Holidaymakers looking forward to jetting abroad to sunnier climes might be used to sitting by the pool with a cocktail in their hand. However, if you have given up booze this year, it is worth thinking about what you are going to do instead of sipping on alcohol.
Sober holidays don’t have to be boring by any means. In fact, there is a lot to be said for waking up without a foggy head and remembering everything you did the night before – two things you can’t often guarantee if you are downing pint after pint.
The Girl And Tonic blog recommends telling one of your travelling companions you are not going to drink during your break, so they don’t pressurise you into joining rounds and can give you some support if other people expect you to grab a beer as soon as you arrive at the airport.
It is also important to think of a replacement drink to enjoy instead of booze, whether that is fruit juice, a mocktail, or some non-alcoholic beer you’ve brought with you in your suitcase.
You could even learn how to ask for alcohol-free drinks in the language of the country you are travelling to. Here’s a tip: It’s ‘cervesa sin alcohol’ for those heading to Spain this summer.
The blogger recommends planning what you are going to do instead of boozing, whether that is reading a book by the pool, visiting museums, going for a hike, exploring local villages or walking along the beach.
“You won’t be hungover, so you have way more time to enjoy your sober holidays,” the self-confessed sobriety-advocate stated. She also suggested downloading lots of books, movies, podcasts or audiobooks so you can enjoy relaxing without feeling restless or bored, as that is when you are most likely to reach for a drink simply to fill your time.
Although you might feel like you’re the only one not enjoying a sundowner, you are not alone. In fact, even those staying at hotels in parts of Majorca and the Balearics will have to get used to a pretty sober break after some places have stopped booze being part of all-inclusive packages, HotelManagement.net revealed.
As well as this, happy hours, pub crawls and drinks promotions could also be banned in certain parts of the islands, as well as the sale of booze after 21:30.
Iago Negueruela, tourism minister for Belearic Islands Tourism, said: “We want British tourists [but] don’t want this type of tourism.”
The Express reported him as saying: “We will have zero tolerance for tourism excesses.”
Therefore, having a more sober holiday could be on the cards for more people than you think. Some holidaymakers might even use a trip abroad as a chance to have a break from alcohol, not an excuse to drink more of it.
Writing in The Guardian, Ed Cumming shared his experience of a booze-free vacation, saying: “When I got back, I felt like a million euros.”
He recommended scheduling lots of activities to avoid heading to the bar or fridge; volunteering to be the designated driver so you are not tempted to try a new drink; pick a destination that is not as focused around booze, such as a campsite or a cultural break in Morocco; and to stock up on alternatives.
The writer also reminded tourists to remember their reason why they are ditching the alcohol, saying: “Nobody [else] actually cares. But you might find it easier to have an answer ready in case people ask why.”