We all know alcohol can be a 'social lubricant'.
Socializing with a glass in hand go hand-in-hand.
A couple of drinks can loosen you up, get the conversation flowing and the laughter started.
It's a tried-and-true technique at happy hours, receptions, networking mixers, dinners, parties and any sort of celebration.
But Kelowna addiction recovery coaches Shelly-Anne Mckay and Julie Kross are betting that a good chunk of people want a high-end night out without alcohol.
So, they've started Sober & Social Club, an organization that will host monthly events ranging from fancy dinner parties and picnics to hikes, bike rides and dancing on the beach.
The first party is Saturday, April 4th, 6 pm to 11 pm, at the Norcino Room speakeasy at the Curious Cafe in Kelowna called 'Prohibition-style Mocktail Mingle: Premier Night'.
Speakeasy is a throwback to the prohibition 1920s when alcohol was outlawed forcing people to go to underground clubs to party with booze.
But for Sober & Social's purposes, guests will be entering the speakeasy not for alcoholic drinks, but for booze-free connection and fun.
Guest are also encourged to dress up in their best 1920s/flappers costumes.
Tickets are $88 at bit.ly/soberandsocialclub.
The price of admission includes appetizers and two mocktails or other alcohol-free drinks.
Organizers say not to worry if you're nervous about showing up alone.
They have a 'connection concierge' available before the event at soberandsocialcluboffice@
"An alcohol-free life does not have to be boring or dry," said Kross.
"I still want play and fun to take centre stage. I still want a high-end experience, including a beautiful non-alcoholic drink in my hand. Sober & Social Club is about keeping the energy alive while taking alcohol out of the equation."
Sober & Social touts 'connection by design' through hosted events with a structure where people can meet and have fun without relying on alcohol to break the ice and keep the party going.
Guests can expect a warm welcome, guidance through introductions and participation in activities designed to quickly reduce awkwardness and build rapport.
Mckay and Kross call this combination the club's 'secret sauce' .
"Plenty of people are trying to redesign their lives to be meaningful without alcohol," said Mckay.
"Yet, that shift is not easy in a culture where socializing often comes with a glass in your hand. Julie and I wanted this kind of alcohol-free social life for ourselves and couldn't find it. So, we created it to make that leap easier for others."
