I have found through speaking to people, and anecdotally, since arriving in Prague that it’s many people’s first time clubbing– including me. I have, however, long had the opportunity to go clubbing. I am 22 and I live in New York City– it’s not that hard to find a place. The one thing that has always stopped me was the drinking aspect. I don’t drink. And I previously thought to have fun while clubbing, you had to drink.
My goal with this article is to put that assumption to rest. You definitely can go clubbing soberly. When preparing this article, I spoke with many friends who said that they never could because they need to drink for XYZ reasons, or that it was their first experience clubbing as well, so this is my attempt at an all-in-one article on how to club safety, and in my experience, as a sober person. I hope this shows people who don’t drink, for whatever reason, that you can still have fun without it! And for those of you who do drink, how to do it safely.
First things first: decide where you want to go with your friends! There are so many places in Prague all with different themes and different vibes. My recommendation is that you choose where you want to go the day of so that you’re not still deciding when you step out the door that night. That also means understanding the dress code, what the drinks might cost, and a cover fee, so you know what you’re getting into and how to best prepare beforehand.
Second step: have a hearty dinner. You’re going to be going to the club at 10:30-11:00, maybe even later, so if you’re a late dinner-haver (that’s a word, right?) have a big dinner. Now, if you’re an early dinner-haver (that’s also a word, right?) have a smaller dinner, and then about half an hour before you leave, have a second small dinner. You will be burning calories on the dance floor, and more than you’d think. My go-to is udon with tofu and all the spices that go with it. You want something that has carbs and protein for energy, muscle protein synthesis, and soaking up the alcohol if you drink to prevent a hangover the next day.
Third step: think about what you’re going to wear. Wear comfortable clothes that you will be sweating in and potentially getting dirty or stained throughout the night. They will probably have the smell of alcohol and/or smoke on them the next day, especially if you’re at an underground location as that air will just circulate. For shoes, designate one pair as your club shoes– they will get dirty no matter what preventative measures you take.
Fourth step: make sure you have all your essentials. Mine include my phone, keys, and cash. Even if you plan not to drink, the cash will come in handy if there are any cover fees or you want to purchase any non-alcoholic beverages or late-night bites at the venue. An additional necessity of mine is earplugs. Which, if you think you might look stupid with earplugs, you kinda do, but trust me! You can still hear the music, and will not go deaf or lose hearing, which I think is more important. Also, I’ve found the experience almost feels like you’ve got earbuds in and you’ve turned the music up on your Spotify.
The last step before going out is to share your location on your phone with all of your friends. And make others do the same (especially the runners and the non-texters). Sometimes it’s just easier to see where a friend is than texting them and waiting for a response in a busy crowd. Stick together when on transportation, either on tram, metro, or Uber/Bolt as a last option. And when do you get there, stay together. There might be an off chance that someone may get rejected at the door, but there is strength in numbers!
Now you’re inside, and especially if it’s a big venue, scout out the place. And that’s literally just making a round, which will probably end with you and your friends at the bar. Now it’s time to have fun and enjoy the night! Especially if the place is small, you don’t need to be texting your friends intermittently, cause you’ll already probably be bumping into them at the bar, dance floor, or bathroom. However, I would recommend staying in a group of three minimum, just in case you are abandoned by one person, you have someone else.
For my non-drinkers out there, my biggest tip is when everyone is getting a shot, get some water or some other beverage to sip on. I’d recommend trying to consume one bottle of water every hour (for both non-drinkers and drinkers)!
Now, to directly confront the question of: how do you club, and have fun sober? Firstly, I want to ask the people who drink, who are incredulously surprised, why do you care? I think across the board when clubbing, the point is to have fun; to get out of your body, have fun, live new experiences, and probably to be a bit embarrassing. We know that drunk people will probably be a bit embarrassing, and I extend that invitation to sober people.
I’ve had those same people who drink say, “I don’t want to be ‘on’ in the club though” when explaining their reasoning for feeling the need to drink. While yes, you might be fully there in your head, in a sober sense, I don’t think you have to be. There is that aspect of drunk people who have less forethought, so they’re not thinking about being embarrassed (or may not even remember for that matter), which gives you the space to do the same. So get out of your body, get out of your head, and have fun!
I’ve found that I have the most fun when I’m on the dance floor, dancing with my friends, who are in all different states of sobriety. For me, I equate it to working out, where you’re not actually thinking but just feeling the music and letting your body move to it. You’re making memories that you’ll actually remember, and you’ll be able to say you had fun and got out of your head.
Now a few hours have passed and you’ve had fun (hopefully)! If you wore earplugs, you won’t be hearing ringing in your ears tomorrow and hopefully stayed hydrated throughout the night. If at this point you’re tired and want to leave, first decide if everyone’s leaving together or not. If not, have a friend go home with you! And most importantly never leave anybody alone.
Before you make it back home, I would recommend making a pit stop to get some late-night food. You’ll be burning calories throughout the night while dancing the night away, and if you’re drinking, I’d recommend something to soak it all up. Take public transport or an Uber home, brush your teeth, and head to bed. And most importantly don’t set any alarms for the next day (unless you have school, of course).
I found in all of my experiences of going clubbing while in Europe that these tips, tricks, and guidelines have helped me make sure that not only I, but everyone around me, has had a safe and fun time. By the third or fourth time you go out, it’s gonna be second nature– the most important thing is that you just remain smart and sensible! And hopefully, for all y’all who don’t drink, I’ve given you some reassurance that you can have fun clubbing regardless.