Game day, while a fun tradition for families to cheer on their favorite teams, has a reputation for excessive alcohol consumption. For those in addiction recovery or staying sober for game days, many families are looking towards a sober approach to celebrating game day.

Families can help create an inclusive, sober-friendly environment on game days by playing interactive games, drinking non-alcoholic drinks, eating yummy foods, and keeping company.

The Role of Families in Supporting a Loved One's Sobriety

As family members and friends of someone in addiction recovery, your support and encouragement mean the world to them. Creating sober-friendly and comfortable environments makes them feel included in the festivities rather than the odd man out.

Families of addicted loved ones in recovery from alcoholism or drug addiction who are committed to supporting their sobriety journey often have to make some lifestyle adjustments. This could be removing alcohol or any other substances from the home, hosting alcohol-free gatherings, or limiting their substance use around their loved ones.

As the family of a loved one in substance abuse recovery, it's critical to be aware of certain situations, environments, and things that can be triggering. The presence of alcohol at family gatherings or game day parties can be incredibly triggering for a loved one on their sobriety journey.

Establishing boundaries and creating an inclusive and sober-friendly environment demonstrates your support and commitment to your family member's recovery.

Why Family Support is Important in Addiction Recovery

The road to recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction is not just a struggle for the individual but also their family and friends. The addiction recovery process can be challenging and exhausting, but family support can play a critical role in the healing process.

Individuals in substance abuse recovery may struggle with mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and loneliness in addiction recovery. Support and encouragement from family members can help them overcome addiction and adopt a healthier, more stable lifestyle.

Family involvement can offer encouragement, motivation, stability, and empathy when they need it the most. While drug and alcohol addiction often strains relationships with family and friends, recovery presents an opportunity to heal those wounds and rebuild trust.

How Families Can Create a Sober Game Day

Hosting a sober game day is more than just removing alcohol and other substances from the scene. A sober event prioritizes fostering a safe, family-friendly, and inclusive atmosphere for everyone invited. Sober-friendly parties, particularly game day watch parties or tailgates, should be enjoyable for parents, children, and sober individuals without worrying about alcohol use.

This alcohol-free approach to enjoying game day promotes safety, health, genuine connections, and a focus on cheering on your favorite team. Families can organize a fun and sober game day through sober tailgating, meaningful connections, and family-friendly activities.

Sober Tailgating

Tailgating is a cornerstone of game day festivities, especially for football games. You can plan for a sober tailgate by organizing mocktail stations, non-alcoholic beverages, interactive games, and tasty foods. Providing a designated station for creating fun and refreshing mocktails, such as fruit juices, sodas, and fruit slices, can make it more enjoyable to stay sober.

Games such as cornhole, ring toss, trivia games, or even just throwing a football back and forth keep everyone entertained and engaged. Every good tailgate, especially a sober tailgate, has an assortment of delicious foods and snacks. Make it fun and incorporate your favorite team colors or mascots into food items, such as themed sandwiches, cupcakes, and veggie or fruit platters.

Families and friends can better embrace the sober game day vibes by engaging in fun, alcohol-free activities and eating tasty food.

Creating Connection without Alcohol

Game days should not be about drinking alcohol, binge drinking, or getting blackout drunk. It is about celebrating your favorite team or sport with your favorite people. Setting the tone for a family-friendly and sober-friendly environment, whether at the house or the stadium, can revert the focus to meaningful connections.

Alcohol is often used as a way to cope with social anxiety or make social events more bearable. This unhealthy coping technique has led many individuals to alcohol abuse and alcoholism. It is possible to enjoy family gatherings or time with friends, like game days, without alcohol.

Many family members may think that because they are not the ones in recovery means that they can still drink alcohol. While yes this is true, drinking around a loved one in recovery does not foster a sober environment.

Engaging Kids in the Game Day Fun

Fostering a sober-friendly game day can make it more inclusive for families with young children. Creating a face-painting station or table with themed crafts can keep kids and adults occupied while watching the game. If it is a more relaxed day, providing cozy drinks like hot chocolate or apple cider is always a hit for children and adults alike.

Staying Sober in the Stadium

For families and friends attending sports games in person, you can still embrace the sober vibe in the stadium. Many sports venues offer a range of non-alcoholic drink options, including flavored waters, specialty sodas, and other fountain drinks. As a family member of someone maintaining sobriety, avoiding alcoholic beverages inside the stadium is just as important as outside of it.

Encouraging Positive Habits

Family members who come together to create a sober-friendly game day for their loved one in recovery can make it a tradition. Even those who are not in recovery or pursuing sobriety may feel inclined to reduce or limit their alcohol use and drinking habits.

A sober gathering makes for a more inclusive environment, providing the opportunity to invite other friends and family who don't enjoy alcohol.

The sobriety journey models healthy behaviors and encourages others to make more positive decisions for themselves and their loved ones. Hosting a sober game day can lead to many more opportunities to host sober-friendly holiday events, birthday parties, and social gatherings.

For addiction recovery support and individual sessions, contact Real Recovery Talk today! Our team of addiction specialists is here to help you grasp the complexities of addiction and thrive in recovery. For more information on our supportive sober community on Facebook, click here!

References:

• Innovation in Aging, 2017. Family Relationships and Well-Being.
• BMJ Open, 2018. Family-focused practices in addictions: a scoping review protocol.
• Addictive Behaviors, 2008. Hook 'Em Horns and Heavy Drinking: Alcohol Use and Collegiate Sports.
• Eventbrite, 2024. 11 Sober Party Ideas and Activities for Event Organizers.