHI come in and offer options for a more balanced and mindful consumption. Ever found yourself at a gathering and you’re nursing the same glass of wine all night, not because you want to drink but because it feels socially awkward not to have something in your hand? Or maybe you’re just tired of waking up the next morning feeling less than stellar after even just a couple of drinks?

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According to Drink Aware’s 2019 study on drinking behaviours in the UK, year-olds were the most likely to be teetotal, with 26% refraining from drinking. Cutting back on alcohol freed up my weekends – no more days lost to hangovers or sluggishness. I started spending that time doing things that actually made me feel good, like morning walks, paddle-boarding, or trying out new hobbies.

Health Benefits of a (More) Sober Life

These aren’t your dad’s homemade concoctions; they’re carefully formulated and quality-controlled options from refreshing seltzers and flavorful sodas to sophisticated teas and mocktail-inspired beverages. Cannabis infused drinks are gaining popularity as a fast-acting alternative to traditional edibles, offering rapid absorption and effects compared to edibles like gummies or brownies. This growing curiosity has led many to discover the world of cannabis drinks.

• The sober curious movement welcomes people who are not yet ready, willing, or planning to abstain from alcohol.
• Invest in a jigger or a wine measure to keep track of your pours.
• Some who have given up booze altogether join “sober sometimes” friends to enjoy nonalcoholic drinks at Sans Bar in Austin, Texas.
• Analysts believe that these drinks will not completely replace alcoholic beverages, but rather provide alternatives for those who are curious about sobriety, offering more choices than just club soda.

Can people under 21 drink nonalcoholic beer, wine, or spirits?

But I reminded myself this was, in fact, the herbs and adaptogens and enjoyed the last bit of it without worrying I’d be groggy in the morning. (The ingredients for this particular cocktail include juniper, ashwagandha, orange blossom, lemon verbena, and angelica). I decided to go all-in with the 24-drink variety pack, as my partner and I wanted a new beverage in our rotations.

• Products on this site contain a value of 0.3% or less Δ9THC (or no more than 0.3% Δ9THC).
• “The findings of these studies are actually very surprising,” White says.
• It’s absolutely OK to need extra support while addressing drinking habits.
• 5 Things Sunday Host James Brown and USA TODAY wellness reporter Sara Moniuszko explore sober drinks and what they could mean for sober curious people.
• Historically, alcohol has been central to social events, creating barriers for those who choose not to drink, whether for health, personal, or religious reasons.

The goal is not abstinence for its own sake but a more intentional relationship with substances and a focus on clarity and mental well-being. These trends reflect a psychological shift towards greater awareness of how substances, including alcohol, affect our mental health and social behaviours (Scotti, 2023). Small and independent producers are also embracing high-quality LoNo options. While initially, alcohol-free offerings simply tried to mimic existing drinks like beer and cider, newer entrants to the market are raising the bar on flavors and the ‘wow’ factor. Some use so-called ‘functional’ ingredients to produce non-alcoholic drinks which contain everything from B vitamins to chili and natural stimulants like ashwagandha.

Simply pour, unwind and embrace the essence of il dolce far niente — the sweetness of doing nothing. Sexy Fish, the globally-renowned Japanese restaurant and celeb hotspot is one of the first places in the world to offer a unified cocktail menu for drinkers and non-drinkers alike. Appropriately dubbed “UNITY,” the new menu offers 12 drinks based on 12 core flavor profiles, each available as alcoholic and non-alcoholic iterations. It takes money and time to develop a good non-alcoholic drink, especially when you’re trying to replicate something that many people already know the taste of well.

If getting drinks with friends or dates has traditionally occupied a lot of your time, you’ll need to determine how to navigate these situations. Warrington said sober curiosity surprisingly didn’t come at a social or physical loss, though. She said in the years since her last drink, she’s felt healthier than ever, with better sleep, acute focus at work and deeper intimacy in all her relationships. A sober-curious space doesn’t Sobriety have to mean no one drinks; it just means it’s no one else’s business if you don’t. In this way, conscious gathering could help address issues such as drunk driving or alcohol-related sexual assault, Warrington said. For her, accountability could increase if the power of alcohol were to decrease.