When you are a teetotaler or a recovering alcoholic (or abuser), life seems to be easy, mostly. You get plenty of deep, uninterrupted sleep and enjoy peaceful mornings and afternoons without feeling a painful hangover. Let’s also not forget how you can enjoy so many pastimes (like horseback riding, crocheting, or drawing) that you couldn’t have enjoyed if you were not sober or an abstainer. Life seems wonderful, and then you decide to go to parties.
At first, the situation may seem easy. You tell yourself repeatedly, “I’ll just go into the bar and order a soda. What could possibly go wrong?” Then, once you get your Diet Pepsi or Sprite and explain that you do not drink, you start to see a bunch of irritated faces. People do not want to hang out with you like they did before you were sober. In the case of a teetotaler, you are sitting alone while your friends overindulge.
This begs the question: how am I supposed to have fun without alcohol when everyone is shunning me? Just ask 23-year old Kira Dunlop, whose used her persona of “boring little girl” to her full potential. Let’s take a closer look at how her club is promoting alcohol-free parties.
Having Fun without Booze
Overall, Dunlop cannot even begin to tell you how many times people have called her “boring.” While she stopped consuming alcohol in 2018, she still likes to have as much crazy fun as the people next to her but has explained how sober socialization is considered “weird” by drinkers. In an interview with the Calgary Eyeopener, Dunlop discusses how she felt unnecessarily uncomfortable when she went to parties or was considered a “buzzkill” by other attendees.
So, how did the “boring” girl respond? Simply put, she founded the Boring Little Girls’ Club. Based in Alberta, the group promotes events that are tailored for young teetotalers who just want to have booze-free fun, like skating or dancing.
In the same manner, the Edmonton-based organization Sober Saturdayz promotes bar events that do not include alcohol use. According to 26-year old founder Katie Degan, she and her creative team suffered when they went to public places (just like Dunlop). As she explains, sobriety is an uncomfortable issue, especially at public places.
An Overwhelming Response
As Degen happily revealed, people have not only shown an overwhelming appreciation for the new “sobriety club” but have also flocked in hordes to take part in it. In fact, young people are not the only patrons. Older people are also taking part in the “Sober Saturdayz” club. As Degen perfectly puts it, people give you rules for how to drink, but, once you start to lose control, they tell you alcohol use is a bad thing. If anything, these groups prove that sobriety can actually be “cool” and “hip.”
Seeking Treatment for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
You must always remember that alcohol does not have control over your life. Only you can determine the outcome of your future. You do not need to drink to have a good time, and it is never too late to improve your future. The time to take back control is now.
Are you, your friend, or a loved one suffering from a severe form of alcoholism or drug addiction? We at Broadway Treatment Center (in Huntington Beach, California), provide the most high-quality care and supervision to ensure our clients live a happier and healthier life and take back control. Here, we provide two-way addiction and recovery programs beneficial to people suffering from drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and addiction of any sort. Our staff of specially trained, professional rehabilitation and addiction experts is prepared to guide you through the difficulties of detoxification and withdrawal and help you break free of drugs and alcohol.
You can always find a way to heal, especially by means of a high-quality, integrated addiction recovery program. If you live in or are visiting the Orange County area and are interested in our treatment programs, contact us today at (714) 400-2048 or send us a message to info@broadwaytreatmentcenter.com and take your first steps toward a cleaner and healthier future.
