Navigating a Drinker's Profession As a Non-Drinker

The NA and sober curious movement has grown exponentially over the past three years, and Dry January continuing to gain traction, but consumer interest in sobriety is something that the drinks industry still seems to struggle to understand. 

But here’s the thing about Dry January and the non-alcohol movement for alcohol industry professionals; it provides a sense of support, inclusion, and respite from judgmental eyes for those who choose not to drink for whatever reason.

So instead of denying this trend, I believe the industry needs to find ways to take care of everyone in our community, and to respect that individuals’ relationships with alcohol are different from person to person.

Alcoholic drinks gave me a career of 15+ years and forever colleagues and friends.  But I loved them so much that they also nearly destroyed me. In my final years as an alcohol industry professional who also drank, my unfettered access to a substance that provided an easy escape became the go-to relief to any problem, at any time of day, at any moment called for or not.

I began to worry about my alcohol use.

In 2020 I couldn’t find another beverage professional on a questioning path, a sober-curious path, or a recovery path to tell me exactly how to navigate my next move. Then I found a sober bar owner through a friend of a friend with whom I had no previous relationship and reluctantly set a phone date.

I was harboring so many questions about being sober in the alcohol business: How do you taste? Do you accept trips to wineries or distilleries? How do people react to you not drinking as a professional? Will I be judged or expelled from the industry for not drinking?

Mainly, should I go sober?

He was the first to share a truth I needed to hear– if you feel you need to abstain from alcohol to salvage your life, you do it.

I eventually went sober in a moment of desperation, and my discovery of navigating this conundrum came one step at a time.  And they were not always steady steps.

Now close to four years sober in the alcohol-fueled professional jungle, I still work in the space, but my life looks markedly different, and a support system of sober professionals and allies is prevalent in my life. 

Some lessons I learned well, others I still struggle with. As my support system continually reminds me, it’s a process and requires some skillful navigation. For me, abstaining from drinking for the long term is not a one-stop-shop solution.  There’s the reality of lifelong mindfulness, routine check-ins, and continually navigating unfamiliar and uncomfortable journeys to ensure my and our community's safety. 

In addition to the occasional NA beverage option, I have learned a few tricks that have helped me navigate life as a non-drinker in a drinking world:

On Spit Cups

For the love of God, make spit cups available at tastings, festivals, wineries, and wine dinners. Use them and offer to grab them for your friends. This isn't just convenience—it eliminates unfair expectations of consumption, tolerance, and lifestyle. And it's safety for all involved—both emotionally and physically.

On FOMO

If you suffer from FOMO (or fear of missing out), check in with this as you explore making any significant life changes. You'll quickly learn to ask yourself where you are in the moment, what you want, and what you need. If you haven’t experienced this–waking up realizing you're sober on a press trip is the most glorious feeling. You can email and follow up if networking or educational opportunities get lost. The opportunities will present themselves when ready—but the preference is to be healthy and happy when they manifest. 

On Finding Time

You gain time when you're not drunk, drinking, or hungover. Filling time can be uncomfortable, but exploring hobbies becomes a prime experiment. I started hiking and went to hotel gyms on press trips–two activities my 25-year-old self would have judged me for. I started painting, baking, taking art history classes, reading books unrelated to wine, playing my guitar, and volunteering. I even took a job working for a US Senate campaign with my newfound time. All of this helped me realize that a world exists that doesn’t revolve around alcohol by volume and simultaneously made me a better wine professional.

On Grief

Sober people will find support. It's in unexpected places and comes in overwhelming amounts. But parts of your life will disappear. Not dramatically or seismically—but in quiet and unsuspecting ways. I don't have a bottle of unicorn wine when I'm out to dinner or late-night conversations with friends drinking beers at a picnic table until the last call. And relationships that revolve around this may shift, change, or even disappear. And I miss it, and I get sad about it. But it's a game of gains and losses. Sometimes, it's a loss for more significant growth—but it doesn't hurt any less. But I can promise you'll be okay. 

On Sugar

You'll likely want a lot of it to satisfy cravings, reward yourself, or regulate what may feel off in your body. See: baking. Then, see gyms at hotels. Eat it all. Explore it all. Feel it all. 

On Shaming

There is no right or wrong way for someone to start exploring their relationship with alcohol. As allies, there is no space for touting how or why someone takes this journey–whether using recovery tools, dry months, or taking time for themselves. Data shows that tolerance to alcohol is dependent on many factors, including age, weight, disease, genetics, medications, or time of stress. It’s irresponsible to assume anyone should drink a certain way or not drink a certain way. Let’s create a welcoming community.

On Professional Help

Don’t do it alone. If you're thinking about becoming sober, seek medical help. Everyone's journey is unique, and as I have learned, alcohol recovery is not something to be tackled in your spare time. It takes commitment, willingness, and professional support.

I continue learning how to be sober as an alcohol professional, which can be lonely. But if I can be the support needed for you or that reluctant phone call to someone you may have never met navigating sobriety in the alcohol industry, it's worth it. I hope to cultivate empathy, understanding, and more awareness in the alcohol community about what some of us may be dealing with.

So that no one has to go sober alone, I’ve found the support and am here to support others, too. Connect with me on Instagram @racheldelrocco or email at Racheldelrocco@gmail.com to connect, anytime.

Best,

Rachel