Tips for Hosting a Sober Party in Addiction Recovery

How to Throw a Fun Sober Party for Friends & Family

Life in addiction recovery is full of sober firsts – dates, dinner, events, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and much more. Many of these celebrations involve either hosting or attending parties. If you’ve been to an alcohol or drug addiction treatment facility, you’ve learned tips to staying sober in these types of social situations. Fun, sober and party do not have to be independent of one another. It is very possible to host a sober party where everyone in attendance has a great time! If you’re looking to host your first party post-rehabilitation, learn some tips of hosting a phenomenal party without any drugs or alcohol present.

8 Tips to Host a Surprisingly Fun Sober Celebration

Be Upfront about Alcohol: It’s essential to be honest to your guests about what your party will look like before guests arrive. Have conversations with your friends. Allow them to BYOM (bring your own mocktail) to ensure there are plenty of non-alcoholic options available.

Invite People who Don’t Drink: While it may be hard to exclude certain friends, if their behavior is triggering in your early recovery, it is perfectly fine to limit your guest list. Remember, your sobriety is most important, and your friends will understand.

Let the Food Shine: A spread of different, amazing foods is the perfect way to distract guests from the lack of alcohol. Try out new recipes, invite your guests to bring their favorite dish or cater from several unique restaurants in town.

Switch up the Timing: Dinner parties are the most common and are usually centered around alcohol. Break the cycle by hosting a breakfast party or even a brunch! Hosting a sober party at a nontypical time helps to lessen the expectation that alcohol will be present.

Consider an Alcohol-Free Destination: Consider hosting your sober party at a destination where alcohol is prohibited. A beach-BBQ or picnic at a public park is a great backdrop and helps downplay the sober aspect of the party.

Include Icebreakers and Party Games: Icebreakers and party games help your guests feel more comfortable, especially if they don’t know each other very well. Fun icebreaker games include:

• Two truths and a life
• Would you rather
• Charades
• Thought-providing icebreaker questions

Offer Non-Alcoholic Drinks + Drink Choices: Mocktails are great, but there are plenty of great options that don’t require mixing or a ton of ingredients. Offer options like water, sparkling water, soda, tea, lemonade, coffee, etc.

Normalize the Sober Party: Don’t focus on the fact that your party is sober; don’t dwell and don’t apologize. It is perfectly normal to have a day or evening without alcohol.