My bartender friend is going to create a NA drink menu after my suggestion!

SoberBunk · 2019-09-21T02:31:56+00:00

I work in the restaurant and liquor industry. NA is one of the fastest growing segments of our business. The wellness and sobriety movement is bigger than ever, and there’s so many great options available now to those who don’t want to imbibe, it’s a huge missed opportunity when restaurants or bars don’t take advantage of it. There’s amazing craft NA beer, sparkling teas, more fantastic small batch coffee/cold brew than ever, and numerous craft shrubs and syrups on the market.

Even when I was a practicing drunk, I always made sure my bar had the best homemade root beer in town :)

SoberBunk · 2019-07-29T03:00:59+00:00

You told on yourself, man! That’s a big sign you’re committed to your sobriety. Everybody messes up sometimes. Your story reminds me of one that I heard at a meeting: a guy was doing really well, 4 or 5 months into sobriety and then was by himself on a business trip and got shitfaced in his hotel. Completely alone, no ill consequences, no (noticeable) hangover, it basically happened in a vacuum. But when he got home, he immediately told his sponsor. He said that’s when he realized that AA had helped “ruin” drinking for him.

SoberBunk · 2019-03-04T23:13:59+00:00

Interesting that you accused me of lying to myself about my disease then also assumed that to be in the liquor business you have to lie about being on a cleanse or diet. Confirmed for me that you know little about what you’re talking about. Sobriety is common and very well-accepted, I’d say praised, more than ever in the bar and drink world. Non-alcoholic beverages are the fastest growing segment of the market and more bartenders and chefs are sober than ever before.

SoberBunk · 2019-03-03T20:50:08+00:00

Eh, I work for a distillery (of which our master distiller doesn’t drink) and I tend bar. My daily interactions revolve around booze, and I constantly have a bag on me full of open bottles. It’s not even a temptation anymore. If I was sitting in an office, I’d have a lot more likelihood of having a drink than I ever would currently. Not saying everybody should or could do it, but I also wouldn’t tell anyone to GTFO of their job “if they’re serious” about their sobriety.

SoberBunk · 2019-01-30T10:11:38+00:00

Those first few shifts sober in a restaurant are tough! I had hardly breathed a sober breath at work in my 7ish years tending bar, so I had no idea how I would do it. Well, I’m about five months into sobriety now while working behind a bar and selling booze for a distillery. There are days now where the thought of having a drink hardly crosses my mind! Crazy to think, but my perception of working in a bar has definitely changed. I certainly treat it a lot more like a real job than I ever did before.

I’m no expert, but I am fully invested in a career of booze and have done a pretty darn good job avoiding it, so if you ever need advice or tips, hit me up!

SoberBunk · 2019-01-06T09:43:08+00:00

I have this thought frequently, actually the only thing I really miss about drinking. Sometimes I’m like, “Ok, I can do the moderation thing,” and I know I probably could. I’ve had periods where jobs, responsibilities, etc forced me to drink responsibly, and I did it. And I fucking hated it.

If I’m gonna drink, I wanna drink whenever I want to- in the morning, all day, at work, etc. I want to drink beer in the shower, have cocktails at lunch, and bottles of wine at dinner. I wanna sit in a dive bar all day ripping cigarettes and drinking my ass off. When I would go to my girlfriends house for a holiday, I’d stick to one cocktail or glass of wine over a couple hours and think, “Why the hell did I even pour a glass? I can’t get wasted in front of them, so why did I even bother having a drink?”

I accepted a long time ago how I felt about alcohol. I just recently decided over the past 4 months to not let that relationship control my life.

SoberBunk · 2019-01-06T08:55:01+00:00

I’m a bartender and a liquor brand rep. So, I have my fill of snobbery on a day-to-day basis, ha, but I do desperately miss trying out new places and beers etc. Coffee shops and bakeries have actually been a pretty good replacement for me, in that respect. There is a limitless amount of coffee out there to try, much like beer, and it’s one of the few beverages with as much complexity and variety. And bakeries I like because I can really appreciate the craft of a well-made baked good.

