Sober Glastonbury

[AshSlattery]

After years of being a total boozehound, and getting myself into some truly hairy situations that I won't bore you with, I've given up drinking. Currently 26 days sober. Going strong and my mental health has improved massively already. 

So incredibly excited for G but also slightly nervous at the prospect of a festival booze free. 

Wondered if others had experiences of sober Glastonbury, if AF options were available on site and any other tips

Edited November 11, 2022 by AshSlattery

[danmarks]

No tips. I just applaud you for 26days.

 I need to address mine but i dont.

Good luck.

I always have sunday sober for driving. Its only one day i know but once i know im not drinking its ok. Just different.

[Skip997]

I've done many Glastonbury festivals (and others) without alcohol, probably more than those at which I've been drinking. 

I'm now on a run of being alcohol free for well over 5 years, genuinely lost count.

But I've not strictly speaking been sober as such, I use other drugs.

About half our regular crew are completely drug and alcohol free (in recovery) and they always have a great time.

[dmedxb]

Hi! Firstly, really well done on your 26 days. Did my first sober Glasto this year after a few years of not being very good at drinking, to be honest. 321 days alcohol-free today!

It was truly absolutely fine. The AF beer range was pretty poor last year - anticipated this and brought a pretty good supply with me. It was really nice to be so present for everything going on around me. 

[Scrump]

Hey man well done on the 26 days and counting. I think that's a huge decision pal and deserves some serious respect. I won't lie I can imagine it will have it's challenges but can certainly be done sober. I drank a lot,lot, less last glasto and to be honest being more present, feeling less shit and having more natural energy was a game changer. You can do it!

I believe there's an AA session at the festival if that's something that might give you a reminder of how achievable a sober festival is.

However it goes, no one can take this self affirming decision away from you. 

And... Just in case this is sounding a bit high minded I'm not anti drink or drugs at all. Just respect it when someone makes a heavy weight personal decision cos it's so easy not to almost all of the time.

[Skip997]

5 minutes ago, Scrump said:

I believe there's an AA session at the festival if that's something that might give you a reminder of how achievable a sober festival is.

There's a dome in the green futures field on the track that leads to the gap in the hedge, through which you can access the Tipi Field/Park. They focus on the Twelve step AA program and have at least one meeting a day, although it's usually open if you just want to drop in. It's run by a guy called Terry.

There are also CA (Cocaine Anonymous) meetings which are advertised around site.

[ian the worm]

Well done. Seven years for me. Festivals and all other life are absolutely delicious sober. Enjoy. ❤️✅❤️

[Cooter]

Very well done to you. I did 8 months last year and must say I quite got into it. Back on it now but not half as much as I used to. More for pleasure now rather than habit. 

[zahidf]

I've done it 4 times in the 2000s when I was religious! Was fine for me, just have a LOT of red bull and see as many bands as possible. Have a blast:-)

 

 

 

[themuel]

13 years or so since I stopped drinking. Glastonbury sober is completely fine. I understand it will feel daunting but I promise it really is just as good! 

[philipsteak]

Well done. 

I stopped drinking in 2006 or 7. Not sure. And I actually like the fact I can't remember which as it means it's not a big deal. Never considered myself an alcoholic but was definitely a problem drinker, cutting down never worked. 

I do technically drink now but can count my annual drinks on one hand, and one of those is from the cider bus. Become a little tradition. But that will be all I have during the festival. The thought of being drunk now seems so weird and I just have no interest. 

I think it probably helped me that my first sober Glastonbury was a few years after I stored drinking. By that point not drinking was so normal that it wasn't a thing. And now, I love it. In love the fact I remember everything. I mean I still feel shit, but I feel less shit then i otherwise would. I still go for it, maybe not as much as if I as drinking but I'm often the last man standing. My friends don't make a big deal of it which helps. 

I don't remember seeing any AF options at the bars but I want really looking. Bearded Theory had Lucky Saint in cans at the bars and then had it on draught at their own little branded bar. It's pretty good on draught. Popping up in a few places now. 

No real tips tbh, just embrace the difference. 

[eatingglitter]

4 hours ago, AshSlattery said:

After years of being a total boozehound, and getting myself into some truly hairy situations that I won't bore you with, I've given up drinking. Currently 26 days sober. Going strong and my mental health has improved massively already. 

So incredibly excited for G but also slightly nervous at the prospect of a festival booze free. 

Wondered if others had experiences of sober Glastonbury, if AF options were available on site and any other tips

I’m 18 months sober myself and while this will be my first sober Glasto, I have done festivals without booze. 
 

it has some incredible benefits not least having more cash, not needing to pee constantly,  remembering everything and not falling into a giant mud puddle half cut. 
 

Biggest pieces of advice I’d give is be prepared to caffeinate like mad because you can’t push through and get second wind, and also if you’re not feeling it (band, people, situation) don’t try and style it out. If you needed to get messed up to enjoy it, you weren’t going to enjoy it.

Edited November 11, 2022 by eatingglitter

[Scrump]

6 minutes ago, eatingglitter said:

If you needed to get messed up to enjoy it, you weren’t going to enjoy it.

Wisdom!

