Increasing numbers of people are turning their backs on drinking alcohol, and younger people are leading the trend. The latest figures from Drinkaware show that 26 per cent of people aged 16 to 24 are teetotal – the highest in any age group.
One result is that music festivals, despite their reputation for excess, are experiencing a sharp increase in sober people attending. And with the introduction of multiple sober events in the UK, it’s becoming more common to wake up from a night out with no hangover and every detail remembered.
Kelce-Nicole D’Cruz, from Buckinghamshire, cut out alcohol in 2022 after years of partying and now attends all events completely sober. Here, the 24-year-old tells i what it’s like having a clear head when those around you are in full party mode.
I used to drink most weekends, but last year I gave it up altogether. I found that every time I drank, I would vomit or experience extreme stomach cramps, sometimes for days after. It was horrendous. I’ve experienced this since I was 18 but everyone always told me I’d build up a tolerance and it would stop. It didn’t.
When I did drink, I never enjoyed the sense of having no control that drinking brought – it can make you feel confident enough to do things you wouldn’t normally do. Also, these days you need to be alert because you have to be so careful to ensure your drinks don’t get spiked. I’ve seen friends get spiked and it’s scary watching them deteriorate through the night and not know what they’ve had.
The last festival I attended was in February in Romania, and I have another one booked for the August bank holiday weekend. I often go as part of a big group, usually around 10, minimum five people but I’m the only one who chooses to stay sober – the rest are heavy drinkers.
I’ve always taken the role of mum in the group, even when I did used to drink. I always wanted to be aware of my surroundings and look out for my friends. Now, being sober, I see the dangers and risks around even more. I’m massively the group mum.
Many of my friends suffer with liquid confidence – it can make them impulsive and that can be very frustrating to watch, and has caused complications before.
The worst thing, though, is trying to locate the accommodation or taxi at the end of the night. Trying to keep track of between five and 10 drunk people at once is like watching a group of toddlers running riot. Directing them all to one place can be impossible.
It’s common that people offer me a drink or try to encourage me to have at least some alcohol but I never do. I think sometimes my friends worry I’m not enjoying the event as much as they are, but I’ve found I have just as much fun as I did when I was drinking – in fact, more so.
There’s no doubt in my mind that I prefer going to festivals and other events sober. I’m an anxious person and I know that if I don’t look out for everybody, no one will. As much as I have a brilliant group of friends and a great boyfriend, if everyone is intoxicated it can feel like a recipe for disaster.
The best thing of all for me is clearly being able to remember the night before; most of my friends can’t recall anything the day after. It’s always quite entertaining to tell your friends the funny, and embarrassing, things they did when they were drunk. Not only do I have the best time when I’m there but I get to remember every detail.
