How to Throw an Alcohol-Free Summer Party! 

Summer is officially here, and after a very long 12+ months of being stuck inside, I’m ready to party! Sunshine, tasty drinks, grilled food, and close friends - I’m here for all of it. 

Now, you might be wondering how to do this while staying sober. I hear you! 

There are a few things going on when we talk about creating a safe environment for socializing this summer. 

1. By hosting your own event, you can avoid triggers and stay in control. Today, I’ll talk about how to do just that. 
2. Because we’ve been inside for so long, our social skills need some dusting off. I’ll also discuss how you can put your social anxiety worries at ease. 

Just because you’re living an alcohol-free life doesn’t mean that you have to sit around and drink water by yourself. Hell no. 

Summer parties are for sober people too. 

Some of the most vibrant and fun people I know are SOBER! 

So, let’s get into it. Here are my best tips for throwing a sober summer party that you and your friends will love. 

• Get creative with beverage options. 

You’re the host, and that comes with major perks. You get to decide what’s on the menu. One thing I’ll say is this - you don’t need liquor to have a good time. 

For many women in recovery, hard alcohol is a trigger. Politely asking guests not to bring hard alcohol is perfectly within reason. If you’d rather have no liquor at your party - just say that! 

If you have friends that roll their eyes or say it’ll be lame, then they aren’t the kind of crowd you want there anyway. It’s their loss, not yours. 

Now, even though you aren’t serving liquor, you can still have kick-ass drinks on your menu. 

Side note: if you aren’t signed up for my email list, sign up for regular mocktail recipes sent your way. Join by grabbing a 30 day sober not boring calendar.

I suggest preparing a few pitchers of a yummy summer mocktail!

There are thousands of NA recipes out there, so your options are endless! Do a search on Pinterest or Instagram for summer mocktail recipes. 

Your guests might not even notice the difference! 

Check out this list of NA party drinks. 

• Have an activity ready to go.

Have you ever noticed that alcohol-centered parties generally consist of gossiping and watching how much others are drinking? What’s the fun in that? 

The best parties allow for genuine connection, real laughter, and memorable moments. 

Plan a game or activity to keep the focus away from what’s in your cup. 

• Use fun decor or have a theme. 

The decor is often a conversation starter. It’s an easy way to break the ice and get people talking.

Consider adding a theme to your party like - Hawaiian luau, Derby days, glow in the dark, etc. A theme brings more purpose to your party.

You can also plan games, beverages, and food around your theme for the full effect. Please encourage your guests to dress up and have fun with it. A theme is fun for kids as well!

Again, this will help divert the focus away from drinking. 

Tips for handling social anxiety.

Hosting a summer party is a great way to get back into the swing of the social scene. 

However, being around a crowd can create pressure and anxiety. As I said before, being the host will allow you to control almost every aspect of the event. That should help put you at ease. 

My advice to you: Just know that you aren’t alone in feeling anxiety. Everyone is going to have some form of anxiety. Set a time limit for the party, so you know it’s not going to last all night. Curate your guest list carefully - only invite people who are supportive of your sobriety. 

Just have fun with it! Remember to breathe and actually enjoy your time. 

For tips on starting conversations at a party, check out this article! 

You got this. Happy Summer!! 

Sober Curious? Join my 3 Day Alcohol & Me Sober Summer Challenge