Looking at food and beverage trends, one of the biggest headlines of the past year has been the sober curious movement where people, especially young people, are experimenting with reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption.
This year, "sober curious" will be less of a trend and more of a simple fact of life. Alcohol consumption rates have been falling for a while, with 34% of Americans saying they were planning to drink less in 2023 and 41% making this resolution in 2024.
Now, in 2025, you might even say that the term "sober curious" is showing its age. Those taking a more moderate approach to alcohol are no longer simply dabbling in this lifestyle, but wholly embracing it, and the sober curious are quickly becoming the sober serious.
How might this preference for low and no alcohol affect workplace dynamics? After all, coming together for an after-hours beverage has long been a fixture of companies’ social calendars and team building activities.
You may be surprised to find that removing alcohol from office events may actually improve them for a whole host of reasons.
What is the sober curious movement?
To say that the sober curious movement started on social media is an oversimplification. While Gen Z is credited with driving the movement forward — 61% have pledged to drink less in 2024 and 25% say that they abstain from alcohol consumption completely – this conviction comes from a genuine and widespread concern about the negative impacts of long-term alcohol consumption on the body.
It’s this growing awareness — along with a greater collective focus on physical and mental health — that has propelled the sober curious movement to online popularity across many different demographics. That and the simple fact that alcoholic beverages aren’t cheap, and many people are cutting down on their discretionary spending.
Restaurants and bars are fully onside with this shift, too. More and more dining and drinking establishments are giving no- and low-alcohol beverages prime real estate on their menus, featuring zero-proof wines and beers alongside their alcoholic counterparts, and coming up with colourful and flavorful selections of mocktails that rival cocktails in their freshness and complexity.
The benefits of sober office events
People avoid alcohol for many reasons. While saving money, improving physical and mental health, and making a lifestyle change are among the top motivators for sober curious consumers today, there are plenty of other factors, too.
A person may be recovering from addiction or substance use disorder. They may be pregnant. They may be a busy parent with commitments and responsibilities to attend to for the rest of the day. They may not drink because of cultural norms and customs, or personal beliefs and convictions, or because alcohol simply gives them a headache.
By hosting sober workplace events, you’re creating an inclusive workplace where employees can come together without feeling pressured to drink — and the quality of interactions and conversations between team members will be better for it. When it comes to constructive networking and meaningful bonding, clearer heads always prevail.
Employees also want to have confidence that their employers are invested in their wellness, and by hosting alcohol-free events, you’re signalling that you have a vested interest in everyone’s health and safety.
Sober event ideas to engage employees
For many organizations, bringing the team together for drinks has always been a great way for people to gather and get to know each other in a sociable, easy-going environment. But you don’t have to lose that just because your company goes sober. Here are a few office event ideas that are fun, engaging, and alcohol-free.
A different take on "dry happy hour"
While you can always take the team for a low- and no-ABV happy hour at a local venue, there are much more interesting alternatives. For instance, bring in a DIY mocktail bar where guests use a variety of mixers, garnishes, and flavored syrups to craft their own unique drink. Or offer an in-person or virtual mixology class that teaches the art of mocktail making.
Pro tip: Zero-proof drinks, which contain no alcohol and never did, can make amazing mocktails. There are also alcohol-removed drinks, in which traditional alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine are put through a process that nullifies the alcohol content to very low but still present levels — typically under 0.5% ABV.
Tastings are another fun learning opportunity. Instead of learning how to pair food with wines, or how to detect the subtle differences in flavor profiles, the session could be refocused around alcohol-free beverages like a variety of juices or teas.
To capture the vibe but not the effects of alcohol, the options for non-alcoholic beverages have never been so extensive. Zero-proof wines and beers, infused or carbonated waters and specialty sodas, and adaptogen drinks are all moving into the mainstream.
Come together with a focus on food
Rather than having food be secondary to drinks, food can be the main event. Food stations where employees can build their own dishes — like salad bars or taco bars — are fun, nourishing, and can easily be paired with alcohol-free options like healthy green juices, Mexican sodas, or zero-proof options. Or you can make it sweet-themed with a sundae- or candy-making station.
Potlucks are also popular. Add a personal or cultural component by inviting guests to bring a dish that means something to them or represents their heritage. It’s a great way to celebrate the diversity of individuals on your team.
Host an interactive activity or game
Some employees appreciate it when office events have structure — a set time, place, and expectations — which is why games and activities can make for an inclusive workplace social. Play is a great way to strengthen team bonds, build trust, and foster collaboration, so your team can enjoy activities like giant Jenga or board games.
You can also opt for mind over matter with a trivia competition. It can test general knowledge, or be based on fun facts about the team and the company. And if you want something a little quieter, a monthly bookclub is an effective way to facilitate sharing and discussion.
You could swap the aforementioned mocktail station for a craft station — for example, decorating mugs or t-shirts, painting canvases, folding origami, or building planters or terrariums.
Hold a performance or presentation
Serve a selection of non-alcoholic beverages with some live entertainment. Invite employees to participate in a low-stakes, judgement-free talent show where they can flaunt their secret skills. Or have someone else put on a show — this is a chance to discover local entertainers in your area who can help you stage a memorable event for your team, whether they’re musicians, magicians, or comedians.
Office events can be professional development or educational opportunities, too. Bringing in a keynote speaker relevant to your organization can be eye-opening for people. Leaders from inside or outside the organization can also deliver lunch-and-learns to keep everyone informed on what’s going on in the business or the industry.
Ready for your next non-alcoholic happy hour?
Brunch, lunch, afternoon coffee, or after-work drinks — when you do a non-alcoholic happy hour, it can take place at any hour of the day. That makes it more inclusive and accommodating for team members who have after-work obligations, like parents. And since everyone’s sober, it opens up exciting new opportunities for the types of activities that you can combine it with.
This enables much more productive, constructive quality time for your teams. It also doesn’t exclude anyone who may be abstaining from alcohol for personal, medical, cultural, or family purposes.
Today, the sober curious movement is everywhere, and companies stand to benefit from it. Now that this trend is here to stay, you have the power and permission to plan office events that contribute to a healthier work culture, and a healthier workforce.
