For as long as I can remember, Halloween has been my favorite holiday. I am a big believer that Halloween is the entire month of October and not just one night. When we were kids, Halloween meant dressing up and going door to door to collect candy in your neighborhood. As an adult, Halloween typically revolves around going to the bars and drinking as much as possible. Being someone who rarely drinks, Halloween can be an awkward time for me.Â
Earlier this year, I realized that every time I drink, it makes me feel sick; one glass of wine or six shots, it didn’t matter, my stomach would regret the drink almost immediately. After coming to this realization, I decided to only drink on special occasions, such as weddings and other events. This Halloween, I have decided to stay sober. I personally don’t feel the need to get drunk just to fit into the bar scene. I see no point in dressing up and doing my hair and makeup just to feel ill several hours later. Being nauseated will ruin a night for me, and I don’t think it’s worth it. Thankfully, the people I choose to be around are not the type of people to peer pressure someone into drinking if they choose not to.Â
Being sober at the bars can be difficult, and even daunting to some. The idea of being around dozens of drunk people while you’re one of the only sober people there can be a hard concept — especially on holidays such as Halloween, where drinking has become so normalized. I am here to say that it is ok to choose not to drink; it’s perfectly acceptable to sip on a Diet Coke instead of a beer. Being comfortable in your own skin and respecting your own personal preferences is what’s most important. Personally, I’m so excited to make myself some mocktails and spend time with my friends while feeling good and being able to remember the whole night! I’ve been looking into some fun non-alcoholic drinks, and I’ve found dozens of recipes to put myself into the Halloween spirit without the hangover.Â
Bars aren’t the only option when it comes to Halloween; there are endless other options that are even more fun in my opinion. I know I’m definitely biased, but I prefer a night in watching a movie with some snacks over a wild night out at the bars. There are tons of sober activities to choose from, such as a Halloween movie marathon, baking a sweet treat, and spending quality time with friends who also aren’t into the whole college bar scene either. I have a Halloween tradition of binge-watching the classic Halloween movies, such as Scream and Friday the 13th. This is something I look forward to every year. As someone who has a love for Halloween and horror movies, I cannot imagine a better night.Â
In the past, I had friends who would shame me for choosing to drink less than them or not drink at all. I have experienced pressure to keep consuming alcohol even in times when I communicated I wanted to stay sober. If you experience this, please stand up for yourself and draw a hard boundary with your friends. Any real friend will not continue to pressure you to do something you aren’t comfortable with, especially in a setting where you’re out of your comfort zone. Peer pressure is a real thing, and more people need to acknowledge that, as humans we desperately feel the need to fit in, even if we don’t realize it. Personally for me, it took me years to realize that I don’t need to drink copious amounts of alcohol to fit in with my friends, and anyone who made me feel that way wasn’t the type of person I needed in my circle. Friends are supposed to lift you up and support your personal decisions, not shame you for them.Â
Halloween does look a bit different for those of us who choose to not participate in drinking, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a fun time as well. There are so many misconceptions out there about people who choose to stay sober and I am here to say that sobriety doesn’t mean you’re not a fun person, and it doesn’t mean that you can’t still go out with your friends during the holidays. Everyone deserves a safe, happy Halloween, whatever that means for them.