Beyond the Buzz: Exploring Sober-Curious Tulsa
I explored Tulsa's growing sober-curious scene, and found a wealth of events, community (and mocktails) as I reevaluated my relationship with alcohol for Dry January and beyond.
Last year, I woke up one July morning after drinking two glasses of Pinot Noir, feeling like I'd drunk the entire bottle instead. My plan to go to the gym evaporated, and as I hit the snooze button, I felt the heavy thud of realization: my casual Tulsa drinking didn’t feel so casual anymore.
Dry January could wait. Dry August would start immediately.
Drinking alcohol wasn’t about excess for me. A drink was a way to unwind after a stressful day or a way to catch up with a friend. True intoxication was a rare relic of my twenties, but Tulsa's social scene, fueled by endless happy hours and networking events with free drinks, had quietly normalized a constant buzz. Both my brain and body were letting me know in no uncertain terms that they were not happy with the light, but continuous social drinking. I needed a reset.
As it turned out, saying “goodbye” to alcohol for a month was the “hello” I needed to a better way of living. I felt energized. My sleep improved. The bathroom scale, once a silent critic, now whispered praise. Unwinding with a glass of wine in the evening was gone, and something better replaced it: feeling present and grounded nearly all of the time. A new sense of calm as well as creative energy filled my days.
My Dry August also included kicking added sugar, which left "going out" options woefully thin: soda water and unsweetened iced tea. Not exactly a fun time, especially when Tulsa bars are now raising the mocktail game to new heights. Forget bland seltzer or a glass of what is obviously just juice; Tulsa bars are crafting booze-free libations that rival their alcoholic counterparts. I took another break from drinking in November, and Valkyrie's classic "No-jito" and Bar 473's terpene tonics, both bursting with flavor, became my go-tos.
More and more cities are embracing the "sober curious" movement, and Tulsa is no exception. Tulsa’s growing non-alcoholic scene is marked by local entrepreneurs and establishments bringing non-alcoholic products and communities to the city. MoodBrü a local non-alcoholic brand, stands out as an Oklahoma-grown, queer-owned gem that you can find stocked at various local stores. Adding to the lineup is Wine Not, a non-alcoholic sparkling beverage that is being crafted by local entrepreneur Ashley Johnson with backing from ACT House.
Entrepreneur Jeff Thompson is set to make waves with the upcoming speakeasy-style Straight-Edge Lounge in Tulsa this year. Word on the street is that the location will have a secret entrance! On a personal note, my friend Jade has ventured into the mocktail world with her business Hysteria Mocktails, with backing from Builders & Backers.
OctSOBERfest made quite a splash as a refreshing alternative to the traditional beer-drenched Octoberfest scene in 2023. Even OSU Medical is in on the action, offering tips on how to have a successful Dry January.
Dry January is the perfect time to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol and embrace sobriety for the month (and beyond). While there is still social pressure to drink, and strange looks if you say you don’t drink at all, Tulsa’s sober and sober-curious communities are gaining more mainstream popularity. A lot of people are tired of drinking, or realizing that they have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol–and want to do something about it.
If you’re taking part in Dry January, below are events, restaurants, and stores that you can tap into during the month, while staying hangover-free and feeling good about it.
Events & Sober-Curious Communities
Dry January Wine Dinner @ Duet Restaurant, January 10, 6:30pm
Dry January Cheese Tasting @ Nothing’s Left, January 19, 6pm, tickets $40
Sober Soup Social @ Heirloom Rustic Ales, January 21, 1-5pm
Recurring
Dry Bar January every Wednesday at Nothing’s Left from 3-9pm at the upstairs bar. Enjoy their extensive non-alcoholic menu, including MoodBru’s new apple ginger mule flavor Euphoria.
Mocktail Mingle every Thursday in January at NEFF Brewing from 5:30-8pm. They will have discounts on our mocktails and non-alcoholic drink options.
Sober Sips N/A Festival every Friday at the WEL Bar at Mother Road Market from 5-8pm.
Bars & Restaurants with Killer Mocktails
Bar 473’s “Anti Booze” menu is a game changer. It features mocktails, hot tea, and brands like Psychedelic Water, Athletic Brewing Co’s non-alcoholic beers, and Heineken 0.0. The last time I stopped in for a drink, the bartender whipped up a delicious “dealer’s choice” terpene mocktail for me. Terpenes are the compounds responsible for the way most plants smell, and can be extracted from fruits and flowers and added to drinks. The one in my mocktail tasted like cannabis, giving the drink an extra kick.
Nola’s on Cherry Street crafts fantastic mocktails, including the Haley’s Comet inspired by manager Haley Zieg’s sobriety story.
Saturn Room’s tropical mocktails are flavorful and numerous. Ask them to surprise you at the bar.
Breweries like American Solera, Heirloom Rustic Ales and Nothing’s Left serve up a variety of non-alcoholic beers and other drinks.
Valkyrie has a shortlist of tried and true mocktails, and you can’t beat the stylish atmosphere.
Quirky dive The Starlite Bar serves up a non-alcoholic Guinness for anyone craving a dark beer.
Bramble and Holé Molé manager went out of her way to craft mocktail menus that would delight customers over breakfast or lunch.
Shuffles Board Game Cafe lets you play a round of Catan and enjoy a tasty mocktail. I recommend the matcha-forward Mirkwood Tea.
Where to Purchase Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Ranch Acres in Midtown carries known non-alcoholic brands like Surreal, Lagunitas IPNA, and Leitz Pinot Noir, a non-alcoholic wine.
Parkhill Liquors also has a reliable selection.
Whole Foods sells Athletic Brewing Co’s non-alcoholic beers. The Golden beer tastes like the real thing. They also have an IPA. Note that Athletic Brewing Co’s beers contain less than .5% alcohol and are only “legally” non-alcoholic.
Social Bison Terpene Tonics should be available for sale at multiple locations, including Mother Road Market, Lambrusco, and Birds Liquor Store.
Recovery & Resources
Zen Recovery is a nonprofit organization in Tulsa that provides weekly, in-person, secular, addiction recovery support meetings (called zen & the art of whatever works) and events.
Thank you! Would you say this is mostly the schedule to expect every month?
Thanks for putting this together!