GREEN BAY, WI – (WGBW) – Wisconsin ranks third in the U.S.A. for the number of bars per capita. Alcohol consumption is part of the culture. However, some groups are working to cultivate sober friendly spaces in communities. Sober Green Bay is one of those groups.

John Plageman with Sober Green Bay says the organization works to reduce the use of harmful substances and wants to cultivate a sober friendly environment in the community.

“I went through re-hab when I was 14 or 15-years-old. I was going to AA meetings when I was a teenager in high school. Imagine that,” said Plageman. 

Plageman says the culture in Wisconsin is based around drinking and adult beverages.

“Graduations, Packer games, Friday nights, softball games, summer picnics, blah, blah, blah, blah. Everybody’s got the adult cooler. Everybody’s got the kid cooler,” said Plageman.

You’re not alone

You’re not alone. There might be people out there that think, ‘If I give up drinking, I am alone! No! You are not alone! There are probably over 10 thousand, 15 thousand people in Green Bay alone that are sober.”

John Plageman, Sober Green Bay

When people get sober, Plageman says, the first fear is that all the fun things are now over. But he says that is not the case.

“ When you get sober, the first, the first fear, the first anxiety is everything I did. That was fun is over. I can’t do anything. Can’t go fishing. Can’t go deer hunt. Can’t go up to the cabin anymore. Fish fries are out. Supper clubs are out. Packer games are out. Brewer games are out. Fuck games are out. You know, even my kid’s high school football game is out. Cause we used to drink afterward. It’s not; it’s absolutely not,” said Plageman.

“There’s a lot of us here! And what we’re trying to promote is not only people that are in recovery, but people that are sober in general. I think the sobriety movement misses people that choose sobriety, whether it’s religious health or just don’t want to drink.” 

On Tuesday, July 9th, Sober Green Bay and the Green Bay Rockers host “Slide into Sobriety Night.”

“We have an AODA, an Alcohol Or Drug Abuse resource fair before the game. We’re giving away a free sober Rubik’s Cube – one of a kind,” said Plageman. “And then we’re just going to enjoy the ballpark.”

Plageman says whether in recovery or choosing sobriety for another reason, you are not alone.

“My encouragement is ‘You’re not alone.’ There might be people out there that think, ‘If I give up drinking, I am alone,” said Plageman. “No! You are not alone! There are probably over 10 thousand, 15 thousand people in Green Bay alone that are sober.”
For information or to find more events with a sober theme visit Sober Green Bay Facebook page.