Sober Dating Ideas 

When you think of dating, you might think of a couple sitting across from each other at a table, both holding glasses of wine. But that’s not the case for everyone, so why don’t we talk more about sober dating?

Dating doesn’t have to involve alcohol - lots of us choose not to drink alcohol for a wide range of reasons and that doesn’t stop us from having fun, romantic dates. Sober dating can even be more enjoyable and authentic as you can have clearer conversations and greater moments to connect - which could be blurred with alcohol. 

Of course, these days it’s easier to find out if a person you want to date drinks or not, whether using a specific sober dating app or - much better! - using Bumble’s Sober Dating Badge to specify to a Bumble connection that you don’t drink or that you’re among the drinkers who are ‘sober curious’.

Here’s our guide to sober dating.

Before we get into talking about dating someone who is sober we should point something important out. People who are sober are the same as people who drink alcohol. They like most of the same things, from sports to movies to books to dancing. They just don’t drink alcohol. So not dating someone who is sober because they’re sober is like not dating someone who doesn’t like potato chips. When it comes to dating it is important to be open minded and respect people's life choices. 

Dating sober just means that one of you isn’t going to get drunk on your night out. Of course many people’s default for a first date is ‘let’s meet up for a drink’? And that’s still possible  - there are plenty of bars that serve non-alcoholic choices and there is always the fail-safe coffee date too!

Too often, the first response after you tell someone that you don’t drink is an astonished ‘why not?!’. The main problem with this question is that you’re already asking someone to disclose what could be really personal information - which could make them feel super uncomfortable. Instead think outside the box and offer one of our sober dating ideas for a much more exciting option on your date.

So, what kind of dates work well when you’re sober dating? Here are some ideas:

Exploring museums together is a great way to get to know each other and flirt whilst surrounded by culture. A trip to a museum or art gallery followed by a cake and coffee is a delightful way to get to know someone new and understand what interests them!

Some cinemas let you drink alcohol but it’s far from standard, so going to the movies is another way to enjoy a perfectly normal date that doesn’t revolve around drinking at all. Remember, the movies work better on a second or third date. 

Going to a spa means working the toxins out of your system, and having quality time together to get to know eachother on a deeper level. Having a spa date together is romantic, and relaxing and doesn’t require any alcohol to make it fun.

Much less relaxing but definitely more exciting, fun fairs and theme parks give you all the thrills and spills that sober dating can offer. Would a rollercoaster be better with a beer? Nope, you’d spill it all over yourself… And for that extra dash of romance, head to the Ferris wheel.

Definitely an activity that you need to be sober for, climbing walls are so much fun when you’re dating. Even if you don’t have a head for heights, you can have a great time and understand eachothers communication skills during your climbing session.

If it’s winter and you can share a romantic skate on an outdoor rink with fairy lights twinkling all around you, there’s not many better things to do to get in the holiday spirit together. Afterwards, sharing hot cocoa is just as perfect.

After you’ve met your sober dating app connection, you can show them your wild side by heading to the zoo. What could be more romantic than strolling hand-in-hand through the monkey house?

Going horse riding is another fun activity that you can share together. And if trotting around on horseback sounds too strenuous, you can also let someone else do the hard work and snuggle up in a horse-drawn carriage ride in your local area.

Whether it’s browsing quaint old bookshops, flipping through the racks of a record store or going antiquing, you can spend a fun sober date together checking out the shops. If there’s a cool market in town, you can have an even more special time amongst the stalls, trying new foodie treats and seeing what’s on offer.

It’s easy to feel trapped on a bad date - we’ve all been there, but have you ever been trapped on a good date? That’s what it’s like when you take your sober date to an escape room and need to work together to try and get out.

Heading off into the hills or the woods with just your walking boots, your backpack and your date for company is a great chance to escape the world, be at one with nature, get to know each other on your hiking date and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Dating sober can be just as much fun as any other kind of dating. With a long list of activities like these to try out, you’ll wonder why everyone else is wasting their time hanging around in bars.