Sober-Friendly Gift Ideas
The holidays are a tough time for many folks. This year will likely be one of the most challenging holiday seasons since many of us will not be able to visit our loved ones. Depressive episodes spike around the holidays during a normal year, especially for folks with Seasonal Affective Disorder in cold climates. Plus, now we have the isolation factor during a global pandemic. One of these hurdles is a lot for a person in recovery, but we’re forced to deal with ALL of them this year. That’s why I made this Sober Gift Guide. Every little bit can help.
Whether you’re a sober person looking for ways to treat yourself, someone you love is in recovery, or you just want to give back by supporting sober-friendly businesses, check out the following list for unique gift options.
If you’re struggling with sobriety during these unprecedented times, check out this recent episode of Recovery Rocks, the podcast I co-host with Lisa Smith. The episode is Sober During the Holidays…During a Pandemic.
Heavy Metal Tea
My father is a heavy metal musician and my blog is SobrieTea Party, so Pitch Black North tea speaks to my soul. Their
Coffee With a Cause
Lion Rock Recovery does it all, y’all! They’re the leader in telehealth services for substance use disorders (SUDs), they host online meetings, they have a podcast, and now they have coffee blends! With SUDs impacting 42M+ people, this new coffee celebrates the art of recovery by contributing 100% of profits toward free substance abuse treatment for those in need. With three different roasting options (including decaf!), Lionshare offers a gift option for anyone on your list.
Buy Some Books!
There are tons of books written by sober folks, far more than I can put into one bullet of one blog post. So here are a few that I’d recommend as a perfect gift for sober/sober curious book lovers: Girl Walks Out of a Bar by Lisa Smith (my co-host!), Shine of the Ever by Claire Rudy Foster, Alcohol Fiend to Sobriety Queen by Connie McMillan, Sober Curious by Ruby Warrington, Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker, I’m Black and I’m Sober by Chaney Allen, Sober Dykes and Our Friends by Jean Swallow, The Addiction Diaries by Anna David (I have an essay in this book!), and Trunky (Transgender Junky) by Samuel Peterson.
**If at all possible, buy from local bookstores instead of Amazon. I know, I know, Amazon is cheaper and faster, but indie book stores need us now more than ever! Most of the links above go to Bookshop.org**
Get Your Buzz On Without Booze
Did you know I used to have a sex column? I no longer contribute to SheSaid regularly, but I still enjoy reviewing toys. It’s a tough job, but I’m willing to take one for the team here. My latest obsession is the FemmeFunn’s Booster Bullet. While FemmeFun markets to women, it’s fun for people of all genders! It’s the most powerful bullet on the market, plus it consists of super silky soft silicone (say that 3 times fast!). With 20 vibration patterns and a memory function, the Booster Bullet will give you the gift of getting a buzz without booze.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
The booze-free industry is growing rapidly. Before COVID, sober bars were a big hit and will surely return once we can all hang out safely again. If sober bars are a thing, then there must be fun new NA options other than club soda with lime, right? If your loved one likes NA beer, consider the gift of Partake Brewing or Athletic Brewing, or Grüvi (they also make an NA champagne!). Lately, I’m really into Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher. It’s a delicious hop-infused seltzer with zero calories, carbs, or sugar! If they like NA spirits, try Seedlip or
Donate to a Non-Profit
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Photos by Robert Riese Photography.
about the blogger:
Tawny is an NYC-based writer, blogger, public speaker, podcaster who’s passionate about sex, sobriety, and rock n roll. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
Read Tawny’s published words in Playboy, Men’s Health, Huffington Post, The Temper, Audiofemme, and more. Tawny shared her recovery story on stages all across the world: IOGT World Congress, New York State Recovery Conference, and United Federation of Teachers.
In addition to writing and public speaking, she’s the founder of the Readings on Recovery™ reading series, her blog, SobrieTea Party™, and co-host of Recovery Rocks podcast with Lisa Smith. She’s also a charity volunteer with Road Recovery and an award-winning filmmaker of the recovery documentary, Fixed Up.
