Raising the bar in Sober Hospitality - Sara from Sober Points

Raising the bar in Sober Hospitality - Sara from Sober Points

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation between host Janey Lee Grace and guest Sara from Sober Points shines a light on a very specific part of that answer: what happens when you still want to go out, but don’t want to drink. Janey, croaky but characteristically upbeat, chats with Sara about quitting alcohol at 40 after years of heavy social drinking and becoming a mum.

Sara shares how the actual stopping wasn’t the hardest bit – it was the isolation afterwards. Saying "I don't drink" still feels awkward for her generation, and that social gap is exactly what sparked the idea for Sober Points. Sober Points highlights bars, restaurants and venues that treat non-drinkers as proper guests, not an afterthought. Think decent alcohol-free beers on draught, grown-up botanicals, adaptogenic drinks and proper alcohol-free wines, not just "a kids drink, like an orange or a coke".

Users add venues they’ve personally visited, and each listing is human-checked so the map reflects real experiences. The chat also gets practical. Janey talks about phoning venues ahead of time to ask what alcohol-free options they stock, and insisting that if you bring your own alcohol-free bottle, corkage should be charged as a soft drink. She’s clear: "Life is so much better without" alcohol, and non-drinkers shouldn’t be fobbed off with sugary fizzy drinks.

Both women share a vision where choosing not to drink is as ordinary as ordering wine, and where functions, weddings and nights out always include decent alcohol-free choices. The tone stays warm, real and slightly mischievous, making this especially useful for anyone who’s sober, sober curious, or working in hospitality and tired of pretending tap water and warm orange juice are good enough. It might leave you asking: what would change if every venue actually took sober guests seriously?