How Sober One Six Is Rewriting Queer Nightlife and Starting a Revolution That Doesnt Need Alcohol
For Andrew Krumm, sobriety didnt mean opting out of nightlife, it meant rebuilding it from the inside out.Krumm, the founder and lead organizer behind Sober One Six, has spent the past several years quietly reshaping what queer nights out can look like. The Buffalo-based, queer-owned event production company centers drag shows, dance parties, comedy, and community, without making alcohol the star of the show. The result isnt anti-drinking or prescriptive. Its something rarer: nightlife that feels welcoming to everyone, including people who usually stay home.Im very much an open book, Krumm said. Nothings really off the table.That openness extends to the story that sparked Sober One Six in the first place.Choosing Sobriety Without Losing YourselfKrumm quit drinking in January 2020, just weeks before the world shut down. At the time, alcohol had become synonymous with fun, especially in queer spaces.I equated going out and having fun with alcohol, they said. I was more focused on when my next drink was than the experience I was having.Looking back, many pre-sobriety memories feel hazy. Weddings, parties, even casual nights out blurred together. The idea of quitting lingered for nearly two years before Krumm finally acted on it, influenced in part by comedian Nikki Glasers candid conversations about alcohol.After a night that went too far, Krumm ordered Quit Drinking Without Willpower by Allen Carr. They never had another drink.The book just debunked everything we tell ourselves, Krumm said. I couldnt find a good reason to drink. It doesnt give you courage. Its expensive. It actually increases anxiety.What surprised them most wasnt giving up alcohol, it was realizing how much they still wanted to go out.Mocktails, Instagram, and a Pandemic PivotKrumms first mocktail came on Valentines Day 2020 during a night out with a friend who ran a food blog. That moment changed everything.I had to feel like I wasnt giving anything up, Krumm said. Thats what holds a lot of people back.Shortly after, Krumm renamed their personal Instagram Mr. Mocktail, initially planning to spotlight non-alcoholic drinks around Buffalo. When COVID hit, the account shifted into something more personal: sobriety milestones, NA recommendations, and honest reflections. The audience grew beyond Western New York, drawing followers from New York City, Los Angeles, and beyond.When lockdowns eased, a small online sobriety group finally met in person over non-alcoholic margaritas. As invites multiplied and group chats spun out of control, Krumm suggested something simpler.Lets just start a page and say where were going, they recalled.Sober One Six, named for Buffalos 716 area code, was born.A Sober Drag Show and Proof It Could WorkAlthough out since their mid-20s, Krumm hadnt spent much time in Buffalos queer nightlife scene. That changed after meeting a sober drag queen through a friend.The confidence really inspired me, Krumm said. And the fact they were sober while doing it.The idea for a sober drag show followedan experiment in a city known for heavy drinking culture. Krumm promoted it on local news. Three sober drag queens performed. More than 100 people showed up.I was like, Oh. We have something here, they said.The following week, Sober One Six became an LLC.Building Events Around Experience, Not ExcessToday, Sober One Six produces drag shows, comedy nights, Pride events, and monthly sober happy hours at bars and restaurants. Every event features a curated non-alcoholic cocktail list developed in collaboration with venues, often helping businesses rethink their NA offerings.Alcohol is usually availablebut never foregrounded.Well say full bar available if it applies, Krumm explained. But were promoting the event, not the drinks.Events start earlier, rarely running past midnight, attracting people who dont typically go outor who want queer culture without sacrificing sleep.I love having a good time at 8 p.m., Krumm said. And being home by 11.Creating Spaces That Actually Feel SafeKrumm makes a point to speak with attendees at every event. The feedback, they said, has been consistent.A lot of people tell me, I drink, but its so cool to see other options here, they shared.One attendee called a Sober One Six Taylor Swift drag dance party the pinnacle of feeling safe while going out.That stuck with me, Krumm said. Because thats the goal.Rather than preaching sobriety, Sober One Six aims to remove shame, from drinking, not drinking, or simply existing in queer nightlife.I just want people to feel like they can be themselves, Krumm said. Whatever you take from the experience, thats enough.Growing Beyond BuffaloSober One Six has already hosted events in Rochester and New York City, including a sober drag show at Rent Money Lounge during Pride. Krumm frequently collaborates with NA influencer Shay, known online as No Booze Babes, whom they describe as the female version of me.If Buffalo can do this, Krumm said, any city can.Expansion is part of the long-term vision, along with the early development of a proprietary non-alcoholic beveragean extension of the brand rather than a pivot.Whats Next for Sober One SixUpcoming events include Sober One Sing, the companys first karaoke night, and what Krumm calls Buffalos worlds largest sober dance party, inspired by the citys famously boozy disco event.Longer-term plans are intentionally fluid.Sober One Six is me, Krumm said. As I evolve, the events evolve.After leaving a decade-long banking career, and turning a recent layoff into a full-time pivot, Krumm now sees themselves as a curator of experiences, focused on connection rather than consumption.Its actually a really nice life, they said. Its fulfilling. And its fun.For Sober One Six, thats the entire point.Source
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