211. The Rise of the Sober-Curious Movement

What if you didn’t need to hit rock bottom to rethink your relationship with alcohol?

In this week's episode of The Alcohol eThink podcast, Patrick explores the growing trend of people choosing to drink less, or not at all, not because they’ve 'got a problem,' but because they’re simply asking better questions.

You’ll hear how the sober-curious movement is gaining real traction in 2025, with nearly half of Americans planning to cut back and a wave of Gen Z and Millennials leading the charge.

From sober raves to supermarket trends, Patrick shares some surprising stats, personal reflections, and cultural shifts that show sobriety is no longer on the sidelines; it’s going mainstream.

You’ll also hear about a long list of high-profile men who’ve chosen to stop drinking, guys like Elton John, Tom Holland, Bradley Cooper, Ricky Gervais, and Colin Farrell, many of whom quit for reasons beyond addiction. They simply wanted to feel better, think clearer, and show up more fully in their lives.

Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or still figuring it all out, this episode is a reminder that you don’t need a label. You just need the courage to get honest.

Some of the cool things discussed in this episode:

- The origins of the phrase 'sober-curious'

- Why more people are choosing not to drink in 2025 (and what the data says).
- The difference between sobriety, being sober-curious, California-sober and moderation.

- Why you don’t need a dramatic reason to take a break from alcohol.