Sober Nights Out: How to Have Fun Without Drinking (or While Drinking Less)
What to order, what to say when people ask, and why choosing a 0.0 is more normal than you think.
“Why aren’t you drinking?” If you’ve ever ordered a soft drink on a night out, you’ve probably heard that question within ten minutes. And maybe you felt like you had to give a good reason.
You don’t. This guide is for anyone who wants a night out without alcohol, or with less of it: for one night, for a month or for good. No lecture and no judgement, just practical ways to make it fun.
Not drinking is becoming more normal
Nightlife can feel like it assumes everyone drinks. In the Trimbos Institute’s 2023 survey of Dutch partygoers, 98.2% of respondents had drunk alcohol in the past year (KHN, 2024).
But the bigger picture is changing:
• In the Netherlands the share of adults who drink excessively fell from 9.9% in 2014 to 5.5% in 2024 (CBS, 2025).
• In the United States, the share of 18–34-year-olds who say they drink dropped from 72% (2001–2003) to 62% (2021–2023) (Saad, 2023).
My take: There’s a gap here. Fewer young adults drink, and more of them drink less, but a lot of nightlife content still acts like alcohol is the main event. This article is about filling that gap: the night is the main event, and what’s in your glass is your choice.
Why people choose a sober night (all valid)
• Driving home, or being the group’s safe ride
• Sport, work or an exam the next day
• Saving money (see Going Out on a Budget)
• Wanting to remember the whole night
• Taking a break, or simply not liking it
• Reasons you don’t have to explain to anyone
What to order: your 0.0 menu
0.0 beer. Most bars have at least one, often several.
Alcohol-free wine or bubbles. More and more common.
Mocktails. Ask the bartender for “something fresh, without alcohol”. Many enjoy the challenge.
Classic soft options. Tonic with lime, ginger beer, iced tea, sparkling water with fruit.
Read the label: “alcohol-free” isn’t always 0.0
This surprises a lot of people. According to NOS, in the Netherlands beer may be called alcoholvrij (alcohol-free) with up to 0.1% alcohol, wine up to 0.5%, and products up to 1.2% are labelled alcoholarm (low-alcohol). Other countries use different limits: Germany and Belgium allow up to 0.5%, and Italy and France up to 1.2% (NOS, 2024). If you want zero, check the percentage on the label, not just the word.
What to say when people ask
You never owe anyone an explanation. But a ready answer helps. Pick the one that fits your style:
Short and done: “Not tonight.” / “I’m good, thanks!”
The practical one: “I’m driving.” / “I’ve got training tomorrow.”
The redirect: “I’m fine. Come dance!”
The honest one: “I just feel better without it.”
The playful one: “This is a very sophisticated 0.0, thank you.”
Get Veerlemare’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Holding a drink (any drink) also cuts the questions in half. Nobody checks what’s in your glass.
My take: The best response to “why aren’t you drinking?” is a calm one. When you’re relaxed about your choice, most people stop asking. And a good friend group doesn’t make it a topic at all (more on that in Going-Out Etiquette).
Make the night about the activity
Sober nights are most fun when there’s something to do:
• 🎶 Concerts and DJ sets where the music is the point
• 🎤 Karaoke, pub quizzes and game bars
• 🌙 Late-night museum or cinema events
• 🎪 Festival days. Hydration and energy are on your side (see Festival Essentials)
• 💃 Alcohol-free club nights and day parties
Practical tips for your first sober night out
1. Decide before you go. It’s easier to stick to a choice you made at home.
2. Tell one friend. One ally makes the whole night easier.
3. Eat and rest beforehand. Your energy needs to come from somewhere.
4. Plan your exit time. Leave when you’ve had your fun, not when the last person leaves.
5. Still watch your drink. Not drinking alcohol doesn’t make you immune to someone tampering with your glass. See my night-out safety checklist.
Drinking less instead of zero?
Totally valid too. Alternate every alcoholic drink with water or a 0.0, set a number before you go and skip group rounds. Rounds tend to speed everyone up, and student safety advice recommends avoiding them (UWE Bristol, n.d.).
Your turn
What’s your favourite alcohol-free order when you go out? Share it in the comments. Let’s build the best 0.0 menu together.
Send this to a friend who’s doing a sober month, or who always gets asked why they’re not drinking.
👉 Read next: Going-Out Etiquette: 10 Social Situations Nobody Teaches You
👉 Also: Going Out on a Budget
References
CBS. (2025, March 21). Roken en alcoholgebruik afgenomen sinds 2014, overgewicht gelijk gebleven. https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2025/12/roken-en-alcoholgebruik-afgenomen-sinds-2014-overgewicht-gelijk-gebleven
Saad, L. (2023, August 22). Young adults in U.S. drinking less than in prior decades. Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/509690/young-adults-drinking-less-prior-decades.aspx
KHN. (2024, May 28). Belangrijkste bevindingen uit Het Grote Uitgaansonderzoek 2023. https://khn.nl/nieuws/belangrijkste-bevindingen-uit-het-grote-uitgaansonderzoek-2023
NOS. (2024, May 9). Alcoholvrij is lang niet altijd alcoholvrij, branche wil duidelijkere regels. https://nos.nl/l/2519846
UWE Bristol. (n.d.). Have a safe night out. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://www.uwe.ac.uk/life/health-and-wellbeing/stay-happy-and-healthy/alcohol-and-drugs/have-a-safe-night-out
