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News.com.au
07-07-2025
- General
- News.com.au
The one thing nobody knows about my 5-year sobriety
There's a photo from my early twenties: my friends and me in someone's cramped lounge, arms draped around each other, and empty Double Black bottles on the coffee table. Whenever my iPhone photo app assaults me with this 'memory', which I do not, in fact, remember, I see a girl who was deep in the cycle of binge drinking. She'd be fine Monday until Thursday, then Friday until Sunday, she was the textbook party girl – always the last to leave the party and the first to suggest 'just one more'. I was the friend who made every night out a little less predictable, and regrettably, a little more dramatic. Moderation wasn't a thing, and I didn't even want to try. I didn't see the point. Drinking was my shortcut to confidence, and my way to ensure I always fit into any group or setting I found myself in. But it was also my undoing, in ways that crept up slowly. There was always a 'hangxiety' that gnawed at me every Sunday, about what I'd said, what I'd done, who I might have hurt. Reckless decisions were made, and relationships gradually broke down. By 24, the cracks were showing, and after a particularly savage New Year's Eve hangover, I made the stubborn decision that I couldn't keep doing this and quit cold turkey. The three stages of sobriety It was the beginning of 2020, and I was ready to learn who I was without the constant background hum of alcohol. The 'sober curious' movement really took off this year, as people navigated the pandemic and started questioning their drinking habits. As a result, a lot of non-alcoholic brands launched around this time, which made the transition easier than I thought it would be. Instead of the 'party friend', I became the 'sober friend', the one who'd always have an elaborate non-alcoholic drink in hand, keen to tell anyone who'd listen about my latest discovery that 'tastes just like the real thing!' (it definitely did not). This is what I like to call the first stage of sobriety. It was a novelty, a personal brand, a new way of being in the world. And yes, I was just a tad evangelical. Every day felt like a little personal project, and I had a renewed sense of purpose in life. Then came the second stage: maintenance. The novelty faded, and sobriety became a quiet fact of my life. I stopped needing non-alcoholic alternatives to feel comfortable, and people stopped asking questions about why I wasn't drinking. I also stopped making a big thing of it. This is the part where, if you're lucky, your life starts to flourish. I built friendships that weren't based on drinking. I started a book club for women who wanted to socialise without booze, and a hiking group that grew to 80 members. I swapped clubbing for brunches, morning walks, and the kind of wholesome activities my 23-year-old self would have scoffed at. I became, much to my own horror, someone who went to the gym and actually liked it. But here's the thing I've been too scared to admit about my sobriety. It isn't a straight line. Enter, the third stage. In news that took me completely by surprise, but definitely shouldn't have – sobriety isn't a decision you make once and then coast on forever. Your Stage One and Stage Two selves will convince you that you're rock solid in your decision, but earlier this year, as my wedding approached, I found myself wondering if maybe, just maybe, I could go back. A voice in my head would start whispering things like, 'You're different now, maybe you could have just one'. It grew louder as the big day neared. Would I regret not having a glass of champagne at my own wedding? Would I be missing out on something? But the idea of breaking my streak, of risking everything I'd built, filled me with something not dissimilar to dread. I'd made sobriety my identity, and I felt as though I was betraying that just by thinking about drinking again. In the end, I stayed sober at my wedding as I didn't want to risk clouding the memory of such a big day. But the questioning didn't stop. On my honeymoon, as my husband sipped cocktails on the Sri Lankan coast, I felt a sharp, almost childish envy. Why was this so easy for him, and so complicated for me? Not wanting to overshadow the honeymoon, I put the question into the 'deal with it later' basket. But now, with my 30th birthday around the corner, another big milestone, I can't ignore it anymore. The pros and cons Like any good overthinker, I decided to make a pros and cons list in my Notes app. Pros: 1. Maybe I could go back and love it. If I don't try, will I always wonder 'what if'? 2. I've changed. I'm not 23 anymore. I've seen the benefits of sobriety first-hand, so why would I want to binge again? Also, my friends don't binge drink anymore now either, so maybe I wouldn't 3. A few drinks could be fun, date nights, girls' nights – it'll be a new kind of social life I haven't had for most of my 20s 4. Moderation is a healthy skill to master, rather than having an 'all or nothing' mindset, right? Cons: 1. If it doesn't work and I go back to being sober, I break my streak, and that streak is a huge part of my motivation 2. What if I haven't changed? What if I'm still that girl, just older? 3. I never really did the deep work on why I drank, and if I'm honest with myself, it was mostly because of social anxiety. Have I actually grown in this department, or just avoided situations that make me uncomfortable? 