You can have fun on St. Patrick’s Day and maintain sobriety. Yet, do not feel pressured to do this, as sobriety is a different process for everyone. Whether you overcame alcoholism, chose to abstain from alcohol, or are newly sober, it’s a unique process.

Being sober does not mean avoiding the fun. It simply means you are in control and in a state of mind to make responsible choices without the influence of alcohol. Fortunately, there are some practical tips you can use to make this possible.

Sobriety has personal and societal benefits. Along with sobriety significantly improving your health, it has a substantial societal benefit. Being sober on St. Patrick’s Day removes any chance of driving while impaired. Unfortunately, there is an increased risk of impaired driving on days that promote heavy alcohol use.

Survey data in Illinois have shown the self-reported rate of alcohol-impaired driving is 475 driving incidents per 1,000 population. This rate is much higher than the rate of individuals arrested for DUIs in the state, which may suggest most impaired driving goes undetected.

Wherever you go on St. Patrick’s Day, whether at a bar, pub, restaurant, or community gathering, there are likely slogans like Eat, drink, and be Irish, You can't drink all day if you don’t start in the morning, or Let’s get ready to stumble. It’s a day of drinking, eating, dancing, and celebrating.

Staying sober can be a challenge, depending on the approaches you take. Consider some of the following pointers.

Remind yourself why you are sober, and don’t do it alone. You can still have fun and celebrate but do it with other sober people. Everyone has their reasons why they stopped drinking; remind yourself of those reasons and hold yourself accountable. 

Know your triggers; it doesn’t matter if you are a recovering addict or have removed alcohol from your life. Be cautious around possible triggers that pose a challenge. Most people in this situation choose to skip the bar and find something fun to do or go to a sober celebration.

Keep a non-alcoholic drink or mocktail in your hand. People will not bother you to ask if you want a drink if you already have something to sip on, like a mocktail. This also leads to planning how to say no. You will encounter social pressure if you go to a bar on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s unavoidable. It’s wise to practice ways to refuse alcohol.

Finally, if all else fails, take a walk outside if you feel overwhelmed. The most straightforward solutions are usually the best. Remove yourself from any situation you know will lead to relapse. This is also why it’s essential to be with a sober friend or loved one; there is accountability and someone to lean on.

Marie Garceau has been working in the field of substance use and addiction recovery for over a decade. She works at DRS and primarily focuses on reaching out to the community and spreading awareness.