How about a drink? Yeah, nah.

Words by Sam Mythen. Images by Java Katzur.

For many young people, a night out and a boogie are synonymous with a drink in hand. Pong played, hips swayed, we push ourselves and our friends to each other’s limits, mostly in the name of a fun, hilarious, lose yourself in the moment, time. And it can be fun. But it can also take a toll – especially for those who work in the music industry, who are up and out hosting, playing and attending gigs every weekend.

Three members of the Sounds of the Local music collective decided to check in with themselves and take a month off drinking for Dry July.

Corban Tupou, Dan Stewart, and Alex McKay wanted to prove to themselves they could enjoy the nightlife without the grog, and in turn, better look out for their own physical and mental health. As the Sounds of the Local Instagram page reached almost 1000 followers, they aimed to raise $1000 for the Dry July cause.

“We wanted to test ourselves and put into action the idea that live music – and even dance music – does not have to coincide with alcohol” said Dan.

“It’s the music and the people that are the most impactful variables involved, and the alcohol is far less important than we all believe or are conditioned to believe by the culture we grew up in.”

Alex said he had been thinking of taking a break from alcohol for a while before the call to arms by Sounds of the Local. 

“As a passionate gig-goer, I often find myself in the situation where I feel somewhat obliged to have a drink in my hand – to feel a buzz – to enjoy interactions with other drunk people,” he said. 

Corban said the same. Reaching for a drink in a social situation was often automatic. They both wanted to throw themselves into situations where alcohol had become their default companion, to see how they could go without it.

“The intention of the month was to cut off the grog and switch it up through listening to both what the body and the mind wants in order to show you don’t always need to reach for a drink in social situations,” said Corban. 

None of the boys intended to give up alcohol completely, rather, Alex put it simply: “I want to find a way to enjoy my nights out without the aid of booze.”

As we descended into the depths of a wet winter, Dry July began. Corban said that for the first week or two, he felt a little unsettled. “There was something in life I could not have – a forbidden fruit.” But soon, it was business as usual as the boys fully embraced life without the grog, continuing their normal routines, which still involved many late nights out boogieing for hours.

“Drinking culture encourages young people to naturally test their limits and boundaries, but you don’t need to do it all the time,” said Corban. “Drinking is not determinative of whether you’ll have a good time. If you need to get wasted to have a good time, it shows something needs to change.”

Prior to taking part in Dry July, Corban and Alex said they aren’t heavy drinkers but tend to leave the drinking for the weekends, catching up with mates and going to gigs. Big nights, where they “inevitably feel a bit rough for the next day (or two),” said Alex.

Dan usually doesn’t get drunk at all after finding out through past experiences that drinking has too much of a negative impact on his health. “The costs have always outweighed the benefits for me,” he said.

Taking part in Dry July further taught Dan that “tools” like alcohol and other substances can be “less necessary or beneficial than we may think when we’re using them.”

As the month crept by, Alex said one of the most difficult things he found was not having a drink in his hand throughout the night. “This void was filled with red bulls, 0% beers, and the don of all non-alcoholic’s... lemon lime and bitters,” he said. 

But by the end of July, Alex said he felt less of a need to grab a drink from the bar as soon as he walked in. “It felt less awkward not having a drink in my hand. I felt more in control, I guess,” said Alex. “Dry July was an opportunity to step back and think about what I really want to do during a night out to enjoy it.”

On July 31, Corban was out at a gig with Dan in Wellington. As the clock’s hands fell to midnight, he reached for a smooth, cold hazy beer. It was the first alcoholic drink he’d had all month. He didn’t feel like another drink but partied on until the sun reached its arms up into the dawn. “The balance is important. To recognise your own individual needs, be confident in yourself and the decisions you make,” he said. 

That way, you’ll wake up the next morning (the sun streaming in through the curtains because it’s actually the afternoon), and whether you feel refreshed, sleepy, groggy or a little (or a lot) dusty, you’ll think back to the night before and laugh, only good memories.

“For a long time at Uni, I felt shit on most Sunday’s/Monday’s. But, by the time the weekend rolled around, there would be something on that would be great to get drunk for! Repeat repeat repeat,” said Alex.

“Now, if that cycle creeps in again, I have more confidence to break it. There will for sure be nights that I want to drink, and that’s fine. But I feel like I’ve found a rhythm where I can pick and choose the nights that I don’t drink and not miss out.”

“I want to seek out the good times, rather than seeking out getting fucked to have a good time,” said Corban. “The intention of doing Dry July was to encourage myself and others to check yourself. You know what’s best for you, your body and your mind.”

You can still donate to their Dry July page here. The money raised goes towards Bowel Cancer New Zealand, Look Good Feel Better, Prostate Cancer Foundation New Zealand, and PINC and STEEL NZ.