4. Because I went cold-turkey, I'm scared I don't actually have the skills to moderate, even though I know I want to. Alcohol is still a substance that tricks your brain into thinking it's a good idea to have more, and the alcohol hasn't changed, even if I have As you can see, the list ended up having four pros and four cons – meaning I still don't know what to do. But when I consider the actual weight of each point, rather than just the number of them, the risk does seem to feel higher than the reward. But it's still unsettling that I'm even questioning this after all these years. ESPECIALLY during Dry July, which is like Sober Christmas to us teetotalers. Sacrilegious! Now what? To make sense of it all, I decided to chat with Mel Watkins, a psychotherapist and alcohol addiction specialist I met early in my sobriety. She's witnessed this pattern, this urge to 'test' sobriety, repeatedly in her clients and herself. 'After some time away from drinking, you start to feel good,' she told me. 'You're out of the addiction cycle, you feel in control, you haven't had a hangover in ages. Naturally, this can lead to a sense of healing. But that isn't always a sign of long-term recovery. 'Sustainable change means understanding the root causes behind your drinking, shifting your beliefs around alcohol, and learning how to regulate your body without external substances.' I also asked Mel what the risks are in returning to drinking. 'You have to think about what is there to gain, and what's there to lose? When people quit alcohol, they gain confidence, make huge moves in their careers, enjoy their families, and feel better than ever. Is everything they gained from sobriety really worth risking just to have a few drinks?' I also asked about those moments, like birthdays and weddings, that make us question all of our decisions. 'There are always going to be triggers,' she said. 'We live in a world that constantly tells us we should be able to drink normally, and if we can't, there's something wrong with us. Whether it's a celebration, a stressful day, or just seeing an ad for alcohol, triggers are everywhere. 'There's a deep desire to prove we can drink like everyone else. But the longer you stay on the sobriety journey, the quieter that feeling becomes. Over time, you realise the idea you have about alcohol is only a fantasy. If it was really as good as we're told, you wouldn't have been on this journey in the first place.' These were all compelling points, but I wanted to know whether there's a world in which some people return to drinking and manage to do it in a healthy way. Mel was gentle but firm on this. 'Personally, I don't believe drinking is ever a 'healthy' option, how can it be, when alcohol is a toxin?' But she also noted that people need to feel empowered to make their own choices. 'The slips you have in sobriety might teach you an important lesson and actually strengthen your decision to stay sober – that's what happened with me,' she said. So, where does that leave me? If you'd asked me five years ago, I'd have said I'd never drink again. Now, I'm not so sure – but I am leaning towards sticking to my initial promise. What I do know is that I definitely need to do some deeper work on why I started drinking so much in the first place and what I was running from. In the words of every TikTok psychologist ever, there's a lot to unpack. After that, maybe I'll be in a better position to make the decision from a more informed place. Until then, I'll just have to learn to sit with the uncertainty. To accept that growth isn't linear, and that it's okay to question, even after years of certainty. If you're reading this and grappling with the same doubts, know you're not alone. And even those who seem the most steadfast in their decisions sometimes have their days.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
After popularizing ‘sober curious' culture, Gen Z is boosting its booze intake in line with other generations
Gen Z is drinking more alcohol than in years past, proving they are not to blame for a trend of declining alcohol sales. The generation that popularized the 'sober curious' movement is now more likely than any other generation to say they are 'actively choosing to drink more,' according to a study by IWSR. The drinks data and insights provider found that overall, 73% of Gen Zers surveyed had had an alcoholic drink in the previous six months, up from 66% in 2023. Gen Z is drinking more, and it may be a sign that they are better off. The generation that popularized 'cool' sobriety and the 'sober-curious' movement is now changing habits, according to a study of 26,000 respondents across 15 markets worldwide by drinks data and insights provider IWSR. The survey found that, overall, 73% of Gen Zers had consumed alcohol in the past six months, compared to 66% in 2023. The study also found that the uptick in drinking habits was especially drastic in the U.S., where 70% of Gen Z respondents said they had consumed alcohol in the past six months, compared to under half in 2023. While Gen Z isn't picky, choosing from, on average, five categories of alcohol in the past six months prior to the survey, they are slightly more likely to turn to spirits as their drink of choice. They are much more likely to drink alcohol at a bar, club, or restaurant, than all adult drinkers as a whole, according to the report. The shakeup in Gen Z drinking habits may be because its members are getting older and earning more. The oldest members of the generation are now in their mid-to-late 20s. While many young people right out of college have struggled with finding entry-level jobs, a March report from Bank of America predicted Gen Z could be the richest generation within the next ten years, with a $36 trillion cumulative income. Having more disposable income in hand may also mean Gen Z is putting more money toward alcohol. More than any other generation, Gen Z respondents were more likely to answer yes to the question, 'I am actively choosing to drink more,' according to the report. And notably, the generation's alcohol consumption is now in line with previous generations who experienced a similar uptick in drinking in their 20s. The takeaway? While moderating alcohol consumption is a trend across all ages, Gen Z isn't to blame for declining alcohol sales, according to Richard Halstead, IWSR's COO of Consumer Insights. 'With every year that passes, more Gen Z drinkers are entering the workforce, and those already in the workforce are typically earning more. I think we should expect that, as their incomes rise, they will drink more often – just as Millennials did before them,' said Halstead in a statement. This story was originally featured on
