Third spaces are the new bar

We called it….

Daniel (our founder) hit Wonderworks’ “Cracking Gen-Z” on Sept 1, and the room basically read our diary. The shift is clear: people are drinking by mood, not measure, happily zebra-striping, hanging in third spaces (book clubs, run clubs, saunas, gallery lates), caring how a drink looks in hand, and proving dry doesn’t mean dull. If you’re curious, the recording’s here.

Easy sober-curious wins this week:

• Make a shelf for your fave AF sips.
• Plan a third-space hang (book swap, sunrise jog, sauna)
• Practise “zebra striping” so tomorrow feels good

Our H&D take: Choose what works for you, collect moments, and its ok to say no!

Win the Ultimate Alcohol-Free Drinks Bundle

We’ve teamed up with three heavy hitters in the dry economy to give TWO lucky readers a fridge full of flavour. No labels, no lectures, just seriously good booze-free bevs.

What you could win:

• 🍸 Three Spirit — Starter Pack
  Functional, plant-powered elixirs to lift, calm, or connect.

• 🍺 Nu Wave — 12-pack Lager + 12-pack Hazy Pale
  Craft beer energy, zero next-day regret.

• 🌊 Firebrand Brewing — 1x case Shorebreak + 1x case Little Wave
  Cornish-born, crushable, humble-roots craft.

How to enter:
Pop your details in here and you’re in. Winners picked at random and announced via email.

Deadline: 11:59PM BST, 30th September 2025
UK only, 18+. No purchase necessary. T&Cs apply.

Two winners. One entry. Your dry bar’s about to glow up.

3rd Spaces We Love

So, yeah, Gen Z’s rewriting the rulebook, and we’re not mad about it. They’re choosing vibes over vodka, aesthetics over excess, and moments that actually feel good. Which brings us to the real MVP of modern socialising: the third space.

Sauna Social Club – Peckham, London

Vibe: Nordic sweat temple meets underground listening party.

What it is: London’s first sauna-meets-listening-lounge-meets-art-space mashup—and honestly? It's the hangover-free social scene we didn’t know we needed. Think Finnish sauna, ice baths, ambient DJ sets, and creative happenings (yes, there’s a breathwork + sauna night—welcome to peak millennial wellness).

The crowd: Queer-friendly, art-y, chill, no vape pens in the changing room please.

When to go: Thursday–Sunday evenings for a rotating cast of DJs, artists, writers, and wellness weirdos.

Dry crowd bonus: It's BYO hydration—your Klarbrunn, herbal tea, or coconut water won't get judged here.

📍Peckham, London

🌐 saunasocialclub.co.uk

The Afters – UK-Wide (and WiFi-powered)

Vibe: Digital campfire meets sober girl summer.

What it is: Born from one woman’s hangover epiphany and a campervan named Ruby, The Afters is a roving, ever-evolving community where being alcohol-free doesn’t mean staying in. Founder Stef Smith (qualified sober coach and reformed party goblin) leads a movement that’s part hiking club, part online hub, part group therapy—but with more laughs and fewer “share if you agree” graphics.

Expect: Witchy hikes, virtual meetups, pep talks from someone who gets it, and a Facebook group that doesn’t suck. Also coming soon: courses to build sober confidence and challenge your inner saboteur.

The crowd: Think outdoorsy, curious, kind. AF, sober-curious, or just sober-on-Sundays—no judgment here.

Dry crowd bonus: Literally everything is hangover-free by design. This is your people.

📍Everywhere (online + IRL hikes & events around the UK)

🌐 theafters.co

Bristol Sober Spaces – Live music, no pints required

Vibe: Basement gig energy, elder millennial priorities.

What it is: A sober events series that proves you can enjoy hip hop, open mic nights, and even metal shows—without needing a warm cider in hand. Born out of Bristol’s recovery community, BSS is building a scene that’s all vibes, no vices.

Expect: DJs, rappers, poets, full-band blowouts. If you didn’t know it was a sober night, you wouldn’t—except for the part where your Uber home isn’t a blur and your wallet’s not crying.

The crowd: Artists, allies, sober-curious explorers, and people who still want to dance (but also want to get sh*t done tomorrow).

Dry crowd bonus: Fully alcohol- and drug-free, with a welcoming community that actually wants to talk to you. Revolutionary stuff.

📍 Venues across Bristol with upcoming events (Open Mics, Hip Hop Nights & more)

🌐 theafters.co

Snippets - High

THC-infused drinks raked in $1.1B in U.S. sales last year as cannabis quietly muscles booze off the barstool - Read more.

Expanding NHS access to medical cannabis could return thousands to work, cut hospital visits by 28%, and inject £13.3B into the UK economy over the next decade - Read more.

Snoop Dogg’s VC firm just dropped £4.5M into UK cannabis clinic Mamedica, betting big on the booming medical marijuana market - Read more.

A new study suggests that eating adaptogen-rich foods like garlic, berries, and green tea may help slow biological aging by reducing your epigenetic age - Read more.

Five years after a psilocybin-assisted therapy trial, two-thirds of patients with major depression are still in remission, hinting at a long-term mental health breakthrough - Read more.

Snippets - Dry

Heineken 0.0 is taking over the US Open with its “0.0 Reasons, 0.0 Judgment” campaign and nationwide release of L0VE.L0VE cans, aiming to normalise alcohol-free fun with zero stigma - Read more.

Researchers in York, UK are helping pubs boost their alcohol-free options with new tools and a NoLo drinks guide aimed at creating healthier, more inclusive social spaces - Read more.

Stoli Group just poured $3.6M into The Pathfinder to expand its zero-proof spirits empire beyond bars and into your local grocery store - Read more.

Starbucks is betting big on bringing back the cozy café vibe with its “coffeehouse of the future,” shifting away from tech-only formats to reignite its third space magic - Read more.

Carnival Cruise Line just launched CHEERS! Zero Proof, a new booze-free drink package packed with mocktails, NA beer, and even protein shakes for sober cruisers at sea - Read more.

Until next time!

Whether you’re in it for the flavour, the focus, or the full eight hours of sleep, one thing’s clear: the booze-free life isn’t just having a moment, it’s building momentum.

So here’s your monthly reminder:

📦 Enter the giveaway 
📲 Follow us on the ‘gram’

Until next time, keep sipping with intention, living without compromise, and maybe… converting one red wine snob at a time.

Stay sharp, stay dry. The High & Dry Team

P.S. If you know anyone who would love this email, or may be interested in the comp, pass it on!