Tricks to Enjoying Halloween Treats While Sober

There comes a time when you outgrow trick-or-treating. But Halloween is a special time and many people find other ways to celebrate. Some teens and young adults transition to wild parties, pranks, or general vandalism. 

Adults calm down after their teen years but still enjoy a good Halloween party. Some people love to dress up and host, some love to eat, and others love to drink. 

Many adults choose not to drink on Halloween for various reasons. Addiction recovery patients prefer not to drink at all. Some avoid being around alcohol to avoid relapse triggers. 

If you’re one of those people, how can you have a fun, sober Halloween? 

Give Out Candy 

The best-known part of Halloween involves candy. Become the neighborhood favorite with nostalgic candy bars or delight your trick-or-treaters with cool toys as an alternative to the traditional sugary treat. Whatever the preference, time with costumed kids and happy parents can help distract you from thoughts of booze-filled parties. 

If you have alcohol in the house and are afraid to succumb to cravings while family or housemates go out, consider a night out on the porch. It’s cold, but you can stay within sight of your neighbors. You can use their presence to hold you accountable; if they’re part of your support network, you can also go to them if you need help or invite someone to join you. Planning in advance is a helpful way to anticipate what the night may bring and being prepared will support your sobriety goals.

Take the Kids 

Maybe you have children of your own. Perhaps you’re a family friend or a relative. Either way, you can recapture a touch of your childhood joy when you take them out. Give their parents a break or divvy up the work with a larger parent group. Either way, you create a viable reason to stay out in public and far away from adult beverages. 

As a bonus, many states have open container laws. These laws prevent the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public and outside of certain establishments. Making it illegal for people to drink around you.

If You Must Go to a Party

If you can’t resist the temptation to celebrate or receive an invitation you can’t refuse, good news! You still have plenty of options. 

BYOB—Bring Your Own Beverage 

Your fellow guests are less likely to offer you a drink if you have one in your hand. Bring your favorite apple cider (the perfect autumn beverage), soda, or other non-alcoholic drink of choice. Mingle. You might find other folks who prefer to have a sober night as well. 

Be the Designated Driver 

Between the extra social time, savings on gas, and the increased chance to get home safely, everybody appreciates a good carpool. When you attend a party as a designated driver, everyone has a vested interest in keeping you 100% sober. Not to mention the other perks like extra social time, savings on gas, and the relief you feel knowing you have a trustworthy plan to get home safely. 

As the DD, you gain an immediate justification to turn down a drink. Friends are likely to hold you accountable for staying sober for the entire night, whether they know you’re in recovery or not. If you want to avoid temptation, being the designated driver is a surefire way to make it happen. 

Go With Supportive Friends 

You can be the designated driver for—or just go with—people who know you don’t drink. Sticking with people you know and trust helps you have fun and feel comfortable in a situation that can be triggering. 

Find (Or Host) A Sober Party 

If you have a place to host, you can host a sober Halloween party. Whether you set up a potluck and BYOB or simply serve soda and punch, you and your friends can have a fantastic time (and appreciate the effort) without a drop of liquor. 

Find Alternatives to Halloween Parties 

Maybe your friends don’t care for wild Halloween parties either. Some people don’t like the noise. Some folks prefer smaller gatherings. Others are aged out of that scene. 

If that’s the case, gather up friends who prefer something more low-key. Get creative and try to find a new tradition to enjoy every year or cycle through ideas based on your mood or the weather. These alternatives may give you plenty some ideas: 

Amusement Park Events

Local amusement parks often go wild on their Halloween decorations. Costumed performers emerge from the darkness as the sun goes down. Extensive decorations and masterful sound and lighting installations create a spectacle at these events and are sure to build spooky excitement. 

Caramel Apples and Other Candy 

If you have a sweet tooth, caramel apples are a traditional autumn weather treat. Sugar and fruit mix into a sticky, delicious treat, and making them together is a bonding experience for all ages. 

Plus, you can hand out any excess to trick-or-treaters. 

DIY and Crafts

Make paper bats, weave spiderwebs from yarn, and create a few spooky crafts.

Ghost Tours

Any area with a bit of history has plenty of ghost stories, and a city like LA is no exception. While they aren’t all true, they’re all fun. See your home city in a new light as you soak up stories of hauntings, madness, and mayhem at Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Boulevard, and more. 

Haunted Houses

If ghost tours are too much walking, visit a haunted house. They always pop up for Halloween, and whether they’re professional productions or neighborhood activities, haunted houses are a great way to drive into the spooky season. You’ll find yourself surrendered by surprisingly high-quality effects and expert performers, many of which don’t permit alcohol on premises.

Movie Marathons

More horror movies are available to watch than anyone can watch in a single night. The last hundred years of cinema gave us great classics with an expansive library to choose from. Consider hosting a movie marathon that lasts a night or week to keep the spirit of Halloween going without having triggers around to tempt you. 

Pumpkin Carving

Another way to recapture fond childhood memories; see who can carve the funniest face, best drawing, or have a great time helping each other make masterful pumpkin creations! 

Showcase your work of art while you hand out candy, and let the warm candlelight burn a bright spot in your sober Halloween memories. 

Stay Home and Relax 

If nothing else—you aren’t obligated to party or socialize. Stay home, enjoy a quiet evening with friends, or watch a movie by yourself. You’ll find plenty of chances to spend time with your friends. Relax, have an early bedtime, and start the next day fresh with a smile. 

Follow SoberMind Recovery for More Tips 

Our social media covers more than our LGBTQ sober living programs or our treatment for patients with a dual diagnosis. Los Angeles life has more to offer, and we want to provide our clients with the resources they need to navigate it. Follow us for more helpful tips as the seasons change.