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The classic drink Generation Z refuses to touch - as producers take drastic action and call in the BULLDOZERS
Prominent Australian wine-makers are bulldozing red wine grapevines as Gen Z Aussies ditch booze. Wine industry officials believe social trends - such as being 'sober curious' and 'mindful drinking' - are leading to gluts in the market of once-popular varieties, such as shiraz. Big-name wineries have stripped red wine from their vineyards altogether - with De Bortoli Wines in the Riverina region pulling healthy shiraz vines due to an oversupply. Darren De Bortoli told Daily Mail Australia that his growers face the tough decision of selecting new grapes to better suit the changing market. Mr De Bortoli said his business faced 'quite a severe problem... but it's got to be remembered all our competition are facing the same problems as us.' He said Murphy's law - that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong - had taken hold after he and other growers 'had such a large, massive crop' in recent seasons. Entire wine regions (above, the Hunter Valley) are considering ways to reinvent themselves for a younger market that's less interested in red wine 'It's really just getting to that realisation that you have to do something,' he said. 'The funny part is everyone expects their next-door neighbour to do it, before they go 'well, we'll do it too".' He said there's only one replacement he is seriously considering – prosecco. However, the company faces the challenge of naming rights after a free-trade agreement barred Australian growers from using region-specific names from Europe. Anthony Albanese said earlier this year he was determined not to bend to pressure and change the names of products such as prosecco and feta if the country strikes a trade deal with Europe. Meanwhile, Wine Australia has expressed concern that Gen Z may never take up drinking thanks to social movements including Dry July, 'mindful drinking', and 'sober curiosity'. At the beginning of July, Wine Australia listed the youth market as a strategic development priority. The government body will research new products to meet the change in demands. Some wineries have dipped their toes into the production and marketing of wine cocktails, liquor-wine blends, and lower-alcohol offerings to cater to youths. Others are ripping up existing crops entirely. Globally, the five years leading to 2023 saw global wine consumption fall by 3.1 billion litres. In Australia - which boasts 60 wine regions - wine-makers are losing space to 'functional beverages', those which offer benefits in boosting energy, immune system support and improving digestion and health and wellness movements. Wine ranks last of all desired beverages amongst younger consumers. Beer is the most commonly chosen single beverage, followed by ready-to-drink offerings, including seltzers and pre-mixes, and spirits. 'The opportunity for Australian wine is to make our wines more relevant and appealing to Millennials and Gen Zs as part of their experiences and lifestyles,' the peak body said. 'We need to give these drinkers a reason to choose wine over other alcohol options, particularly as preferences continue to evolve.' The organisation identified a growing affection amongst young people for white, sparkling, and rosé varieties, with rosé particularly attractive due to its pleasant, pink hue. Alternative packaging formats were also identified as a way for wine brands to better address the younger demographic. However, Wine Australia did note that there are still some 380million people who drink wine regularly worldwide. Of those, just 68 million drink Australian wine, suggesting 'there is an untapped pool of over 300 million people that currently drink wine' who 'have yet to discover Australian wine'.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Sip the 'absolutely delicious' seltzers that offer chill vibes and NO hangover! 'These have replaced alcohol for me completely'
Repeat after us: You don't need to drink alcohol to have a good time! If you're actively trying to graduate to a sober curious lifestyle and want to ease into it comfortably, we have found the perfect solution in Cycling Frog. The brand specializes in 'absolutely delicious' THC and CBD seltzers that deliver a subtle buzz for the ultimate laid-back chill — without the risk of a hangover. Available in a variety of flavors and potencies, they start at just $14.99 for a pack of six. Cycling Frog Seltzer Stay cool and chill with a Cycling Frog seltzer in your hand! With a blend of THC and CBD, these perfectly balanced beverages are available in a variety of delicious flavors like lemon, black currant, and iced tea lemonade. Plus, you can choose from dosages (ranging from two to 50 milligrams), so you can be sure there's an option that's just right for you! From $14.99 Shop Good vibes only! Now you can finally chill out and truly unwind without the risk of an unpleasant hangover thanks to Cycling Frog seltzers This is the perfect alternative to alcohol