How to Throw a Great Sober Party for You and Your Friends

For nighttime events, you can also try mocktail nights where you make one or more of the newly trending beverages that pop up online. Do this with friends or at home alone on a weeknight for a fun alternative to unwinding with a bottle of wine. Our editors have even put together a list of 99 sober activities if these ideas aren’t your cup of tea. What you do at a sober house party without drinking can depend on the group you’ve invited. Consider planning fun activities during your sober party to get your friends active and engaged with what’s happening around them.

It’s perfectly fine to limit your guest list to people who are in recovery or who don’t drink for other reasons. When hosting a sober party, it’s important to have a selective guest list to ensure that the event is safe and supportive for everyone. Avoid inviting anyone who isn’t supportive of your recovery, teases you, is insensitive to your sobriety, or is known for peer pressuring others to drink or use drugs. When selecting social events to attend, it’s crucial to choose those that are conducive to maintaining sobriety and avoiding potentially triggering situations.

How to Stay Sober at a Party: 6 Tips for Social Gatherings in 2024

Despite bars being the go-to birthday party idea for adults, booze and birthdays don’t automatically go hand-in-hand. With a little creativity and thought, you can have an exciting, memorable, or even wild birthday celebration with exactly 0 alcohol. Like an adult slumber party or board game night, a laser tag or paintball party will surely unleash your inner kid. You can suit up with your other party-goers and split into teams, or play “every person for themself” style. Either way, try to have fun with it, and enjoy the high-energy game.

Offer Delicious Mocktails

Avoid inviting partygoers who aren’t 100% supportive of the guest of honor. New friends you know who are sober will appreciate an invite, as https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ will a group of friends who support your decision to host an alcohol-free night. That pregnant friend who has felt left out is likely also a safe bet and will appreciate pregnancy-safe beverages on hand.

What does the social obligation to drink look like today?

These elements can help you reach your goals and stay on track with your recovery. Gracefully declining alcoholic beverages and managing peer pressure are essential skills to uphold sobriety. By observing the effects of alcohol on others through the “Observe & Report” technique, you can gain a better understanding of its impact and stay committed to your own sobriety. Encouraging statements like “I am strong and capable,” “I can handle this situation,” and “I am in control of my own choices” can help you party sober and stay positive. Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June.

• If you start feeling tempted to use alcohol or drugs at a party, reach out to a sober friend or your sponsor for support.
• A potluck is perfect for bringing together people with different culinary tastes and traditions, creating a rich and diverse dining experience.
• “It was easier for me to say that I’m doing it for her because, at that time, I didn’t feel like I was sort of worth much,” he recalled of the early days of their relationship.
• A sober party is a social gathering where alcohol and drugs are not consumed or are strictly controlled.

Therapy & Care

A sober party is a social gathering where alcohol and drugs are not consumed or are strictly controlled. The purpose of a sober party is to provide a safe and enjoyable environment where people can socialize, have fun, and connect with others without relying on substances. Their deaths are not among the 40 fatalities tied directly to the facilities in medical examiner records.

Recovery looks different for everyone, but if socializing is something you are fond of, you shouldn’t have to give up every party and night out just because you no longer drink. Thinking about partying sober can be daunting, but following these 5 steps can help you stay on track. In nearly any party setting, you can find people using alcohol to let loose and socialize.

The Difference Between Sobriety & Recovery

Planning a party on a theme is a way to naturally break the ice at an event without planning explicit ways to do so. That doesn’t have to mean you’re forcing guests to come in costume, although you certainly could if you’re planning a party for a playful bunch. If you’re throwing a sober birthday party for a sober friend in alcohol recovery, it’s that much more important to make sure they’re getting the party they’re expecting. For instance, a sober birthday means that everyone is abstaining from alcohol, not just the birthday boy or girl. Our state-specific resource guides offer a comprehensive overview of drug and alcohol addiction treatment options available in your area.

Things like calling a friend, going on a walk, or even just taking a shower can get me past the urge to drink about my problems instead of facing them. And, of course, there’s nothing like a journaling session to help me process in the moment. To mitigate any pre-event anxiety, I try to set the expectations of my friends or coworkers — even if I don’t fully divulge that I’m not drinking or why. As you’re not including alcohol in your plans, you’ll likely have more options for locations than you would with a party serving beer and wine.