The Changing Conversation Around Not Drinking

When I first quit drinking, I felt like I had to explain myself constantly. At dinners, parties, even work events, I braced for the inevitable Why? For how long? Are you pregnant? It wasn’t just curiosity, it was disbelief. Drinking was the default, and my decision to opt out made people uncomfortable, as if I was holding up a mirror to their own choices.

At first, it was exhausting. I missed the ease of ordering a glass of wine without a second thought. I missed the social shorthand of clinking glasses. But over time, I found that what I really missed wasn’t alcohol, it was the ritual, the sense of belonging. And I wasn’t alone.

Over the past few years, I’ve watched the conversation shift. Now, when I tell people I don’t drink, I hear Me too! or I’ve been thinking about cutting back more often than a skeptical why. Friends who used to tease me for skipping a drink now text me excitedly about the new non-alcoholic options they’re trying. What once felt isolating now feels communal.

At Tilden, I see this change firsthand. When we launched, I spent a lot of time convincing people that a non-alcoholic cocktail could be just as complex, celebratory, and intentional as its boozy counterpart. Now, people are actively seeking out options that enhance their experience without the side effects of alcohol.

Drinking isn’t the default anymore. And that’s something worth raising a glass to.