whether you want to unwind at the end of the day or socialize without losing control of your inhibitions. What makes Cycling Frog especially appealing is the sheer variety of both flavors and THC levels. Even if you're completely new to the concept, you can enjoy the benefits of these alcohol-free sips. In fact, if you're new to cannabis consumption entirely, you may want to give the brand's mouth-watering passion fruit or lemon flavors a try. Each contains two milligrams of Delta-9 THC each, which is an ideal, low-dose starting point to help you gauge your tolerance. You can work your way up from there, with tasty options like ruby grapefruit, black currant, and wild berry offering five milligrams per can. There's also a limited-edition Italian plum with 10 milligrams, as well as raspberry lemonade and iced tea lemonade with 50 milligrams each. In other words, whether you're after a hint of a buzz that's super manageable or a more intense, chilled out vibe, you can sip your way to laid-back bliss with Cycling Frog's many seltzers. All of the flavors also contain CBD, providing a balanced blend that's formulated to relax you while providing just enough euphoria to help you feel really good — again, without dealing with the dreadful hangover effects. And it takes just 10 to 15 minutes for the ingredients to take effect. Once they set in, you can expect them to last for anywhere from one to four hours! That's decent payoff for a product that helps you feel great without leaving you sick later. Elevate a relaxing night in with Cycling Frog seltzers, which contain a balanced blend of THC and CBD to help you unwind All Cycling Frog seltzers are crisp, light, and refreshing. Whether you sip them straight from the can or on ice, you'll be delighted with the way they cool you down on hot days or elevate any celebration. 'A can will have you feeling relaxed and chill,' raved one happy customer. 'It's perfect for a night in with a light buzz.' Another shopper agreed, sharing, 'So refreshing, and then the chill! I did the light dose because I'm a lightweight so it's been perfect for me.' 'I've tried my fair share of THC seltzers and this brand is top notch,' reported a third. 'Black currant is my favorite flavor, but I haven't tried one I didn't love. These have replaced alcohol completely for me.' Just consider Sparkling Frog the antidote to zero chill. You'll mellow out just enough to take the edge off, but without all the drama. We can definitely get behind that kind of calm!
Japan Times
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Sober clubbing brews fresh beat for Singapore's Gen Z
Swaying to dance music and TikTok-fueled pop under a disco ball, young punters are packed shoulder to shoulder while sipping on coffee, their energy powered by pour-overs rather than pints. This is no underground rave, nor a brunch gone wild. It's a caffeine-powered daytime clubbing sesh — part of a growing wave of alcohol-free, Gen Z-driven events gaining traction in Singapore and elsewhere in the world. At a recent event in Singapore's trendy Duxton district, the space was jammed by 4 p.m., with baristas churning out fancy coffees and DJs spinning back-to-back sets. The crowd grooved with energy, even without the usual liquid courage. "A lot of people think alcohol gives you the high, but caffeine sometimes can do that too," says Aden Low, 21, co-founder of Beans and Beats, which organizes coffee raves at different venues. "That's why the atmosphere at our events tends to be quite energetic." The parties blend curated music with specialty coffee served in white paper cups. The vibe is light, friendly and very Gen Z. "It's also the idea that this is a safe space," says Esther Low, 31, who was at the event in Duxton. "When you go to a club setting, there's usually this underlying intention to hook up. So, for me, that's personally why I would prefer this." Several reports say Gen Z is chugging fewer pints than previous generations, with the sober curious movement gaining popularity on social media. Sober curious people cut back on drinking or abstain altogether, often citing health reasons and better mental acuity. "Changes in alcohol use have been observed in population surveys and cohort studies. Generally, alcohol use among young adults has decreased," the World Health Organization said in a 2024 report. Barristas prepare drinks at one of Beans and Beats' coffee raves in Singapore's Duxton area. | AFP-JIJI From London to Los Angeles and Melbourne, similar coffee raves have swept up the social scene, appealing to young partygoers who also want to avoid hangovers. Ashley Chean, a Singaporean student who has been alcohol-free for a year, said she appreciates these sober gatherings. "When I lived in Paris, I realized I had a lot of alcoholic tendencies and I didn't want that to be my lifestyle," the 20-year-old says. "More and more of my friends are sober or sober curious." The coffee clubbing events are usually held in cafes and other spaces such as rooftop bars — as long as there's room for DJs and baristas to do their thing while people dance. The parties typically end by late afternoon, just in time for golden hour selfies. Besides the health benefits of avoiding alcohol, the events appeal to cost-conscious youth in Singapore, one of the most expensive cities in the world. The excess drinking and hard-partying ways of Gen X — fueled by anthems like the Beastie Boys' "Fight for Your Right (to Party)" and hip-hop videos glamorizing club culture — are fading for members of Gen Z. While organizers don't see Singapore's glitzy nightlife and clubbing being replaced, they hope their combination of beats and brews will keep the dance floor buzzing. "As long as we bring the vibes, we'll be OK," says Chean.
