SOBER IN SEATTLE
SIP HAPPENS: Why We Don’t Need Alcohol to Connect

I used to be the drinker. The one who always said, “Just one more!”—and meant at least five. I drank like it was my job. And, ironically, the month I checked into rehab, I was also named Salesperson of the Year. Turns out, you can be both an overachiever and an alcoholic. Who knew?

But don’t worry—this isn’t an AA meeting, and it’s not a “booze is bad” talk. It’s a “booze isn’t really necessary” talk. Because, despite what society tells us, fun isn’t something you find at the bottom of a bottle.

At Ignite Seattle, I took the stage to talk about our outdated drinking culture and why it’s time to rethink the way we socialize. Gen Z is already flipping the script—drinking way less than previous generations. But the rest of the world? They’re still acting like alcohol is a prerequisite for fun. Work events, dating, networking—booze is stirred into everything. And if you turn down a drink, suddenly you’re under interrogation.

Here’s the truth: 38% of Americans don’t drink.

That’s the combined population of California, Texas, and Florida. Imagine if a third of the people in any given room didn’t drink—shouldn’t they still feel included?

We talk a big game about inclusivity, but when it comes to socializing, we’re still making non-drinkers feel like the awkward kid at prom. The good news? Alcohol-free options are on the rise. Sober bars, booze-free bottle shops, and elevated non-alcoholic drinks are popping up everywhere.

Connection doesn’t come from what’s in your glass. It never did.

It comes from what’s in the conversation. Some of the best, most meaningful relationships I’ve built in 19 years of sobriety didn’t require a single drop of alcohol.

So, the next time you raise a glass, ask yourself: Am I drinking because I want to? Or because I think I have to? What if I didn’t drink at all?

Drinking is fine. Not drinking is fine. Let’s work together to make it NOT matter. Cheers to a world where we all get to choose.

👉 Watch my Ignite Seattle talk, SIP HAPPENS: Connection Without Alcohol

HAPPY EVERY HOUR
NA Beer Column Cracks the Top 100 Beer Blogs

The beer blogging world just got a little more sober—and we’re here for it.

Happy Every Hour, our unapologetically fun column covering non-alcoholic beers (with a generous side of ’90s nostalgia), just landed at #54 on FeedSpot’s Top 100 Beer Blogs. That’s right—our little corner of the internet, dedicated to proving that sober and social can coexist, is making waves in a traditionally booze-soaked space.

And from what we can tell? Every other blog ahead of us is focused on alcoholic beer.

So what does that mean? It means The Sober Curator isn’t just showing up in the conversation—we’re shifting it.