Conscious clubbing

The club echoes and throbs with rhythm as the DJ belts out one infectiously groovy number after another. Young men and women let their hair down, quite literally, and join the pulsating ambience by swaying and tapping their feet on the dance floor, all propriety and inhibition thrown to the wind, holding glasses and pitchers of — chilled espresso. Pleasantly anti-climactic, you say Welcome to the ‘sober rave’ — a popular clubbing trend that began in the US not too long ago, and has now finally caught the fancy of India’s clubs and club-hoppers alike.

“The ‘sober rave’ or the concept of ‘sober clubbing’ is becoming an increasingly popular choice for recreation and rejuvenation for the youth of today. By virtue of technology, social media and a growing culture of fitness amongst urban youth, there is greater awareness among them about mental and physical health and addictions, and today they are consciously making healthier lifestyle choices. Examples of increasing enrolments at gyms, juice detoxes and gluten-free diets, people taking to yoga and dance therapies, growing religious and meditation groups are all signs of an aware, positive, mature young population that definitely wants to party with responsibility now,” says Pavani Khanna, Marketing Head at Tabula Beach Café 2.0 in the capital.

She adds that the concept is likely to find even more takers in India in particular because of its distinct socio-cultural constitution. “In a country like ours, ‘sober clubbing’ is the safest, most socially responsible, and perhaps even most ‘acceptable’ outlet for those who are busy, introverted, would like to try out clubbing but don’t enjoy the drinking aspect of it. The idea of being able to let your hair down within a safe and healthy atmosphere can be a big draw for people like that,” she points out.

Joy Singh, co-partner at Raasta in Hauz Khas Village and Cyberhub, however, believes that while the trend of ‘sober clubbing’ is growing, a simultaneously growing counter-trend might eventually inhibit its current rise in popularity. “It should be kept in mind that the taboo surrounding the act of drinking in public has begun to fade now. More people, especially members of the young generation, have begun to accept the culture of going out and enjoying their drinks, and so while the ‘sober rave’ might be having a moment right now, it might take a very long time for it to actually become the norm here,” he argues.

From a club-hopper’s point of view, Chartered Accountant Tanvi Khanna affirms that the ‘sober rave’ is a dream come true for every morning person. She shares, “I am, unlike many people, a morning person. I simply hate staying up late to meet my close friends, and that too at a nightclub where I can barely understand what they are saying in their booze high. And then there is how I feel when I’m finally back home — sleepy, tired and dissatisfied, not at all looking forward to getting up early the next morning to rush to work. My job profile requires me to be a factotum and I have multiple things at the same time on my hands and in my head, which simply cannot be worked out without an adequate amount of sleep. Night-time clubbing or club-hopping for me is a like a psittacism — totally mindless, whereas sober clubbing is an autoschediasm of gymming as well as spending quality time, eating good food and sharing interesting things with people I love, in the morning, when one has a fresh mind to take on the world. Isn’t that a great way to start your day ”

Media professional Megha Verma, also a fan of ‘sober clubbing’, also points out that the concept takes nothing away from the fun quotient of a boozy night out besides the inebriation of alcohol. “That’s what I love about it — the fact that people are embracing the idea of letting themselves go without being self-conscious, and without needing the license of being inebriated to really show the world who they are and who they can be on the dance floor. Believe me, people do crazy things on the floor when they’re drunk, but nothing makes me happier than to see someone doing something equally crazy and spirited when they’re totally sober — it can be such an ice-breaker and is almost always very infectious. It can get more people out of their shells and make them let their guard down a little to really enjoy themselves — while being fully conscious of that enjoyment. There’s a sense of liberation there that few things can parallel. And besides, it also feels good to be socially responsible, even when you’re partying,” she affirms.

Joy, on his part, emphasises that while he has noticed a shift among the youth towards being more socially responsible when it comes to alcohol when they go out clubbing, the change is still at a micro level. Pavani, on the other hand, begs to differ. She asserts, “I definitely see a shift happening towards more responsible and fitness-conscious partying. Besides the growing indicators of a health conscious, aware youth, other more subtle changes like the growth in the use of cab services post a night of heavy clubbing even by those who brought their car to the club, do count. Having said that, it cannot be denied that alcohol still stands tall as a coping mechanism many youngsters resort to during rough patches in their lives. Therefore, while I hope the trend of ‘sober clubbing’ outlives the trend of booze-heavy nights out, I must bear in mind that civilisationally, we are still far away from no longer being a stimulant-dependent society. In this light too, the movement of ‘sober clubbing’ is a welcome shift.”