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The phrase \u201csober curious\u201d is picking up steam in beverage alcohol circles\u2014perhaps most notably in the craft beer industry. More non-alcoholic products, sober events, and shared conversations regarding our collective consumption habits are taking place than ever before, but a stigma remains. If you\u2019re not drinking, why are you even in a beer space to begin with?

That\u2019s exactly what today\u2019s conversation is about. I\u2019m joined by writers Jerard Fagerberg and Mark LaFaro to discuss Jerard\u2019s sober-curious column \u201cLet Go or Get Dragged\u201d and Mark\u2019s recent piece on Good Beer Hunting titled \u201cTapped Out \u2014 The Problematic Culture of Overdrinking in the Alcoholic Beverage Industry.\u201d Neither writer shies away from sharing personal, sometimes very raw experiences with alcohol consumption, in an attempt to destigmatize moderation and sobriety as well as provide resources for those interested in cutting back.\xa0

This episode is part of a series exploring both personal and cultural shifts regarding alcohol, where we discuss the evolving vocabulary around sobriety\u2014or steps towards it\u2014and unpack the core reasons why people congregate around beer in the first place. As someone who still works behind the bar, Mark reveals some ugly truths about what breweries expect from consumers (spoiler alert: It\u2019s not always in the individuals\u2019 best interest), as well as where they both find support in a sometimes judgemental landscape. You never have to explain why you\u2019re not drinking, or even drinking less, but whether you\u2019re curious about minimizing or eliminating alcohol from your diet, listening to those who have been through it before is a great foundation on where you can begin.