If you meet any of your sober friends this Christmas, you shouldn’t act like Mrs Doyle and keep offering them drinks, according to Stefanie Preissner. 

The broadcaster and writer will be 10 years sober on January 23rd, 2024, although she said the Christmas season can be a socially awkward time. 

“It was very hard when I was younger, particularly around my friends,” she told The Anton Savage Show. 

“I’m from Cork, so going back home to Cork for Christmas Day and there’s lots of drinking on Stephen’s Day, people would be asking what’s wrong with me. 

In more recent years, however, Stefanie said it has become a bit easier to go out sober. 

“I do find that if I go out and I have a 'zero-zero' beer or a glass, something that looks like alcohol, people are a lot more at ease around me,” she said.  

“People who drink are very suspicious of people who don't – I think it’s because we're going to remember what you're doing.” 

'Drunk people think they're hilarious'

Stefanie pointed out that it’s rare that sober people want to hang out with drunk people in the first place. 

“When you're hanging around in pubs, I can probably tolerate it for an hour,” she said. 

“But after an hour, people turn into the worst versions of themselves - they just keep repeating themselves and think they're hilarious. There's nothing enjoyable about it.” 

Business Post Political Correspondent Daniel Murray said becoming sober at 19 while in the University o Galway was his “Everest”. 

“It was our entire social life,” he said. “You really felt like you were missing out.  

“As time has gone on, I'm sure my lifestyle has adjusted, but also you just get older - you spend less time and less time in pubs.” 

Lying to bouncers while sober

One piece of advice Daniel has for any sober people is to lie to bouncers. 

“Once I went to cue up to get into a club and you know, you’d be asked how many drinks you’ve had,” he said. 

“I said no, I’ve had nothing, and he said ‘Funnyman, get lost’ and I didn’t get into the club. 

“Always tell him you had one or two.” 

Stefanie also has advice - but for the friends of sober drinkers. 

“If they want to drink, they can come and ask for it,” she said. 

“Just don’t push it – if you’re going to offer someone a drink, you don’t have to be Mrs Doyle.” 

A 2023 study from the Health Research Board found that 21% of Irish people hadn’t taken a drink in the last year.