Since joining The Sober Curator, I’ve become increasingly aware of the drinking-related cultural differences between the U.S. and the U.K. It’s not so much that drinkers over here are “worse” or that more British people suffer from alcohol use disorder and addiction. It’s more that the attitude and societal view of drinking are different. I don’t think it’d be unfair to say it’s pretty toxic over here. The U.S. seems to have a bit more awareness about the harmful impacts of drinking alcohol, or they are at least less guilty of normalizing harmful drinking, so there appears to be more decorum expected.
Any decorum that British people do have starts to slip away in summer. Summertime in Britain means pub gardens, drinks after work (on a Wednesday even), and getting absolutely mashed-up at festivals. Bad behaviour when drunk hardly raises an eyebrow in the U.K. — something that Ben Fallaci, U.S.-born, U.K.-dwelling writer/performer of Shower Chair Play, also mentioned in his interview with TSC.
To explore a bit more about my own culture and my fellow Brits’ opinions on the U.K.’s relationship with alcohol and the seasons, I chatted with Annie Davies. Annie is an alcohol-free babe who has been sober for almost two years. She is featured in another of our articles, 5 U.K. Sober Influencers You Need to Follow in 2024, and shares loads of helpful, inspiring content about being sober in your 20s on her social media platforms. She kindly shared her thoughts on the niche drinking culture that comes with U.K. summers, how she spends the sunnier months now she is sober, and her tips for enjoying holidays without alcohol.
Here’s how our conversation went…
Eve: Can you tell us about British drinking culture in the Summer?
Annie: British drinking culture is intense as it is, but this is completely amplified in summer. The sun coming out itself is a reason to go to the pub and get drunk, which can be undeniably tough for non-drinkers — and even people who do drink at times! I think British people wear our drinking culture almost like a badge of honour. I know I definitely did. I’m not surprised that other countries/cultures are shocked at our drinking habits. Whereas before, I had the mindset that places with less of a drinking culture were boring!
Eve: How did you spend your first sober summer?
Annie: My first sober summer was a mix of experiences and emotions. I wanted to protect my sobriety as I often spend my summers going out drinking or going to festivals, and I didn’t want to trigger myself or relapse. But I also wanted to try and make the most out of my first sober summer and also be able to share my new experiences with summers.
I went on my first sober holiday, which was such a big thing for me. Holidays and the idea of being on a trip were something that stopped me from quitting drinking for so long! I just could not imagine being abroad without alcohol. Turns out my first sober holiday was one of the best experiences ever. I felt truly relaxed, appreciated where I was and what I was doing, and just really made the most out of it instead of having alcohol as the main focus.
Eve: How do you find summer now as a sober person? Is it a lot different than before?
Annie: I love summer in a whole different way as a sober person. Whereas before, it was drinks in the park or pub gardens, now it’s early mornings, and trying to prioritise my health and well-being. However, following the trend from my first summer, it still can have its ups and downs. I am just trying to find the right balance of socialising, going out, and taking part in activities while allowing myself time to recharge and check in with myself to make sure I don’t feel triggered or tempted to drink. It is definitely very different, but not in a bad way! I now try to be as mindful as possible with the things I choose to do.
Eve: Do you have any advice for people wanting to try sobriety or stay sober this summer?
Annie: My biggest piece of advice (something I honestly wish I did myself way sooner) is to just give it a go! Just communicate with friends and family and let everyone know you want to cut out alcohol for a bit. People will then know not to buy you drinks or try to pressure you into drinking. Just go ahead and try it out! If you are worried about judgement from people, movements like ‘Dry July’ can be the perfect opportunity to try it out. And if you want to carry on after, people should be used to you not drinking after a month anyway!
To help myself navigate summer and going out as a sober person, I always try to check menus of places I’m going to in advance to see what alcohol-free options they have and almost ‘mentally prepare’ in a way. I think it can take away some of the temptation to order alcohol if you know what to expect. But it also means you can plan your evenings based on locations you want to go to that will have some alcohol-free options or soft drinks you like!
Eve: What’s your favourite sober holiday you’ve been on? Any tips for alcohol-free trips?
Annie: My favourite trip I’ve been on is probably my most recent! I just had a week-long pool/beach holiday in Mallorca. If I went on this type of holiday when I was drinking, I would probably need a holiday after the holiday and come home feeling more tired than before! But this time, I got to unwind, soak up the culture and scenery, and relax.
Another favourite trip of mine was when I went to Belfast for St Patrick’s Day. This trip was booked when I was still drinking. When I went, I was under four months sober. I was really nervous and actually considered not going, but I was pleasantly surprised and had a great time. For anyone going to Belfast, they have draught alcohol-free Guinness in almost every pub!
Checking the drinks menus of places is something that always helps me, so I try to do that wherever I am. But being on holiday is the perfect time to shift the focus away from alcohol! If you’re by the pool, you can have juices or smoothies instead of cocktails. (But now so many places have alcohol-free beers and cocktails if that’s your thing). You can get up early and appreciate the whole day instead of waking up hungover. You can plan activities or explore in the day instead of drinking, and [you can] spend more money on the things that bring you true joy and not feel bad about it! Because once you cut out alcohol, you’ll be shocked at how much money you save!
Check out some of Annie’s TikToks on summer and sobriety below…
- https://www.tiktok.com/@annie_davies/photo/7393067667264916768
- https://www.tiktok.com/@annie_davies/video/7392659706764053793
- https://www.tiktok.com/@annie_davies/photo/7387148920234741024
To keep up with Annie, follow her on TikTok and Instagram.
Listen to Annie’s Episode on the Sober Gay Podcast
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