Experts say there's no harm in trying "intermittent sobriety"—reducing the amount of alcohol you consume is always a good choice for your health

Are You Trying 'Sober October'? Experts Reveal the Surprising Benefits of 'Intermittent Sobriety'

Experts say there's no harm in trying "intermittent sobriety"—reducing the amount of alcohol you consume is always a good choice for your health

• “Intermittent sobriety” is a new approach to drinking that refers to temporarily abstaining from alcohol.
• Gen Z is particularly interested in intermittent sobriety: They’re participating in “sober October” on TikTok, and in a survey, 61% of Gen Z respondents said they want to drink less in 2024.
• Experts say there’s no harm in trying this new trend—reducing the amount of alcohol you consume is always a good choice for your health.

Generation Z’s drinking habits have captured the attention of experts—but not because they’re over-consuming alcohol. Rather, many “sober curious” young people are participating in popular trends across TikTok, including “sober October.”

This new approach to drinking alcohol has been dubbed “intermittent sobriety,” according to Sanjay Gupta, MD, chief medical correspondent at CNN.

Somewhat similar to intermittent fasting, intermittent sobriety refers to temporarily abstaining from alcohol. Essentially, people treat drinking as something to enjoy every now and again rather than something that’s commonplace in their daily or weekly diet.

Being “sober curious” can look different for each person—it may mean going a few days, weeks, or months without alcohol. However, it differs from traditional sobriety, where people refrain from drinking at all.

And the habit is catching on. According to a January 2024 survey from NC Solutions, a consulting company, 61% of Generation Z (Gen Z) respondents said they wanted to drink less in 2024. Among all American adults, that number was 41%.

“It [seems] like another positive development in U.S. drinking culture,” William Kerr, PhD, scientific director at the Alcohol Research Group, told Health. “Reducing the number of drinking occasions—and especially heavy [drinking] occasions—will reduce risks for both acute and chronic health and social problems linked to alcohol.”

So why is intermittent sobriety so popular among Gen Z? Here’s what experts had to say about the trend and how scaling back on alcohol consumption could affect your health.

Online Interest in Sobriety Has Young People Looking for Alternatives

On TikTok, in particular, many creators are sharing their experiences with intermittent sobriety and are encouraging their followers to be more mindful about their drinking habits too.

TikToker Cayley Schlyer discussed how she took a break from alcohol when she learned about its ties to cancer, dementia, inflammation, and other health issues.

“Overall, I feel fantastic. I’m more active and consistent in the gym, my sleep is great, [and] I’m happier, like, less irritable,” Schlyer said in a September video.

Improved mental health seems to be another draw for the sober curious on TikTok. Creator Rebecca Leigh said cutting back on drinking made her realize she didn’t need to use alcohol as a “crutch.”

“I give myself full permission to be my weird, fun, outgoing, goofy self, with or without alcohol,” she said in a video posted earlier this year.

Among Gen Zers looking to cut back on their drinking, saving money, improving physical health, changing lifestyle, improving mental health, and losing weight were major drivers, according to the NC Solutions survey.

Seeing more people talk about the benefits of intermittent sobriety online isn't necessarily surprising, said Kathy Kelley, PhD, alcohol trends researcher and professor of horticultural marketing and business management at the Pennsylvania State University College of Agricultural Sciences.

“For the past few years, there has been a trend in the decline [of] alcoholic beverage consumption, whether that be complete sobriety, choosing no/low alcohol products, or participating in dry January and sober October,” Kelley told Health.

Regardless of how people choose to set the parameters of their intermittent sobriety, its effects are being seen across beverage markets, Kelley added. Many sober curious people may alternate between nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks, likely driving an increase in sales of no- or low-alcohol beverages, she said.

The U.S. nonalcoholic drink industry grew 29% between 2022 and 2023—the large majority of that consumer base is Millennials and Gen Z, according to U.K. data firm IWSR.

In 2023, a third of Americans tried a nonalcoholic drink, such as a mocktail, beer, or a THC or CBD-infused drink. And 24% of Gen Zers specifically reported trying a nonalcoholic beverage after seeing a celebrity or influencer drinking one.

This rise in alcohol alternatives doesn’t diminish the fact that most people still feel like drinking is a huge part of American culture. The NC Solutions survey found about two-thirds of Americans still identify as “social drinkers,” and many people still feel judged for not drinking.

However, the U.S. will likely continue to see a rise in the number of people cutting back on alcohol, particularly as these terms gain popularity on social media, Kelley said.

“As more descriptors—such as ‘intermittent sobriety,’ ‘sober curious,’ ‘zebra striping,’ and ‘substituting’—are mentioned...in the news, on social media, etc., I would expect even more consumers to take notice and at least explore the idea,” she explained.

Should You Try Cutting Back on Your Alcohol Consumption?

No matter how frequently you drink, there’s no harm in trying this new trend—reducing the amount of alcohol you consume is always a good choice for your health.

The liver can only processes a small amount of alcohol, so drinking heavily can negatively affect the liver as well as other organs in the body.

In the short term, drinking can raise a person’s risk of falls or other injuries, accidents, and violence.

There are long-term effects, too. Alcohol consumption can damage a person’s heart, leading to issues such as irregular heart beat, stroke, and high blood pressure. It can also take a toll on the liver, pancreas, and immune system. There’s also a strong connection between alcohol and increased cancer risk.

If you are interested in drinking less, substituting with nonalcoholic drinks is an option. However, it’s important to look at the nutritional information to see if they make sense in your diet.

Though it’s a very small amount (less than 0.5% alcohol by volume), some nonalcoholic drinks do still contain alcohol. Nonalcoholic beer also tends to contain a higher amount of carbohydrates than traditional beer, and mocktails can contain high amounts of sugar.

But whether it means drinking less, taking a short-term break from alcohol, or something else, experts agree intermittent sobriety is a trend they can get behind.

“Reducing the frequency of binge drinking and drinking occasions in general is certainly recommended for improving health,” Kerr said.

This story originally appeared on: Health News - Author:Sydney Wingfield