By Melissa Rayworth
Last year, when Lauren Haydel began her first sober holiday season, she wondered how difficult it would be to avoid alcohol at family parties and celebrations with friends. She owns a boutique, Fleurty Girl, in New Orleans’ French Quarter, a neighborhood synonymous with drinking.
But few people questioned her choice. “Instead of them asking me why,” Haydel says, “they ask me, ’Oh, do you feel better?’”
Many friends told her they’re considering avoiding alcohol themselves.
Sobriety has been having a moment, says Jessica Jeboult, founder of the website and online community A Sober Girl’s Guide.
“This is the ultimate time to rediscover or change your relationship with alcohol,” she says. With so many alcohol-free products available and growing awareness about the benefits of staying sober, “there is maximum support.”
“Having something in your hand just ups your comfort level, because you feel like you’re socializing with this thing in your hand, instead
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