Are you sober curious? Or keen to step up and do more to support a friend choosing less beers or no beers?
Could you take part in a challenge to host a barbecue with an array of delicious drinks that don’t contain alcohol?
Between February 22-25 Sober in the Country (SITC) is hosting its national charity awareness day and has a challenge for rural and remote Australians: host an ‘AF’ (alcohol free) barbecue or event, in the name of raising funds and awareness for the little organisation that’s changing lives across the outback.
February 22 holds special significance as it’s the day SITC’s founder and chief executive officer, Shanna Whan, had her last drink back in 2015 after almost losing her life to alcohol addiction.
SITC works to continually challenge, advocate and educate the collective thinking around big drinking, particularly in rural areas.
And it’s a challenge, cause and conversation local businesswoman Carlee Knight has taken on.
Well-known for her advocacy work with the Dolly’s Dream Foundation and TradeMutt, Carlee contacted Shanna and asked how she could help and be involved.
“Shanna’s message is not ‘don’t drink’,” Carlee said.
“It’s ‘Don’t make a big deal of it if someone doesn’t want alcohol’ – it’s ok if you don’t want to.”
Carlee, who hasn’t had much to drink over the past 12 months, said she had followed Shanna Whan on social media with interest and admired her win for ‘Local Hero’ in the Australian of the Year awards in 2022.
“I actually didn’t drink at my own wedding late last year,” Carlee said.
“I’ve only really been a social drinker, but I was getting to the point where three alcoholic drinks would give me a headache.
“I get one day off a week, and I don’t like to spend it being crook and unproductive.”
One of Carlee’s first steps was to ask the Bairnsdale Racing Club if it would stock non-alcoholic drinks that weren’t plain, sugary soft drink and was excited by the positive response.
“I’d love to see all our local sporting clubs offering a non-alcoholic option other than soft drink and water for social inclusion for those who choose not to drink alcohol,” she said.
Catering thoughtfully for non-drinkers is something rural Australia hasn’t been great at in the past, according to Shanna Whan.
“Our culture is pretty much geared towards glorifying grog, which means it’s always in abundant supply,” Shanna said.
“That’s good and well if you’re someone who can enjoy a drink or two in moderation. But for those of us who aren’t drinking, the options are generally lacklustre at best.
“But here’s the irony, alternative boutique alcohol-free drinks still make a profit., and people like me are happy to pay for them.
“We are just so grateful it’s something other than a horrible sugary soft drink or a lukewarm cuppa from the urn in the corner.
“Alcohol-free beer, wine and spirits are exploding as a market globally, and the choices are literally endless.
“Although we need to be careful with these because drinks that replicate alcohol so closely can be triggering and dangerous for those in the vulnerable stages of early recovery.
“The whole point of our alcohol-free barbecue challenge is to normalise being able to say ‘no thankyou’ or ‘not today’.
“It’s not about prohibition but rather focussed on mates, mental health and the plain truth that alcohol harm has a devastating impact on rural areas, yet so few have ever tackled the truth.
“We’ve already made huge progress in this space, and we reckon every single Australian wants to be a better mate.
“So that’s our challenge.”
SITC shirts are sold through the Bairnsdale Horse Centre, with $10 each shirt donated to SITC, and the non-alcoholic, sparkling ETCH drinks are stocked at Bairnsdale Stockfeeds for people to try.
SITC has a large presence on social media and an extensive website.
