Happy Sober Halloween: Don’t Fall for Alcohol’s Biggest Tricks

Halloween is the season of tricks and treats, but when it comes to alcohol, the biggest trick is the idea that drinking makes life more fun.

You may drink a glass of wine thinking it helps you to relax, gulp beer believing it helps you bond with buddies, or sip cocktails to make parties more exciting. But looking deeper we can see these beliefs are clever illusions and behind them lies a hangover, anxiety, and regret all dressed up as fun.

Trick Number 1: “Alcohol helps me relax”

It feels like it does for about an hour. But alcohol actually disrupts your nervous system, raises stress hormones, and interferes with deep sleep. The momentary calm is quickly replaced by 'hangxiety' and by the following day your mind is a restless mix of exhaustion and worry. True calm doesn’t come from alcohol. Before going sober I often carried on drinking longer than everyone else, trying to relax and feel better about life. I then spent many Sundays hidden under the duvet in bed, worrying and trying to work out what happened the night before.

Treat yourself to calm from rest, laughter, healthy food, and meaningful connections and enjoy a clear head the next day.

Trick Number 2: “It’s only a few drinks, so it won’t hurt”

Even small amounts of alcohol force your liver to filter toxins and can raise blood pressure, dehydrate you, and impact your skin. Over time, “just a few” adds up.

Treat your liver to a rest. No alcohol boosts your energy, improves sleep, and brightens your complexion.

Trick Number 3: “I need alcohol to have fun”

This is one of the biggest tricks. What actually makes a good time is the company, the activity, the atmosphere and laughter, not the alcohol you drink. Before going sober, if I wasn't having a good time, I would keep downing drinks to try to improve the evening, not realising that I needed to change what I was doing and who I was with.

Treat your mind to being fully present. Enjoy the moments and clearly remember your sober Halloween without a niggling anxiety.

Trick Number 4: “Everyone else is drinking”

It might look that way, but there is a growing number of people choosing sober and mindful lifestyles. Even if everyone else in your group is drinking, are they really having fun, and is it fun that they won't regret in the morning?

Treat yourself to confidence in your choices and you might find you inspire someone else to consider the benefits of sobriety.

Trick Number 5: “I’ll just have one to take the edge off”

Drinking alcohol numbs feelings but they don't go away, so that 'edge' will return. And will you just have one? Or will you need another when the feelings return? The stress or worry you are trying to escape will still be there when the alcohol effects have left.

Treat yourself to effective coping tools. A walk, a journal entry, a deep breath, or a chat with a friend all work better, and don't have the negative side effects.

Trick Number 6: “A hangover is just part of the fun”

Society has normalised hangovers as part of celebrations, but there’s nothing fun about dehydration, anxiety, and regret.

Treat yourself to waking up fresh, proud, and clear-headed. What a great way to start the next day remembering the night before and feeling good about your choices.

Trick Number 7: “Going sober means missing out”

Sober life isn’t about missing out and you will experience more, without being in an alcohol induced haze. You will gain energy, better sleep, better mood, and more confidence in yourself. The only thing you will miss out on is the detrimental mental and physical health impacts.

Treat yourself to freedom from hangovers, excuses, and hazy memories. Treat yourself to freedom to fully experience and immerse yourself in the moment.

Societal norms, advertising and peer pressure are just some of the ways we are tricked into thinking we need alcohol to have fun or to cope. Treat your mind and body to healthy living, being present and experiencing every moment. And your friends, family and colleagues will all experience the treat of your true, authentic company.

When you take off the disguise, the best version of you has always been sober. I know it is for me.

Happy Sober Halloween.