Sober Curious? How to Own the Night (and the Morning After)

What Does It Mean to Be Sober Curious?

You’ve probably seen it all over your feed, from mocktail recipes to mental clarity and Monday mornings without regrets. Sober curiosity is becoming a movement, but it doesn’t mean you have to swear off alcohol forever. It’s all about being more intentional about how and when you drink, questioning the role alcohol plays in your life, and choosing drinks that align more with how you want to feel. Plus, with the rise of functional beverages and non-alcoholic alternatives, there’s less social pressure to drink and more options to support a sober lifestyle without missing out on social connection. 

Sober Curious Isn’t a Buzz Kill

Being sober curious doesn’t mean you need to cut alcohol out completely. It means exploring new rituals and making informed choices that feel aligned. According to a recent study by NCSolutions, 49% of Americans say they’re drinking less in 2025 and that number jumps to 65% for Gen Zers. So what’s causing this shift? Younger generations are becoming more intentional about their health and how substances like alcohol impact their mental clarity, energy, sleep, and overall well-being. They’re noticing how alcohol affects their mood, productivity, and relationships and are realizing they feel better, sharper, and more in control without it. As Taylor Grasso, RDN and co-founder of Pesche, puts it:

“It’s not about restriction, it’s about making choices that align with how you want to feel in your body and your life.”


Debunking the Myth: Is a Night Out Without Alcohol Still Fun?

Let’s be honest. One of the biggest fears (and misconceptions) around ditching alcohol is that social events will feel awkward, boring, or anxiety-inducing. And those feelings are completely valid. Many of us have been taught that alcohol is the key to loosening up, leading to why people keep drinking even if they're curious about cutting back. 

But the truth is fun doesn’t come from what’s in your glass, it comes from how you show up in the moment.

Keep the Vibe, Skip the Vodka, and Upgrade Your Social Life

Alcohol is not the only way to feel relaxed and connected in social settings and we need to unlearn the misconception that it is. As the sober curious movement grows, so does the rise of alcohol alternatives—like social tonics, functional mocktails, and non-alcoholic spirits. Meaning your options for being sober, sober-curious or just want to cut back once in a while, has vastly expanded without ever having to compromise the vibe of your social life. Pesche is a line of non-alcoholic functional mocktails, where every can is intentionally formulated to match your moment through ingredients like adaptogens, nootropics, and botanicals. Think of each Pesche flavor as a functional alternative to a classic drink, designed to match whatever mood you’re in:


Each Pesche flavor is crafted by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with functional ingredients that work together to help you feel good in the moment and support your body long term. The “buzz” or vibe you get from a functional mocktail isn’t about feeling high or drunk since there’s no psychoactive effect. Instead, depending on the ingredients, you might feel more relaxed, uplifted, or experience a noticeable drop in stress. If you want a full breakdown of each can and what you’ll feel, please check out our “Functional Mocktail” blog. We recommend experimenting with different amounts of Pesche to find what works best for your vibe, but suggest not exceeding four cans in one sitting. For more information on dosage, please visit our FAQ section.


How to Own the Night Without Alcohol: Real-Life Tips That Work

Tips for Socializing Without Alcohol

Going alcohol-free in a culture of drinking takes guts. But don’t worry because we have the tips and tricks that will give you the confidence to own it. Tips straight from our founders, Taylor and Zack Grasso, from their own first-hand experience through their sober curious journeys:

  • BYOB: Bring a non-alcoholic drink you actually love (we’re partial to Pesche 😉). It helps you feel included and confident.
  • Be honest, but brief: “I’m just drinking less right now” is often all it takes.
  • Bring extra: Offering a can to a friend can spark connection and conversation.

The first night out might feel unfamiliar and a bit tough, but it gets easier. Over time, you’ll become more confident in your decision to drink less (or not at all), and it’ll start to feel like second nature. Soon, people care less about what’s in your glass and more about the energy you bring. Remember that being sober or sober curious doesn’t mean restricting yourself from social activities or sitting on the sidelines, it’s all about replacing the ritual—not removing it.

Tips for Mindful Drinking with Functional Mocktails

You don’t need to be fully sober to benefit from mindful drinking. Many people alternate between alcohol and mocktails to reduce their intake without feeling restricted. And if you're not looking to cut alcohol out completely but want to be more intentional about how and when you drink, Pesche is a great option to support a mindful drinking routine. Remember to take it step-by-step, there's no need to try and change your habits overnight. We recommend:

  • Swapping one drink for a Pesche during social events or at home
  • Alternating between an alcoholic beverage and Pesche throughout the night
  • Keep Pesche on hand at home, so you always have an option that supports you 
  • Even small swaps, one or two per week, can make a noticeable difference in how you feel both physically and mentally

With Pesche you still get the ritual and flavor you crave, but with functional ingredients that support your mood, stress response, or sleep—depending on the blend. It’s less about restricting yourself and more about giving your mind and body something that helps it thrive while still enjoying the social rituals you love.


The Unexpected Benefits of Going Sober Curious

When you replace alcohol with functional ingredients, you don’t just avoid the bloat, fog, and fatigue, but you actually start to feel better. You might find that you’re starting to sleep better, recover faster, and be less stressed. This is all because your mind and body have supporting ingredients rather than working against a substance that disrupts your natural rhythm. One of the main benefits that people often overlook when cutting back from alcohol is how much clearer and more in tune they feel with their body and emotions. Without alcohol dulling your senses, you become more aware of how you actually feel and functional ingredients like adaptogens and nootropics support that clarity without masking it.

The Morning After: Choosing Presence Over Pressure

So, whether you’re going fully dry or just cutting back, swapping one drink for a functional mocktail like Pesche can change the way you experience your night—and your morning. Reducing the effects of that dreaded hangover and the loss of an entire day (or weekend) to feeling icky and replacing it with supporting your body and its natural rhythm. Being able to not only own the night, but also your morning after. Get back to doing activities that make you feel connected and fulfilled (even after a long night out):

  • Hit a 8:00AM morning pilates class
  • Drink coffee on your porch and enjoy nature
  • Go to brunch with your friends
  • Get together for a long day of golfing

To clarity, confidence, and connection. On your terms.

Ready to try? Grab our Mood Mix Starter Pack (4pk) for yourself or our Full Vibe Collection (12pk) to share!

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