Whether it’s grabbing a drink for a date or a boozy Sunday brunch, making plans that don’t involve alcohol can feel near impossible in a city, especially as a young person. But if you don’t like drinking or you’ve just realized that you have more fun (and let’s be honest, spend less money) without it, you don’t have to kiss your social life goodbye.
Friend of Common and Discover producer Alexandra Machover has been sober for almost 6 1/2 years. But if you check out her Instagram feed, you’ll see that she lives her life in New York City to the fullest. As we’re always looking for tips to make city living better and easier, we asked Alexandra to share her three tips for having alcohol-free fun. Check them out below!
1) Just Drink Seltzer
“You don’t have to avoid activities that involve drinking (e.g. going to a bar, dancing at a club, doing karaoke, etc.) Just drink seltzer! Sometimes it’s just the action of holding a drink, or the amount of time that it takes to drink a beverage, to feel comfortable in a new social setting. You won’t even realize that you’re not drinking alcohol.”
2) Surround Yourself With The Right People
“If you have friends who don’t understand or support your decision to not drink, then don’t include them in your life. If you have friends that you only have fun with when you’re drunk, then get rid of them. Surround yourself with positive, uplifting people who make you happy at your most sober.”
3) Find Alternate Activities
“Look for hobbies/activities that don’t revolve around drinking. For me, that was a cappella (and creating content for IG). Take a pottery class, go to an indie film theater, go to a jazz club. There are so many fun things to do in this world that don’t revolve around drinking.”
There you have it! Consider these tips the next time you’re planning your weekend activities, or whenever you’re out with friends. Whatever you choose, stay safe and have fun.
To hear more from Alexandra, visit our Instagram and check out her feed.