Embracing a sober lifestyle is getting easier as the number of alcohol-free experiences in the UK has doubled in just a year, according to Eventbrite, the marketplace for unique and local events. This is driven by a real growth in demand for explicitly “sober” or “sober friendly” events, which has seen attendance increase by 130% from 2022 to 2023.

image002.jpgThere has been a real diversification of the kind of sober events on offer, too. Sober raves and parties, dance classes, quizzes, motivational workshops, meditations, LGTBQ+ events, ecstatic dance, board game afternoons and alcohol-free cocktail making classes are just some of the events sober people are enjoying to put some fizz into their lives.

Following in the path of celebrities like Cara Delavigne, Eva Mendes, Kate Moss, Tom Holland and Daniel Radcliff, many people in the UK are turning their backs on drinking and leading a full life of sobriety.

A recent NHS study reports that teetotalism has been on the rise since 2005, with 20.4% of people now reporting to not to drink alcohol at all. The biggest jump can be seen in younger age groups where 22.8% of 16–24-year-olds and 20.6% of 25- to 44-year-olds reported they were teetotal. And many of those appear to follow the NHS’s advice to shake up their social plans (shared on their Drink Less – Better Health portal) by choosing explicitly non-alcoholic things to do with their friends.

Jen Barton recently challenged herself to attend 30 different events over 30 days as part of Eventbrite’s #GTFO Challenge to inspire others to get out of their rut and live a more eventful life. As part of this challenge, she booked into a “Sober Sweat Class”, run by Sober Girl Society, which turned out to be truly life changing for her.

She said: “I love dancing and fitness so when I was looking for exciting things to do on Eventbrite, a Sober Sweat event – a dance class led by celebrity choreographer AJ O’Neill – caught my eye. It was an afternoon of moving my body to Kylie, meditation and then chatting with sober curious and sober people, and I loved how everyone I met there was so relaxed and judgement-free.

“Something about the ingredients that day – sweat and energy and smiling faces – stayed with me and I not only left with a bounce in my step, but a commitment to myself: I was going to see what my life looked like without alcohol. It was totally unexpected but feels like one of the best choices I’ve ever made. Not only to stop drinking… but to try something new, that sounded different and interesting and led me to meet new people. Who knew one afternoon could have such a lasting impact?”

Millie Gooch is the founder of Sober Girl Society events, which can be booked through Eventbrite. She said: “I founded the Sober Girl Society in 2018 as I didn’t know any other sober people at the start of my sober journey, and felt I needed advice and reassurance. In no time at all I was arranging in person meetups, and these have really taken off.

“The community is now 202,000 strong, and it’s growing at a much faster rate than it did a few years back. The biggest growth is definitely from younger girls between 18 and 25. I see a lot of different reasons for girls deciding to go sober, from people deciding to become more conscious consumers, to the influence of celebrities sharing their sober journeys on social, but I would say that 90% of members cite mental health reasons such as anxiety or depression.

“Our events provide a safe space where there’s no pressure to drink, and we can help give each other confidence that you can have a fun life without alcohol. One concern I kept on hearing was that girls didn’t know how to hit the dancefloor without a drink, so I started the Sober Sweat event to give people the confidence to dance sober. This is our most popular event now, followed by our Boozeless Brunches.”

Eventbrite’s Sebastian Boppert said: “Event organisers are constantly looking for fresh ideas to cater to new audiences, making Eventbrite a mirror of societal trends. And right now, as more and more people are opting out of alcohol, it is also easier than ever to get a buzz out of events without being buzzed.”