[balti-pie]

1 hour ago, eatingglitter said:

 

Biggest pieces of advice I’d give is be prepared to caffeinate like mad because you can’t push through and get second wind

I use cake for this, notably the cake place opposite the entrance to acoustic, typically after headliners and before the late night stuff - I’ll sit in a circus tent and munch on a couple of cakes for the sugar, watch a bit of crazy stuff, and wait for the crowds to die down a bit 👍 (but that’s cos caffeine turns my guts a bit, I can’t really deal with it) 

I’ve huuugely cut down on alcohol too, I love beer but only really want a couple - I have absolutely zero interest in being drunk. And all the benefits that other people report are there in spades - remembering more, spending and weeing less, not having to write off great swathes of the next day, not feeling like absolute death when you get back home afterwards, all ring true. I really can’t see me getting shitfaced at a festival ever again, it’s just such a waste of everything. 

[Derby_Dave]

What a great thread and well done for your achievement.  
I bet you find it a whole different animal sober and just think of the lack of tent hangovers as a pretty solid motivation in itself.

I’m sure you’ll have a blast.  🍻😉

[Alvoram]

First of all, congratulations on your achievement!!!

I was mostly sober last year. I got fairly tipsy on the Wednesday, and a little tipsy on the Sunday afternoon. But I can count on one hand the drinks I had on Thurs, Fri and Saturday. I had 4 cans in those entire 3 days. 

I hadn't drunk since (I think) New Years eve in the run up to the festival, and since it I've had a few cocktails going 'round the world' at Walt Disney World's Epcot in September. I don't really drink much at all. Mainly because when I do, I'm a liability!

Festival was great, the vibe is great when sober, I'm guessing the vibe is good drunk, sober or high. However I didn't really find the alcohol free options I was looking for, other than soft drinks like Coke, which is a real shame IMO. Other people have said they're there, but I never found any. 

There are however some incredible specialist drinks available from traders. All kinds of decent coffee, smoothies, shakes etc etc. Just exploring all of these could be fun enough on it's own, if a little pricey. 

 

Edited November 12, 2022 by Alvoram

[Muppetmark]

I had a wonderful time my first glasto which I did sober. Didn't do much of the night tike stuff but still had such a wonderful time. 

[Leyrulion]

People who've done it sober, is it different?

I've no doubt you'd have a great time but do you need to prepare for it to be a different great time?

Edited November 12, 2022 by Leyrulion

[themuel]

7 hours ago, Leyrulion said:

People who've done it sober, is it different?

I've no doubt you'd have a great time but do you need to prepare for it to be a different great time?

No. It’s the same festival. I know this sounds flippant but it is. The same things are happening at the same time in the same places.  Go planning to enjoy it and you will. Go planning on comparing everything to if you were drunk and you will. 
 

I prefer it sober. Especially now it’s so overcrowded everywhere. I wouldn’t want to navigate that drunk it would feel dangerous.  

[Phoenix Girl]

Congrats on yours and everyone else’s sobriety!
 

I did 2019 sober and enjoyed it but found it very very tiring. So make sure you are prepare for that - think of foods and drinks that give you energy as others have said.

I generally went to bed after the headliners apart from one night I really wanted to see Let’s Eat Grandma who were playing in a little tent at the bottom of the Park at 4am. It was the hardest few hours trying to stay awake and energised waiting for them to come on and then at 3.50am they cancelled. I’ve still not forgiven them. 

[forumlurker]

I'm a week into my current sober run. Not sure how long it'll last but mentally preparing myself for a much calmer Glastonbury. This year (2022) completely killed me after 5 days on the trott, and totally realise I was drinking for the sake of it...

[sedra]

Well done - keep going and look forward to an amazing festival still. I don’t drink alcohol a lot at Glastonbury- more water than booze especially when it’s hot! There are different options with soft drinks ( a lovely little stall near circus tent with fruit based drinks) and some AF beer I think. Tea/coffee and energy drinks probably best to keep you going at night. 

[diningroomchairstorage]

don't post on here but want to weigh in on this one. glastonbury without boozing is a revelation. i did i think my 7th glasto this year but the first where i was only having the odd beer here and there (like one in the afternoon and that's it). it's way better. way way waaaaaaaaay better. its way easier to stay up all night for a start. you can tap in a bit better to the energy of the festival without having to deal with the peaks and troughs of booze. no hangovers so mornings are way nicer. you're in a way better state by the time you get to sunday. you're less exhausted. you can dance more. you don't have to piss all the time. its cheaper and you can pack a lot lighter. you're less likely to eat some shit food that's going to make you sluggish. you might even be more fun to be around. it's a gamechanger honestly.

[Bike_Like_A_Mum]

I'm a pretty innocent festival goer really. I drink but not much, I burn it off too quickly dancing so the alcohol just ends up bloating me and making me need a wee and not much else. Lots of caffeine and healthy snacks throughout the day keeps me raving until sunlight still. Bit of caffeine along the way and avoid gluten!!! The odd doze in a hammock and you can keep going 😊

It's quite liberating throwing yourself in and letting go without the Dutch courage. You'll get used to it.

On that note...cheers! ☕️

[gfa]

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Edited November 12, 2022 by gfa