Alcohol and the Lifestyle: What You Need to Know

The Role of Alcohol in Lifestyle Events

Alcohol is a common feature of lifestyle events. It reduces social anxiety, facilitates conversation, and contributes to the relaxed atmosphere that many lifestyle participants enjoy.

But alcohol also has a complicated relationship with consent. Intoxicated people cannot give genuine informed consent. And alcohol can impair judgment in ways that lead to decisions that feel different in the sober morning.

The Consent Threshold

The lifestyle community's standard is clear: consent requires the ability to give it. A person who is significantly intoxicated cannot genuinely consent to sexual activity. Proceeding with someone who is clearly intoxicated is a consent violation, regardless of what they said or did before they became intoxicated.

Practical Guidelines

Set a personal limit before you arrive at an event. Know how much you can drink while remaining genuinely in control of your decisions.

Check in with your partner regularly throughout the evening. If either of you is feeling significantly intoxicated, it is time to stop drinking and to hold off on any play decisions until you are both sober.

If you are uncertain whether a potential partner is sober enough to genuinely consent, do not proceed. The risk of harm is not worth it.

Driving

Never drive after drinking at a lifestyle event. Plan your transportation in advance — a designated driver, a taxi, or a rideshare. This is not specific to the lifestyle; it is basic responsible behaviour.

The Sober Lifestyle Experience

Some lifestyle participants choose not to drink at events, either for health reasons or because they prefer to be fully present and in control. This is entirely respected in the community. You are never obligated to drink.