Sober Curious This Christmas? How CBD Can Help

Even as we enter the festive season, alcohol consumption across the UK continues to decline. Mindful drinking has stepped forward as more people recognise that booze really isn't great for you. Over recent years we've seen a steady drop in alcohol sales and a rise in sober curious adults choosing low and no-alcohol alternatives, to keep socialising without harming their health.

One such low-alcohol alternative that gains popularity year on year are CBD drinks, or simply taking CBD instead of alcohol, in any form, as a way to relax. Some accounts doing the rounds in the media have made it seem as though taking CBD delivers a similar buzz to alcohol, or such a dramatic calming effect it's akin to smoking a joint, but this is misleading. While CBD can help to reduce social anxiety and boost happy chemicals in your body, it's a subtle effect, that really works better if you take CBD regularly over time, rather than in a one-off drink.

In this blog, we'll take a look at some of the science behind how CBD can be a welcome addition to a sober curious Christmas, and what you can (and can't) expect from using CBD instead of alcohol as part of your sober season.

Does CBD feel like alcohol?

If you're interested in exploring mindful drinking and you're looking for something that will make you feel drunk without drinking alcohol, CBD isn't it.

While CBD does raise serotonin and endocannabinoid levels, both of which chemically result in increased feelings of calm and uplifted mood, CBD does not intoxicate you in any way. You won't feel woozy, or dizzy, you won't get the giggles, the munchies or feel a dramatic drop in your inhibitions. CBD doesn't impair your cognitive function in any way. But some things can happen…

Does CBD boost energy?

Although CBD is best known for its relaxing properties, some studies suggest it can actually increase energy too. In fact, Cannabidiol (CBD) was dubbed a potential 'wake-promoting agent' in a 2014 study published in Current Neuropharmacology.

The reason CBD can be both relaxing and stimulating is that it is 'biphasic' (meaning it can have different effects, often depending on the dose) and it's adaptogenic (meaning it adapts to your body's requirements). This adaptability comes from the way CBD supports your endocannabinoid system (ECS) – an internal network that helps maintain balance throughout your body. These are two of the many things that can make CBD so useful.

So far, studies tend to show that lower doses of CBD produce an energising effect (perfect for socialising, focusing and reducing anxiety if using CBD instead of alcohol) while higher doses induce somnolence (ideal before bed). So, when it comes to using CBD as an alcohol alternative on nights out, less is more.

Does CBD reduce social anxiety?

Now for the big one. One of the primary reasons people like to drink alcohol on nights out is to reduce social anxiety. There's no denying that a drink can work wonders as a social lubricant – can CBD offer the same? It's really a yes and no answer.

Alcohol has several effects on the body that help reduce social anxiety, but it largely comes down to the depression of your nervous system, which results in lowered inhibitions, increased confidence and a decrease in self-consciousness. It's also this, however, that ultimately causes 'hangxiety' – a horrible ramped up level of anxiety once the alcohol wears off.

CBD works very differently in ways that may potentially contribute to reduced anxiety overall, albeit more subtly than alcohol, and without the negative side effects.

There are many studies exploring CBD for anxiety, almost all with very positive results, but one of the best examples for social/performance anxiety is one in which participants were given a high dose of CBD (600mg – which with over the counter CBD is considered to be a very high dose, but in clinical studies that sometimes go up to 2000mg in a single dose, it's mid-range) before public speaking.

The results showed significantly reduced anxiety and cognitive impairment compared to a placebo. Joe, one of Unspun's co-founders, has written more about CBD and public speaking anxiety if you'd like to explore further.

The best results on anxiety, however, tend to come from prolonged use of CBD oil, used daily for at least a month. This is because chronic use of CBD gives your body time to rebalance many of its stress and anxiety related systems, thanks to CBD increasing your endocannabinoids, which balance all bodily processes, and serotonin.

Can CBD help me stop drinking?

If you're concerned your drinking habits have tipped into the realm of addiction, it's important you seek the advice of a medical professional, rather than try to deal with this alone. However, when you do see your doctor or therapist, it might be worth discussing how CBD could help you on the road to recovery. Researchers have explored the effect CBD had on rats who had been administered ethanol via a 'self-serve' push lever. Overall, the results showed that the test subjects treated with CBD reduced alcohol consumption (but it didn't stop them drinking chocolate solution!).

If you're sober curious, looking to reduce your alcohol consumption over the Christmas period, or you're thinking about joining the 8.5 million people planning to take part in Dry January, can CBD replace alcohol? No. But can it help support you in social situations and help you steer clear of booze? It sure can.

The media hype about CBD gets it wrong sometimes, but we'd rather give you facts over exciting headlines and selling tactics. Hopefully the information here will help you make an informed decision about using CBD instead of alcohol, and act as a guide so you can move forward with mindful drinking this Christmas.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen.