Summary

The article discusses the '99% Sober' movement, an approach to reducing alcohol consumption by choosing sobriety most of the time while allowing for occasional drinking during special events.

Abstract

The '99% Sober' movement is gaining traction among individuals who wish to significantly reduce their alcohol intake without adopting complete abstinence. This approach is particularly relevant in the UK, where social pressure to drink is strong, especially for men. The movement is part of a broader trend towards mindful drinking, where individuals consume alcohol very occasionally, maintaining sobriety as their default lifestyle. The article highlights the struggles of problem drinkers and the societal expectations surrounding alcohol consumption. It also explores the personal journey of the author, who is approaching five months of sobriety and contemplating the role of alcohol in his future. The author suggests that for some, thinking in terms of sober streaks rather than an all-or-nothing approach may be more sustainable and less devastating if a relapse occurs.

Opinions

Drinking alcohol in the UK is deeply ingrained in the culture, with significant social pressure to participate, particularly for men.
The '99% Sober' movement is seen as a way to combat the binary framing of drinking, where one is perceived as either an alcoholic or not, and choosing to cut back is often viewed as a weakness.
The article suggests that any reduction in alcohol consumption is positive, and the '99% Sober' approach may be more realistic and less restrictive for many individuals.
The author expresses personal growth and improved quality of life since choosing sobriety, including better health, happiness, and financial stability.
There is a concern that wrapping one's identity entirely around the act of drinking or not drinking may not be entirely healthy.
The author advocates for the idea of thinking in sober streaks, which could be less daunting than committing to lifelong sobriety and less catastrophic in the event of a slip.
The article concludes with the author's aspiration to reach a point where alcohol is a non-factor in his life, and he no longer needs to write about his journey with sobriety.

Is ‘99% sober’ a realistic goal?

I came across an interesting article this week that suggests a new quit alcohol movement is afoot: 99% Sober.

The piece in Men’s Health UK featured interviews with a handful of men who’ve decided they’re sick of “feeling like shit” after drinking and want to drastically reduce their alcohol intake as a result.

This is no easy feat, especially in the UK, where drinking alcohol is so intertwined with the culture and the peer pressure to take part is overwhelming.

This pressure is especially acute for men, whose very “manliness” is often weighed in the number of ounces of booze they can drink.

I absolutely loved this quote in the article from Alcohol Change UK CEO Dr. Richard Piper, summarizing the silliness:

“The UK’s relationship with alcohol has gotten completely out of hand for many people. We’re like this big group of chimps. We want every chimp to be in the group, and we don’t like the chimp that’s not. People feel threatened by that.”

The men featured in the story speak about the judgment and pressure to drink more than they should, otherwise known as “sober shaming”.

Sobriety with a twist of booze

I think the problem with sobriety for a lot of men is the binary treatment and framing of drinking.

Either you’re an alcoholic or not. But if you decide to cut way back, it’s seen as a weakness instead of a strength.

Although that perspective is changing, it is still pervasive.

More people are trying to walk that line of drinking very occasionally, which is the crux of the ‘Sober Curious’ and ‘Mindful Drinking’ folks.

This is the main thread of the article. Here’s how one guy explains his choice:

Sometimes referred to as ‘dry by default’ or ‘mindful drinking’, Allen uses 99% sober to describe a lifestyle in which he only drinks on special occasions: a weekend at Glastonbury, or an evening with his girlfriend’s parents. On those occasions, he’ll drink as much as he wants (and prepares himself for a hangover the next day). Outside those occasions, he describes himself as sober.

This approach, some suggest, removes the “restrictive” nature of the quit drinking movement, which makes it more palatable to a wider range of people.

Bar sign (Photo by Alex Knight on Unsplash)

Walking the line

It’s unarguable that any reduction in alcohol consumption is a positive.

But is avoiding the ‘all or nothing’ approach realistic for the rest of us former problem drinkers?

Here’s where I land on it as I approach five months away from booze.

I no longer assume alcohol will take over my life if I come into contact with it, but I’m still extremely wary.

I’ve battled through the physical and mental cravings at the start, I’ve seen the incredible benefits for my health, my happiness, my entrepreneurial aspirations, my finances, all of which I’ve documented in real time on this site. The evidence is here for me to review at any point.

Put another way, the argument against drinking is so much stronger than the argument for drinking.

But at the same time, I’ve always wondered if it’s entirely healthy to wrap up your entire identity in whether or not you partake in one particular behaviour.

Certainly, I feel internal pride that I choose not to drink, but I don’t consider it a part of who I am.

Does that make sense?

As I wrote in this piece advocating for a new way of looking at quitting drinking, I get worried when I see the sheer devastation of people who’ve quit alcohol for a long time and then slip off the wagon one day.

I worry that people will just say “ah f*ck it, I can’t do this, I’m just going to go back to drinking.”

I understand that, for people who’ve destroyed their lives with alcohol, who have genetic factors at play, who’ve gotten into criminal situations, lost their homes and families … for these drinkers, the all-or-nothing approach is the only option.

But I do think, for regular run-of-the-mill problem drinkers like me (and possibly you, if you’re reading this), that it might be better to think in streaks.

The endgame

I think the place I’ve always wanted to get to is one where alcohol can be present in my life on rare occasions and I don’t need to be afraid of it, but I don’t really think about it anymore because it’s such a non-factor in my day-to-day life.

Effectively, the way alcohol used to be before it was a problem for me.

Given I write on the topic almost every day, I’m clearly not there yet.

But I’d like to reach a place where I don’t have to write about it anymore because the time and distance I’ve put between my alcohol-addicted self and true self is so wide.

This piece is a bit rambly, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on the ‘dry by default’ or ‘99% sober’ movement (especially those who’ve been at this longer than me).

What do you think are the benefits and the pitfalls? Please let me know in the comments!

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