Irish or not—everyone waits for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s that day of the year when the world turns green, everyone suddenly loves shamrocks, and there’s an unspoken challenge to see who can party the hardest. But what if you’re planning to keep it sober?
Good news: you can totally enjoy the holiday without downing pints of Guinness or taking shots of Irish whiskey. The key? Going in with a game plan. Because things can get tricky fast when you’re surrounded by boozy cheer.
Here are a few tips that will help you navigate the madness and have fun.
People rarely pressure you to drink if they see something in your hand. Not every party host has a bar stocked with sodas, mocktails, or non-alcoholic beer.
If you don’t want to get stuck with just water, show up with your own fancy, non-alcoholic beverage. Grab some fancy sparkling water, juice, or your favorite soda.
Or, before you head to the party, prepare your own non-alcoholic drink.
Sometimes, a crisp, citrusy soda is all you need at a party minus the side effects of a boozy drink, remarks Country Living. Try Cranberry-Ginger Fizz Mocktail. It fits the bill. It’s a light, fizzy drink made with ginger beer, cranberry juice, and sparkling cider.
Jablonski Spritz is also worth a shot. Take a bottle, add Martini Vibrante and Fever Tree Soda Water, and top it with French Bloom Le Blanc and ta-da! Your drink is ready. Don’t forget to close the jug’s lid tightly.
Trust us, you won’t be the only one at the party who’s not getting sloshed. See if a friend is also planning to stay sober. Team up with them.
Partying sober is way easier and way more fun when you have a partner-in-crime.
But what if your usual crew is all about those green beers? Widen your search. Look for a Gen Z. A recent feature of TIME revealed that Gen Z has already started cutting back on it. There’s a high possibility you will find your sober soulmate for the night in the twentysomething cohort.
Having a buddy means you’ll have someone to laugh with, dance with, and roll your eyes at all the drunk antics together. You can also keep each other accountable and avoid that friend who always tries to convince you to drink.
Parties are all about the food, right? So load up on all the delicious snacks like chips, dip, sliders, and whatever festive green treats are floating around.
If there’s a snack table, park yourself there. Munching gives you something to do with your hands, so fewer people will try to hand you a drink.
On the flip side, you’re less likely to drink alcohol when your stomach is full. How? Ghrelin—the hormone that regulates hunger—also influences cravings for alcohol. Keeping your stomach happy means you’re less likely to feel tempted by a drink.
What if you fail to stick to your plan of staying sober and drinking at the St. Patrick’s Day party? Driving home when you’re drunk would be a terrible idea.
Before you even step foot in the party, lock down a designated driver. Find a responsible friend who’s 100% staying sober, or set up a rideshare app beforehand.
Better yet, have a backup plan—someone you can call if things don’t go as planned.
Whatever you choose, just don’t drink and drive. The Palm Beach Post states that St. Patrick’s Day sees a spike in drunk driving incidents. Over 30% of all deadly crashes are due to impaired driving.
Case in point—the crash that took place in Fresno County, California, last year.
Following the St. Patrick’s Day celebration over the weekend, a single-car crash occurred on the east side of Copper near Willow Avenue. The accident claimed the lives of 2 people—32-year-old Chase McCutcheon and 24-year-old Jason Phillips. The California Highway Patrol considers alcohol responsible for the crash.
Victims of such accidents or their families have the right to file a lawsuit and claim compensation. Cases of successful litigation in California that prove justice can be served are plenty.
According to Frantz Law Group, a woman who suffered a serious spinal cord injury was compensated $5 million on the first day of the trial. She was involved in a vehicle rollover accident in which the roof crushed her vehicle.
Going sober on St. Patrick’s Day doesn’t mean you have to be the responsible one sitting in the corner while chaos unfolds.
Flip the script. Be the most entertaining, engaged, and unpredictable person in the room—no alcohol required. And you know what’s the absolute best part? You’ll wake up the next day with hilarious memories, zero regrets, and no need for a Gatorade.
