What’s next for Queers Without Beers?

Club Soda is stepping back from running Queers Without Beers, and we’re handing over the torch to others. Here’s what’s going on.

Club Soda started Queers Without Beers back in 2016 as a pop-up event for LGTBQ+ people to have a night out without drinking alcohol. Since then, it’s grown into a Facebook group and Meetup groups, with occasional events around the country in London, Manchester, Derby, Bristol and Hastings. What started with a few of us has turned into thousands of us.

Getting Queers Without Beers to where it is now has taken a lot of work. We’re really proud of what has happened, as we’ve created spaces for queer people to come together without alcohol.

Club Soda’s co-founders – Laura, Dru and Jussi – are proud members of the LGBTQ+ community. So alongside our work with QWB, we continue to work hard to make the wider mindful drinking movement inclusive for everyone. We’re proud that Club Soda’s community, courses and events consistently engage and provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ people who are changing their relationship with alcohol. That is going to continue.

But we can’t do everything – that’s the hard lesson of the last couple of years. So we’re turning to the brilliant and inspirational people in our community to take QWB forward.

Queers Without Beers contacts

This information is correct as of April 2022, but of course, things may change!

• London: Scott Pearson will be running QWB events in London and is now the organiser for the London Meetup group. You can also follow him on Instagram @proudandsober. PLUS London Friend has a wide range of social and other groups for LGBTQ+ people in the capital.
• Manchester: Stephen Wilkinson has taken on the QWB Manchester group, and will be running future socials under the name Sober Gay Socials. Follow him on Instagram @sobergaysocials.
• Derby: Alcohol-free socials for LGBTQ+ people in Derby and surrounds will continue to be hosted by Chrys, Rhondell and the team at Yada Collective. You can also follow them on Instagram @yadacollective.
• Bristol: Prism in Bristol offer free LGBT+ alcohol and drug support and has previously organised QWB events – check with Prism on Facebook to see what’s on.
• Hastings: Eggtooth has been organising QWB events at their alcohol-free bar The Nest in Hastings. Follow them on Instagram too @eggtoothproject.

The Queers Without Beers Facebook group is continuing too, with new volunteers behind the scenes.

Other LGBTQ+ contacts

Other resources for queer people looking to connect with others alcohol-free, or find support for changing your drinking.

• LGBT Foundation are a national charity delivering advice, support and information services.
• MEN R US has tons of information about all aspects of life for men: from sex, health and drugs to the history of Polari.
• Meetups – London has dozens of LGBT+ meetups, from Outdoor Lads to East London Lesbians.
• The Bisexual Index – exactly what it says: everything bisexuality.
• Imaan – the UKs leading LGBT Muslim charity.
• LGBT mental health resources – a listing by PinkNews.
• Helsa – mental health resources and therapist connections.

Thank you

Thank you so much for your support for Queers Without Beers in its story so far. The past six years have been amazing. We hope you’ll throw your support behind the people who are taking QWB forward in its various guises.

And maybe you’ll be inspired to start something where you are? Just do it – the idea of Queers Without Beers belongs to all of us.

Here’s to even more socialising that’s queer and alcohol-free!