
A new year, a new queer! Live, laugh, love more or some such shit. Yeah, 2024 has rolled over into 2025, and despite my resistance to resolutions, the nag of them persists. And maybe it’s okay to give in to at least some of them. For one thing, January 1 marked the start of a semi-recent phenomenon: Dry January, a campaign encouraging people to give up alcohol for the first month of the year.
As sobriety becomes more and more fashionable, the wave is also taking hold in the queer community. But ditching the booze is something that felt unthinkable in Berlin of all cities even five years ago. Berlin has always been a city known for hedonism and decadence, and alcohol has always been a firm ingredient of that cocktail.
Queers in particular have always had a deeply celebratory attitude towards drugs and alcohol. In times when being gay, lesbian, trans* or otherwise different was illegal and, worse, could result in physical violence, queers took refuge in bars.

Gay bars became our churches. It’s where we got together to be ourselves. And alcohol was always there. As the decades passed and sex clubs and disco took hold, drugs became part of the story, too. Despite the Gay Liberation movement, it was still necessary for many to use bars, and by extension alcohol, as a place of refuge into the 2010s.
Yet several of my friends have given up the bottle in the past few years. Approaches vary wildly. Some have done it quietly with whispers of their new lifestyle given when necessary. Some have proudly put their journey up through their Instagram stories, leaning into the support of others to keep them steady. Some go through guided groups or detox programmes.
🚫 Sobriety on the rise: Is Berlin over the influence?
Why this sudden turn to teetotalling? In a queer world, where drugs and alcohol are held in high regard and high consumption, taking it too far becomes too easy, and some people need to make these decisions to preserve their health and sanity.
A former colleague and well-known drag performer struggled with hardcore addiction and couldn’t operate daily life without alcohol or drugs. An even wilder ex of mine suddenly adopted a contemporary mindful approach and simply had an epiphany, where they realised they simply didn’t enjoy it all that much.

Berlin has too much of everything in many ways. But helpfully, in recent years, this also meant plenty of resources for those looking to remain sober. Lemonade Queers and Lunchbox Candy’s Sugar Free edition have both become wildly popular, celebrated by both newcomers to the city and mainstays who have chosen a clearer mindset.
Tendersesh is another ongoing series dedicated to sober raving in Berlin. But if you need serious help and think the classic tried-and-true is for you, there’s an active queer-friendly chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous in Berlin that is easy to find with a quick google.
🍹 Dry January: 4 Berlin bars making amazing mocktails
And of course, you can go your own way with Dry January. I partake in Dry January because although I’m not sober myself, I understand the need to slow down and give your body a ‘Berlin break’. To those queers who are sober or are planning on going sober, you have my utmost respect, support and love. Our community has in many ways revolved around alcohol but if it’s not working for you, maybe in this new year, it’s time for a new you.
LGBTQ+ sober resources at a glance:
- Lemonade Queers, Pepsi Boston Bar SchwuZ, sober party, details.
- Lunchbox Candy – Sugar Free, Æden, sober rave, details.
- Tendersesh, varying locations, sober rave, details.
- Alcoholics Anonymous LGBTQ+ Berlin, addiction counselling, details.