Buzz Kill: The Non Alcoholic Movement is Hitting Eugene-Springfield's Nightlife

If spilling a drink is a party foul, consider this idea that might save you from a party felony: You might not need alcohol for a good time.

Breaking up with alcohol is what Katy Pelroy and Kaylee Wolf talk about on their locally produced podcast Dry Hard Pod. The two friends and podcast hosts have been sober for more than two years, and they say they’ve seen their physical and mental health improve since getting on the wagon.

“It’s really hard to explain to people who are feeling like shit, used to drinking and having it be part of your life,” Wolf tells Eugene Weekly. “You don’t realize how much it’s contributing to stress, anxiety, health problems — like all of that stuff — until you take it away.”

But going non-alcoholic or cutting down on alcohol intake doesn’t mean you have to lose your nightlife. The alcohol-free scene has grown throughout Eugene-Springfield as people are cutting back on the booze to focus on mental and physical well being. And some local drinkeries and companies have joined the trend, offering creative non-alcohol cocktails.