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Marie Garceau has been working in the field of substance use and addiction recovery for over a decade. She works at Drug Rehab Services and primarily focuses on reaching out to the community and spreading awareness.
Kiss me, I’m Irish. I suppose anything is possible with enough alcohol. While many of the old practices of St. Patrick’s Day are long gone, it remains a day of celebration with lively music, excessive drink, and food.
Nobody denies large quantities of alcohol are consumed on this day, and most people are looking for an excuse to party. If you are sober and participate, you’re certainly tested. It can also be challenging if you are new to sobriety or recently recovered from alcoholism. Fortunately, there are practical sobriety tips for St. Patrick’s Day to help avoid the pitfalls.
Outside of the personal benefits associated with sobriety, there is a significant societal benefit. Excessive drinking leads to impaired driving, and being sober on St. Patrick’s Day removes all chances of driving while impaired that day.
In Florida, in 2022, alcohol-involved crashes increased by 3% from 2021. There were over 5,700 impaired driving crashes that year and roughly 10% occurred in March.
St. Patrick’s Day is an enjoyable experience and does not have to cost you sobriety. 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 Drug Rehab Services and primarily focuses on reaching out to the community and spreading awareness.
