How Going Sober Changed a Friendship

Even for close friends, alcohol can feel like a ‘social lubricant’. Taking away this crutch can change the dynamic of a relationship, the way we view each other and interact. It can make being real with each other a little scarier, treacherous even. It could throw long-held friendships onto the rocks of judgment and unacceptance without the safety net of the alcohol-infused get-out clause for confessions and not-so-popular views.

When my friend decided to get back on the wagon after 100 days of sobriety and returning to drinking for several months, I wasn’t…