5 Reasons to go Sober whilst Social distancing

As I’m guessing you’ve already heard, coronavirus is now a ‘thing’ and so is the nation-wide lockdown. The effects are huge and on a global scale. The government has advised we take part in social distancing and do things like wash our hands more regularly. Word on the street is, however, that’s not going to cut it, so Boris has recently announced tougher measures. We’re to stay at home and only leave the house for necessary things like buying food or medicine, A.K.A we are in lockdown. This basically means that dear old Boris has just grounded us all and sent us to our rooms for going around sneezing on each other.

Needless to say, gone are the days of meeting everyone for a pint after work at the pub. The same goes for trying to make yourself heard over the blaring speakers at a bar, glass in hand. At least for now…

In light of everything that’s happening, here at Sober Rated, we’d like to suggest that this social distancing / lockdown malarkey is a great time to throw caution to the wind and try going it booze-free. Especially because nowadays, luckily, there is a plethora of tasty alcohol-free alternatives, some of which we’ve been tasting and rating for you already (you’re welcome). Read on to see our top 5 reasons for staying (or going) sober in lockdown.

If there’s one positive thing to come out of social distancing, it’s definitely got to be not being dragged out for those dreaded work drinks. We all know the only thing that will assuage those awkward conversations is a cold pint or two. With that in mind, you can’t go out clubbing (even to that illegal forest rave), in fact, you can’t leave the house.

Why not embrace the change and swap the wine for a nice cup of tea? Let your liver have that well-earned break whilst there’s literally NOTHING going on. After all, you definitely won’t be missing out on any crazy parties (not that being sober means you have to miss out on the crazy parties). Due to the sheer lack of boozy social events, we can’t think of a better time to kick the booze.

In light of this nasty little virus going around, health is on everyone’s mind. A strong immune system is the only ammo we’ve got against this bug. At least until a vaccine is made widely available, which according to the experts, could take around 18 months!

Given that, staying fit and healthy is surely a good idea in these climes and quitting alcohol is something everyone can do to give their immune system a boost. Excessive alcohol consumption is well known for its link to health issues caused by it compromising the immune system. Among them, and rather topically, are respiratory problems such as susceptibility to pneumonia and acute respiratory stress syndrome (Sarkar, Dipak et al. “Alcohol and the Immune System.”, 2015: 153–155), which are both diseases linked to Covid-19 infection.

In other words, booze wreaks havoc in your immune system, which could leave you more vulnerable to complications related to coronavirus.

If there’s one thing this virus is here to remind us of, it’s of the importance of looking after your body, health and well-being. That has ultimately got to be the most important thing! Now, I can’t think of a better reason than that to go sober during lockdown.

Get ready for ‘reason to go sober in lockdown’ number 4! One thing we have been gifted with during this lockdown is time. We’re normally rushing around simultaneously juggling multiple things. Often, we complain there’s not enough time to fit everything in and do the things we really want to do.

Well, now we have all the time in the world – at least for the next 3 weeks. Given that, our suggestion is to make good use of it. Rather than spend it hungover and feeling sorry for yourself because you had one too many the night before, try using it to your advantage. Ask yourself – what are the things I am constantly wishing I had more time for? Obviously they need to be lockdown-friendly, but that still leaves learning a new language, doing something creative like painting or crafting, getting fit, re-decorating the house, doing yoga… the list is endless! In effect, by spending this time in lockdown productively, you’ll emerge a new and improved version of yourself rather than a dishevelled and slightly depressed drunk with a beer-gut. Again, you’re welcome.

So the last reason to go sober in lockdown is arguably the most important one, mental health. Being in lockdown means social isolation for a lot of people. This can be hard, so it’s really important to look after our state of mind and well-being during this time.

Alcohol is a depressant and drinking it can cause the chemicals in your brain to go out of balance, which leads to depression and anxiety. This, coupled with less social interaction and less time outside could be a lethal combination. With this in mind, going sober during lockdown is undoubtedly a good choice. Not to mention, it’s a great opportunity to start doing meditation, yoga, tai chi and other things that boost mental well-being as an alternative.

Without a doubt, the lockdown is going to be a challenge for us all. We are currently living in unprecedented times. However, we must do what us Brits do best – pull together and get on with it for the good of all. It’s absolutely possible to make the best of a tricky situation. At It’s Sobe Rated we think that putting down the booze can be the thing that enables you to do just that.

So good luck, stay safe, stay home and stay healthy everyone!