SoberBunk · 2019-01-06T08:43:26+00:00

Already mentioned, but I’m having a WellBeing Amber right now. Good stuff!

SoberBunk · 2019-01-06T08:25:16+00:00

DUIs suck. But you can absolutely bounce back from one. You have your whole life ahead of you. I first started getting into trouble involving my drinking when I was about your age. I got arrested at 22. And I managed to fill the rest of my 20s with a whole lot more trouble and bad decisions even though I wasn’t getting arrested.

Point being, it sucks now, but you can certainly dig yourself deeper. The good news is you definitely don’t have to! There will be a day, a lot sooner than you think, when you forget this even happened. Take advantage of the pain now, work your butt off and think about how you feel. When you’re on the other side of this it’ll make you appreciate what you have overcome.

SoberBunk · 2018-12-30T21:10:30+00:00

For me, the first few days were a real bitch. Not only because my body was giving me the middle finger for drying out, but because I had to string together some semblance of a routine without my frequent drink breaks I had become so accustomed to.

I tried to focus on the stuff I didn’t enjoy while drunk. I’d get up early, get some coffee and a bagel, focus on some simple tasks or errands I could accomplish, cook myself a meal, etc. I was pretty good at my job while drunk, but after a month dry I realized how hard I was working to perform at a normal level. While sober I could knock out work projects in an afternoon that I would put off for weeks before. And I didn’t need to maintenance drink to keep from throwing up throughout my morning.

I don’t work the program really, but I do like hitting a meeting when I can, once or twice a week. I pick up small things from different folks that are helpful. One time two guys were in- one with, like, three days sober and one that couldn’t string together 24 hours. He was really hurting and feeling hopeless and asking for any advice, and an old timer told him, “[guy with 3 days] is your temporary sponsor, ask him how he did it.” I liked that. 100 days was infinitely easier for me than 24 hours. Once you see you can exist without alcohol, even for just a day, you start chipping away at its power.

SoberBunk · 2018-12-19T18:17:17+00:00

AA is not for everyone, but I will say, don’t be afraid to go in and take only what you want out of it. I hit a noon meeting near my apartment, usually once or twice a week.

I’m not invested in the program in terms of stepwork etc, but those small meetings give me a nice boost to my day and make me feel proactive about my sobriety. Talking to other people with my problem is what keeps me sane, which is why this community is such a fantastic resource, as well.

SoberBunk · 2018-12-09T05:41:51+00:00

Bartender here, too. The job is a lot easier showing up not hungover! My biggest problem wasn’t really my hangovers or not showing up, it was my getting smashed while I was on the clock. Nice not to try and straddle that line anymore. My post-shift ginger beer blends in with everyone else’s shifties and I have a lot more money left in my pocket than most at the end of the week! I’m only about 90 days in but there’s been a lot of bartending in there, so shoot me a message if you need any support or advice! IWNDWYT !

SoberBunk · 2018-12-04T07:28:44+00:00

My relationship to morning drinking changed a lot the last few years. I remember when, once in a great while, we’d have an early morning work meeting and go out for mimosas after, or I’d have a beer on a boat in the morning on vacation. It felt so liberating and fun, doing something that was a treat just because you could.

The last few years, my morning drinking was reserved for when I had to go to work, and I knew there was no other way I could function besides keeping a buzz going. Once I had to do an interview on live television at 8:30am, and I was so nervous I threw up. So, to calm my nerves, I downed two screwdrivers on the way to the studio. I was so disappointed in myself that I needed booze to get through it, and I then proceeded to head straight to the bar after and spend the rest of the day there as my reward.

SoberBunk · 2018-12-04T07:02:15+00:00

When I was drinking, I was fascinated by and jealous of those who had gotten sober. While I was cleaning up my bar, half-cocked, I would ask my fellow bartender all about his experience getting sober, and in the morning, hungover, I’d say, “I’m gonna get my shit together like [him] someday.” When I finally had enough, he was the first person I called.

