My birthday is coming up this weekend, and it’ll be my first one sober. I will be travelling and the place I’m staying is right beside a pub. I used to always drink a lot on birthdays and while travelling, so the urge is strong. How did you all manage your first birthday sober, especially when surrounded by pubs or drinking places?
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The simple answer for me was no booze available in the house, no going to the pub and keeping busy.
In my case, finding an AA meeting to go to in the evening (not much online back then 
) and hitting the pillow sober with my BB to hand; much as I do every year.
I don’t know how long you’ve been sober, but I was 9½ months sober when my birthday came around, so a little bit of time under my belt, which made it easier 
Take care, stay safe and above all stay sober.
&
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Thank you for sharing this 
It really helps to hear how you managed your first sober birthday. I’m still early in my sobriety (just 2 weeks), so the urge feels strong, but your advice about staying busy and keeping away from pubs makes sense. I’ll also look for an AA meeting to keep me grounded. Grateful for your support.
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What I remember most about my first birthday celebration sober was the clarity the next day. No hang over, no blackouts. I remembered all the events of the day before. I wasn’t stressing about having enough money for all the beer and liquor, or who I pissed off and how. It made me realize how much drinking evolved around my life and how stressful it really was. I drank to celebrate when things were going good..I drank when things were going bad. I’d drink to celebrate a new job or if I got fired from one! But none of it really accomplished anything. I didn’t really feel like I was celebrating until I got sober. That’s when I truly started to feel like I was living life. Happy birthday! Congrats on your days and your desire to be sober! It’s all about location for me too though, especially in my early sobriety. Staying away from bars, clubs, etc is key even now sometimes. Stay strong and hang in there!
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One of the things that helped me was focusing on how proud I would be waking up sober and hangover free. Focusing on the moment at hand and knowing I could get thru that moment without a drink, and then the next moment. But really truly getting that I wasn’t rewarding myself with alcohol, alcohol was taking from me…not adding to my life. There were many reasons I quit and I remembered those. I prayed so desperately every night for so long for sobriety……I wanted to make myself proud by waking up hangover and regret free. I still want that.
Remember why you quit. 
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If you feel not safe about the trip, stay, hotel or environment: Don’t go. You have to put your sobriety first. No one, not even you, will remember a skipped trip in 10 years but you will regret it when you go and drink.
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@erntedank I agree, @Ragnar anything you put in front of your recovery you risk losing
I’d play the tape all the way through: say you do end up drinking, then you wake up and your birthday just went from being a positive celebration to a negative f**k up. Do you really want to feel like that the day after your birthday?
IMHO, Birthdays come around every year. Not a big deal. Just trying something different this year. I’d stay committed and yes, it might be boring. So what? Haven’t we had enough crazy birthdays by now?
That’s how I’d look at it I think
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Thank you so much for sharing this, it really helps me put things in perspective. I’m honestly nervous about my first sober birthday, but hearing how much clarity and peace you had the next day makes me feel hopeful. I want to actually remember and enjoy my day this time, not stress about drinking or regret it after. Your words really encourage me to stay strong. Appreciate you!
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Thank you for sharing this. I can really relate to what you said about alcohol taking from us instead of giving. I’ve been reminding myself too that the real reward is waking up clear, proud, and regret-free. That’s the kind of life I want now. Your words really motivate me to keep going and stay strong.
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You’re absolutely right. my sobriety has to come first. A skipped trip is nothing compared to losing everything I’ve worked for. Thank you for the reminder, I really needed to hear that.
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Lots of great advice in the thread here.
What worked really well for me the last two birthdays was having a goal for an activity that is better sober that was for my birthday. For the last two years, it was for workouts that I really wanted to be at my best for. I plan to do that again for my upcoming birthday in November, which is on a Saturday. Not sure if I’ll be at home, or on a weekend trip out of town yet, but I’ll make sure to plan either a run, bike ride, hike, or group workout for that day and the Sunday morning after.
I think, as other people have said on here, it’s important to have something that’s more important and meaningful to you than the alcohol buzz, to replace it with.
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You’re welcome! I’m glad that I was able to help. That’s what it’s all about! 
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I hate to be the party pooper, but are birthday celebrations a big deal for people over the age of 21?
I think I quit celebrating my birthdays the same age I quit trick-or-treating.
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If your sobriety is in jeopardy from the trip don’t go. Your sobriety is the best gift you could possibly give yourself . Happy early birthday 
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Same here, I stopped caring much about birthdays a long time ago. But for my wife, birthdays are really important. If I told her not to celebrate, she wouldn’t be happy. And you know what they say—happy wife, happy marriage 
.
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Sobriety really is worth it my friend. Make this birthday all the more memorable by staying on this path you are on. Give it absolutely everything you’ve got and I promise you that when your birthday comes and goes, you won’t regret it one bit.
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Thank you You’re right, nothing is worth risking my sobriety. That’s the best birthday gift I can give myself this year. Appreciate the reminder and the birthday wishes 
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Thanks You’re right, I won’t regret staying sober. First sober birthday, gonna make it count
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That’s a great approach 
I think for me a good ride on my motorbike would be the perfect way to celebrate my birthday sober. Way more meaningful than a buzz and something I’ll actually remember.
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Hey Ragnar,
You’re doing it.
I was in the exact same spot you are in. Only I was turning 60. The big SIX OH! And I only had 2 weeks sober time. I planned my restaurant around the drink list and wine list.
Then I wrote in here and got so much love and support. Just like you are doing.
Edit @Ragnar it wasn’t easy. It was dang hard. But…….
I ordered sparkling water and asked for a nice wine glass to put it in. And the best part. I had fun and no head crushing hangover headache the next morning.
Everyone said I’d be so proud of myself if I didn’t drink. I was so proud of myself.
I think, no, I know that was the turning point in my sobriety. If I can get through my birthday without drinking then I can stay sober. And the Super Bowl was next in 2 weeks. Another big challenge.
You are asking for help and that is a HUGE things. Maybe you can follow my foot steps and stay sober after your first birthday without a drink. What a gift I gave myself.
Here’s all the love and support I got.
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