For decades, alcohol has been woven into South Africa’s social fabric — from celebrations and braais
to weekend nights out with friends. But a quiet shift appears to be happening among younger people. More and more are choosing to go sober, and they’re documenting the journey using apps that track every alcohol-free day, every rand saved and every health improvement along the way. It’s part of a growing global movement often called the “sober curious” lifestyle. But what’s driving it here at home? Is it about protecting mental health, escaping the pressures of hangover culture, or simply the reality that nights out have become too expensive? In a country often described as a drinking nation, the rise of sober young people could signal a deeper cultural shift in how the next generation socialises, spends money and takes care of their wellbeing.