Men often feel societal pressure to drink due to expectations in social circles like sports teams, coworkers, and fraternity brothers. However, sober living can be a healthy choice for men and is often a journey that begins after losing control and consequences from drinking. Resources are available to help men transition to a sober lifestyle and find new ways to cope without alcohol by developing healthy boundaries and positive influences.

2. Why do men drink? Why is there such an expectation in our
society that men will drink? The answer to the first
question is keenly felt in the second. Men drink for many
reasons, one of them being it is a societal norm or
expectation that they will indulge in a beverage. They will
join frat houses or participate in sports leagues
sponsored by bars, or will drink while they watch their
favorite teams; they will join their fellow co-workers for
happy hour or a round of golf, often as an extension of
their work - to be "one of the guys".

3. Men will drink at their bachelor party, at the friends'
bachelor party, to share in the loss of a girlfriend or
mourn the passing of a college buddy. The reasons for
drinking are significant in our culture. And because of
this, the concept of sober living for men is often
perceived as abnormal, or in place as a legal or medical
requirement rather than an acceptable lifestyle choice.

4. Prevalence of Drinking in our
Society
Drinking is not a new concept. Although the social attitudes
and environments and type of drinks are unique to each
culture, nearly every civilization has independently
discovered the process of creating alcoholic beverages
whether it was brewing beer, fermenting wine or distilling
spirits; whether it was a large production or something
accomplished in the middle of a farm stead. Moreover, the
impact or effects of alcohol have been documented
throughout the historical texts, in art history, sculptures,
and in literature. The purpose and degree of drinking has
certainly evolved over time however. According to the
Oxford dictionary, "social drinking" is drinking in moderation
and for certain social occasions such as to celebrate a
promotion, or good news or to toast a person.

5. Buying someone a drink is a gesture of goodwill. It may be
an expression of gratitude, or it may mark the resolution
of a dispute. So, with all this historical context, and
current societal norms or expectations around drinking,
how then do we create an environment that says sober
living for men is an acceptable choice and once we
create a place for this thinking, how do we make it an
accessible option for men?

6. Transition from drinking to a
sober lifestyle
Sober living for men is often a journey from the bottom of a
bottle, to a sense of control, of stability and sobriety. It often
comes as a result of losing everything and everyone in your
life, or coming close to it. Many organizations that focus on
helping guide men to sober living do so with the end goal of
helping men reclaim their own positive attributes, creating
healthy boundaries, while removing the negative attributes
and influences in their lives. Part of this is teaching new
coping mechanisms, while other focus on how to remove
the inappropriate influences and how to deal with day-to-
day life after they have successfully started the path to
sober living. Other are showing what sober living for men
can look like - what is available to fill their lives that will give
them a sense of pride, personal growth and self-worth.

7. Resources:
http://sobamesa.com/treatment-program/
http://ezinearticles.com/?Accepting-Sober-Living-
For-Men-Will-Challenge-Social-
Norms&id=8343126

8. Thank you for reading!