Staying Sober on St. Patrick's Day: Celebrate With Purpose and Joy

Holidays often bring joy to our lives. They are a time to gather with friends and loved ones, to come together, and to celebrate. 

But holidays can also be very stressful — they can also bring bad memories, drinking too much, or family arguments.

For people who are enjoying sobriety or trying to cut down on their drinking, St. Patrick’s Day is a particularly fraught holiday as it is often celebrated with drinking. 

Here we’ll share helpful tips for those trying to stay sober on St. Patrick’s Day to make the holiday easier for you. 

Table of Contents

• Why Staying Sober on St. Patrick’s Day Matters 
• Planning a Sober St. Patrick’s Day: 8 Ways To Stray Away From Alcohol
• Newly Sober or Struggling With Sobriety? Prepare in Advance
• Need Help Staying Sober on St. Patrick’s Day and Always? Contact Dove Recovery

Believe it or not, St. Patrick’s Day didn't start as a debaucherous drinking holiday. The mid-spring holiday has a rich history that predates the catholic celebration of St. Patrick, a former Roman slave who allegedly converted the then-pagan Ireland to Christianity. The original holiday is based on the pagan spring holiday Ostara, which celebrates the spring equinox. 

St. Patrick’s Day changed as it reached American shores. It began to shift from a religious holiday to a celebration of Irish culture, including four-leaf clovers, corned beef and cabbage, soda bread, and, of course, lots of Irish beer and whiskey. 

What does all this have to do with staying sober for St. Patrick’s Day? If you are struggling with staying sober on the holiday, try to remember that there is more to St. Patrick's Day, or any holiday, than just drinking. There are lots of different ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day that don’t include the embarrassment and hangover that comes with drinking. 

One of the best ways to cut back on drinking and stay sober is to make a plan to avoid your drinking triggers. This is one of the many techniques taught in alcohol-use disorder counseling at Dove Recovery. Here are some suggestions for how to celebrate a sober St. Patrick’s Day:

#1: Plan Ahead for Triggers

Triggers are situations, and sometimes people, that make you want to drink. If you know your triggers for drinking, you can plan to avoid them. If the whole day is a trigger, consider planning a trip or otherwise changing your surroundings. If that is not an option, try to avoid the places and people that encourage your drinking. 

#2: Host a Sober Celebration

Being sober on St. Patrick’s Day doesn't mean you can’t party. Consider hosting a sober St. Patrick’s Day and invite like-minded individuals. There are lots of ways to celebrate the holiday without alcohol, such as: 

• Playing Irish party games or cards 
• Making traditional Irish treats
• Hosting a shamrock cookie decorating party
• Planning a sober group hike or skiing trip
• Making St. Patrick’s Day decorations together 
• Attending sober church events for the holiday 
• Attending or hosting a St. Patrick’s Day AA event

#3: Surround Yourself With Supportive People

When you are on the road to sobriety, it is important to build a community of supportive people who want to see you succeed. If you are worried about staying sober on St. Patrick’s Day, you need to rely on your supportive network. Tell them your concerns, and ask them to help you stay accountable. If they are truly supportive, they will help you stay the course of sobriety. 

#4: Engage in Sober-Friendly Activities

If you want to stay sober this St. Patrick’s Day, consider planning to engage in sober-friendly activities. Go to a museum, check out a parade, or go for a hike. You can get creative, plan a St. Patrick's Day-themed cookie bake-off, or have an Irish movie night. With a little forethought, planning a sober-friendly St. Patrick’s Day is easy! 

#5: Remind Yourself of Your “Why”

Your sobriety is a journey. If you are worried about staying sober on St. Patrick’s Day, spend some time meditating on your sobriety and your reasons for it. Strengthen your resolve ahead of time to make staying sober easier. 

#6: Practice Self-Care

Self-care is important for anyone, especially people who are working on their sobriety. Instead of wasting the holiday on drinking, consider planning a self-care sober St. Patrick’s Day. You can:

• Plan a spa day
• Journal
• Get a massage
• Meditate on your reasons for sobriety 
• Take a long bath
• Exercise
• Do yoga
• And more

#7: Have a Go-To Response Ready

Be prepared for the inevitable invitations to partake in alcohol consumption and have a simple, confident response for when people offer you a drink, like:

• “I’m sticking to my goals.”
• “I don’t drink anymore.”  

If you don’t feel like making explanations all night, you can tell a little white lie like saying that you can’t drink for medical reasons. Whatever you choose, don’t justify your choice not to drink and avoid places where people may peer-pressure you. Your sobriety is your business, you don't have to explain yourself to anyone. 

#8: Stay Connected To Your Support Network

When in doubt, rely on your sober network. Check in with sober friends, attend a recovery meeting, or reach out to a mentor for encouragement and motivation. Remember, when it comes to sobriety you are never alone. 

If you are struggling to become sober, there is no shame in asking for help. Reach out to a quality rehabilitation center like Dove Recovery. We offer flexible schedules for working professionals and treat all of our clients with the utmost care and respect.

Are you newly sober or struggling with sobriety? If you are having a hard time staying sober on St. Patrick’s Day, be realistic with yourself and plan ahead to support your sobriety. This can include:

• Finding a sober network.
• Attending sobriety meetings, like AA, and using their resources such as sponsors and other sober meet-ups. 
• Ignoring St. Patrick’s Day and other drinking triggers.

Do you feel that alcohol has a grip on you that you cannot break? Do not feel ashamed — alcohol use disorder is a common, and damaging problem. 

But there is hope. Dove Recovery is the premier alcohol rehab in Columbus, Ohio, and no matter where you are, we can help you or your loved one find treatment for alcohol use disorder.

It can be difficult to stay sober on St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday that is so closely linked with drinking in our culture. Sobriety is a journey to a better, healthier, and happier you. If you are struggling to get or stay sober, don’t let your shame keep you in the dark. Reach out to your loved ones and get help. 

At Dove Recovery, we understand the struggle of freeing yourself from alcohol. We are a high-end recovery clinic perfect for anyone who has trouble with alcohol use disorder, or substance use disorder. Our schedules are designed for the outpatient treatment of working professionals, and we strive to make your recovery as seamless and complete as possible. 

Are you somewhere besides the Columbus, Ohio, area? Give us a call anyway. Dove Recovery works to help anyone who is struggling with alcohol use disorder, and we promise to be the last phone call you or your loved one needs to make to get sober. Check out our website to learn more.