Calgary woman creates fundraiser to encourage people to go alcohol-free for Dry February – Calgary

A Calgary girl is encouraging individuals to take a break from consuming this month with the assistance of artwork and mocktails.

Valerie Chin determined to mix her love of artwork and wellness when she began Mandalas and Mocktails final December.

The occasions are an opportunity for adults to get collectively, paint and sip fancy, non-alcoholic drinks.

“To not preach sobriety, however to indicate individuals a enjoyable exercise that we will do is non-alcohol transferring ahead,” Chin mentioned.

“I’ve discovered through the years that consuming – particularly closely – has no advantages. Our society revolves round alcohol in so some ways. We rely closely on the usage of alcohol to have enjoyable or to assist loosen up so you possibly can community.”

The thought behind Mandalas and Mocktails advanced from Chin’s enterprise MediPaint which includes meditation periods incorporating portray and music.

Chin mentioned mocktails are a far cry from the early days of Shirley Temples.

She mentioned she likes the non-alcohol occasions she’s hosted at Calgary companies Confluence Distilling options specifically crafted non-alcoholic cocktails.

“As a result of mocktails are the development, many distilleries and breweries are creating non-alcoholic merchandise. You are seeing much more merchandise in the marketplace in comparison with earlier than the place they have been actually candy or simply did not style good in any respect,” mentioned Chin. “My associates who are usually not making an attempt to follow sobriety are keen to strive it, and so they’re truly fairly impressed by them. I believe it is extra about coming collectively and sharing an expertise versus essentially having alcohol.”

Initiatives such because the Canadian Most cancers Society’s ‘Dry February’ or the extra generally identified ‘Dry January’ all encourage individuals to drink much less.

Chin is now spearheading the Dry Out For Readability and Charity fundraiser which runs all through February.

Her intention is to deliver the group collectively for the 28-day dry problem by internet hosting a launch and celebration occasion with a portion of every occasion ticket and proceeds from raffle tickets offered going to the Canadian Most cancers Society.

Sam Ponce joins the fundraiser. The Calgary girl’s mom was identified with breast most cancers in September.

“She’s combating for her life proper now,” Ponce mentioned.

Regardless that her mom would not drink, the analysis made Ponce extra conscious of how alcohol consumption will increase the possibilities of getting sick.

In line with the Canadian Most cancers Society, any sort or quantity of alcohol will increase your threat of head and neck, breast, abdomen, pancreatic, colorectal and liver most cancers.

“I simply wished to really feel good,” Ponce mentioned of her choice to not drink in February. “It’s a must to handle your self and that is one thing you possibly can management. I wish to prioritize my well being. I wish to make sure that I can have the very best life that I can have.”

New nationwide tips launched by the Canadian Middle on Substance Use and Dependancy earlier this month now suggest that adults solely have as much as two drinks per week.

It is a vital lower from what was beforehand thought of secure, which was two to a few drinks a day.

Chin hopes that extra alcohol-free occasions will result in extra conscious consuming – a moderation mindset of paying shut consideration to why, the place and if you drink.

“We’re very social creatures. We wish to do issues with different individuals,” Chin mentioned.

“I believe that if there are extra actions and extra alternatives that present the areas the place you could be social, and it creates participating actions for them to do with others, then I believe we will slowly transfer away from counting on alcohol belief to be the connection. piece.”

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