Booze Free in Music City

The million dollar question- how do you meet new people and make new friends as an adult? Since I decided to stop drinking alcohol, a year ago, I sat down and did some reflecting. Yes, I love the original friends I made in Nashville, but I also wanted to expand my horizons and meet other people who didn’t drink alcohol. Drinking has always been an automatic pass-time in any friend group I’ve been a part of, so how do I ensure I meet people who aren’t doing it?

              When I first moved to Nashville, I felt I held the secret to getting involved in the community and making new friends. I’ve lived in quite a few places and have learned a lot about starting over and meeting new people. What was my killer secret sauce plan to make new friends in a new city? 1) Follow through and meet anyone my current friends knew in Nashville and wanted me to meet, 2) Transfer into the Junior League of Nashville, 3) Get involved in my sororities’ alumni association, 4) Find a gym, 5), Join Facebook Meet Up groups 6) Meet new friends on Bumble BFF and 7) Go on dates. My first few months in Nashville were super busy. I remember going out on a date with someone the 2^nd night I was living in Nashville. Sometimes you’ve just gotta dive right in if you want to start meeting people!

              Now that I’ve been in Nashville for about 4 years, I’m proud to say this beginning plan has worked. I’m still friends with some of the people my friends have introduced me to, I’m involved in my sorority’s alumni network, as well as the Junior League, and I have a gym I love going to and feel I’m part of a community. I stopped drinking in April 2024, and by June 2024 I knew I wanted to start meeting additional people who were like minded. The first place I looked into was Killjoy- Nashville’s first booze-free beverage shop. I followed them on Instagram, and noticed they had an events calendar, and there were a few Fridays where they were hosting happy hours. I went to a few of those last summer and have always found people there to be super welcoming.

              I think it’s important to remember- whether you’re moving to a new city or looking to make new friends in the place you’ve lived in for years, there are always new people you can meet.

What are my top tips for getting out and meeting people who don’t drink alcohol?

1. Reflect first- if you are newly sober or deciding to stop drinking for whatever reason, then reflect on what you’re looking for. What kind of life are you looking to create for yourself? Are there any hobbies you’ve been wanting to take up, but never did? What are you looking for in a friend? What do you want to do when you’re out with people?
2. Life might look a little different than before, and that’s okay- Last summer when I wasn’t going out and partying as much, I admit I had some moments of feeling “loser-y”, but at the same time I realized I was creating a new life that wasn’t based around drinking and partying. I realized the type of friend I am isn’t a super late night person- I’m the friend who loves to go to brunch, go shopping, and dress up for a nice dinner. If there’s any way for me to be in bed by 10 pm- on any given day- then I’m at my best, and I’m looking forward to a productive early morning the next day.
3. Join some Facebook Event Groups-I’ve been part of a Facebook Group called Women Who Wine. Yes, I started attending events when I drank wine, but they’ve been super cool and non-judgmental of me still attending events despite not drinking alcohol. I just order the non-alcohol wines when I’m out with them now! There are tons of other groups too- neighborhood groups, sporty groups, and I know Nashville even has a sober women’s group. Find something that interests you and go attend their events!
4. If you’re a woman, consider joining the Junior League– I’ve been a member of the Junior League for quite a few years now, and I transferred my membership from Denver into the Nashville chapter. If you’re not familiar with what the Junior League is, it’s a professional women’s organization that is very involved in the community and is in nearly every major city in America (even some small ones, so it’s worth looking into no matter where you live). If you’re looking to give back to the community, and be involved in a positive way, it’s certainly something to look into. They host social events for nearly all interests, and they host various personal development trainings throughout the year. If you’re going to be a new member, you will need to attend a New Member Info session in the Spring and then the League year starts in August (unfortunately this isn’t an Organization you can join at any time during the year).
5. Get creative with how you want to meet people- Earlier in this post I mentioned I made friends via Bumble BFF and went out on dates when I first moved to Nashville. Whether or not you think those ideas would work for you, here are some additional ideas (granted, I haven’t tried them myself but know lots of people who have had success with these methods): Join a MeetUp Group, a book club, a hiking club, running club, etc.
6. You can be out and about even if you’re by yourself- Go for a walk at the park, go lounge out by the pool, sit at a coffee shop and journal or read a book, go to a Museum, or go workout at the gym. It’s still important to have your alone time, and there’s still a lot you can do in the wild by yourself!
7. If you’re looking to get out and meet people… you can also work- I met someone last year who has a full-time remote job, and in order to meet new people he decided to get a part-time job at a bar out on Broadway. I also do side hustle gigs like leading Bar Crawls down Broadway and being a Brand Ambassador. Especially in a city like Nashville, there’s a billion ways to make extra money, and there is nothing wrong with meeting new people and making a couple extra bucks along the way.