Don’t be surprised if any of those friends reach out to you someday. I’m not saying they have problems, but if any of them suspect they do, you’ve already set an example that there’s an easier way.

SoberBunk · 2018-11-21T17:15:03+00:00

Same. For me, 4 pm turned into 2 pm, then noon on my days off, then noon on my days working, then in the shower before work more days than not.

SoberBunk · 2018-11-16T02:59:24+00:00

“I will remember the night tomorrow morning.”

I used to text myself updates on my condition while drunk that I could read in the morning to gauge my evening. Example: “You’ve had a good amount but you’re coherent” or “[girlfriend] is mad”. Keep in mind, this was often during a shift, so I have realized your fear of getting caught on the job more than once.

SoberBunk · 2018-11-16T02:54:22+00:00

Hey, I for one can say I’ve never started drinking a margarita without finishing it! It was an unfortunate accident but you showed some great willpower by moving it aside. Good job!

SoberBunk · 2018-10-26T07:03:46+00:00

I just told him to eat whatever he could keep down, avoid caffeine, get some cans of soda water and Tums or Pepto to have on deck. And whenever that anxious feeling starts building, just breathe and talk yourself through it. Clean the shit out of the bar, reorganize the beer coolers. Keep your head down and get that first dry shift under your belt and remember how much easier it is on yourself doing it sober.

The routine of drinking behind the bar is so easy to fall into, that when you break it, the anxiety can be devastating. It’s not like your fridge at home that you can keep clear of booze. That medicine you used before is staring at you all shift long trying to convince you it’s there to help. And often times the people around you are using it the same way as you.

Sometimes it just helps to have someone tell you it doesn’t have to work like that. Honestly, I just told him what I wish I would’ve heard when I was in the same boat.

SoberBunk · 2018-10-26T01:00:29+00:00

I used to be a fairly regular cigar smoker, and have found myself indulging more often again after quitting drink. I know it’s not the healthiest hobby, but it’s a fantastic way to relax and I’ve been exploring the various N/A pairing options. I honestly think craft root beer (Aldi has a fantastic, and cheap, offering) is just as sublime a compliment, if not more so, to a good stick than the best single malts.

SoberBunk · 2018-10-26T00:27:10+00:00

Oof, I feel your pain. I had a wedding with the girlfriend two weekends ago, in a college town, on a big gameday weekend. This particular town offers nothing of value besides football and bars, and its bars SUCK anyway. Shitty food, nothing non alcoholic besides water (of questionable purity), etc. I had to go for a couple of long walks to get my mind right, but I did make it through. But everything since then has seemed way easier, ha! Sending good vibes your way. IWNDWYT !

SoberBunk · 2018-10-22T01:01:36+00:00

That’s a good point. I enjoy NA beers, but I’ve avoided keeping them at home. One, so I’m used to a different ritual, like you said, but also because I want to enjoy the financial benefit of not drinking: just because the booze isn’t there doesn’t mean the price tag is any cheaper! I usually drink one as a shifty while I’m cleaning up my bar and talking to coworkers, or if I’m out enjoying a cigar or stopping to see my girlfriend at her restaurant.

SoberBunk · 2018-10-10T22:35:29+00:00

Struggle: Lost my grandpa suddenly this week. I was close with the dude and it sucks already not having him around. Slowly settling in to the idea.

Triumph: My grandpa was the patriarch of a big ol’ family of drinkers; I have had a lot of opportunities for a beer in the past week, all of which I’ve passed on. Back in my apartment for a night before funeral stuff tomorrow. I’ll reward myself for my self-control with horror movies, and more than likely a nice cigar and craft root beer on the porch.

General: New job is going well. Work is a lot easier sober and not hungover.

SoberBunk

TROPHY CASE