Lauren McCurry

Back in March, safe within the four walls of my Collingwood apartment, I passed the time slowly by sipping fast: prosecco, red wine and rosé, usually at least a bottle a day. Imbibing as a coping mechanism wasn’t anything new, but I was drinking to soothe a tension that felt darker and more unknown than anything I’d experienced before.

Confusing this lockdown ritual with self-care, my art of drinking was a dangerous crutch for coping with the daily onslaught of bad news, shattered plans and global heartache. After too many soap-opera-filled hangovers, bad decisions and emotional collisions I could see that alcohol had become the barrier between me and my best self. So I decided to stop.

Within the isolated existence of lockdown, my first sober months passed comfortably, and I was able to build a framework to reconcile these changes away from the world of ceremonial drinking and dining I held so dear. Friday nights now called for a glass of Non or a Carlton Zero. I slept better. I feared less. I was confident this could be a long game.

So, when it was announced that Melbourne was finally able to “get on the beers” again, my soul felt torn in two. One half was anxious to join my friends in celebrating our new freedom with 18 glasses of sparkling in the park, the other was mildly relieved that I no longer relied on it for a good time.

Alcohol has always held pride of place at almost every outing, event or good time I’ve experienced, so it felt somewhat empty to emerge into the light without it, after months locked away.

But I’m pleased to confirm that I’ve so far managed a full week of socialising without alcohol, and found some delicious alternative beverages to sip instead. It turns out being alcohol-free in Melbourne isn’t as hard as you’d think. Here were some of my favourite refreshments.

Chinotto at Lagotto, Fitzroy North

I drank chinotto in a short glass with a large ice cube. Its bitterness paired deliciously with the creamy grass-green asparagus gnocchi I ordered, absolutely drenched in butter.

Elderflower Spritz at Neighborhood Wine, Fitzroy North

Served over lots of ice in a tall glass, this spritz is incredibly refreshing, especially as a counterpart to the flotilla of heady dishes that arrived at the table: roasted eggplant with fried mushrooms; chickpea pancake; and arguably Melbourne’s best rendition of the sacred fried potato.

Lemon, lime and bitters at The Great Northern, Carlton North

Here I went for the trusty LLB – no ice, tall glass. Retro and zesty, it provided welcome respite from the mouthfuls of vegan cheeseburger (with a non-negotiable mushroom gravy boat on the side).

Sobah’s #2 Finger Lime Cerveza and Monceau’s Pétillant Naturel Kombucha at Edinburgh Gardens, Fitzroy North

For park hangs, I chose Sobah’s finger-lime cerveza and Monceau’s pét-nat kombucha. This was my most challenging foray into society as a sober baby – friends feasting on oysters, pét-nat and mojitos with the kind of fervour best paired with the anxiety of a large group hang. I sipped silently and enjoyed my refreshing drinks – Sobah beers are truly amazing – almost as much as I enjoyed my clear-headed walk home and painless rise the next morning.

At home

As the weather warms and I start to enjoy my sun-dappled balcony, I’ve stocked my fridge with cans of sparkling orange kombucha, Non 1 and Non 5, iced matcha and as much San Pellegrino as it can hold. It won’t always be easy – temptations will arise – but I feel grateful to live in a city with an industry that holds space for my choices.

Also, food at restaurants tastes so much better when you’re not pounding champagne.

Lauren McCurry is a freelance writer and founder of content agency Ballet-Season.