Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Butler
Hi Katie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started my platform, Alcohol Free in Dally, about a year and a half after initially getting sober from alcohol. I realized that alcohol had a very negative effect on my day-to-day life, leaving me so anxious that it was difficult to get through the day(s) after drinking. Once I decided to cut out alcohol from my life, I started really living as an alcohol-free person in and around Dallas. I got fairly good at knowing which restaurants served n/a options, learning about nonalcoholic options on the market, how to order at restaurants, etc. My friends and family started reaching out to me with questions about how to order nonalcoholic options, tips and tricks on how to go out as a sober person, ways to have difficult conversations with friends and family about alcohol, etc. It made me think that we would all be better off if we all knew that lots of people out there were having conversations about wanting to cut back and that being sober curious was super normal. That is why I started my platform, Alcohol Free in Dally; to spread awareness about the conversations around nonalc options, share tips and tricks from ordering at restaurants to dating as a sober person, and to let others know that they are not alone.
I started the Tik Tok and Instagram platform on New Years day 2023. From there, I have been able to amass 28K+ Tik Tok followers and host dozens of nonalcoholic events across town. I have hosted n/a tastings at local businesses such as Coast Cycle, Session Pilates, Class Studios, Barry’s Bootcamp, Carrie’s Pilates, and more, while hosting more informational events and panels at businesses like Alive and Well Health and Beyond the Bar. I continue to post lots of information about the nonalcoholic options on the market, how to live a sober life and still go out and be social, and where to sip on nonalc drinks around Dallas.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
For the most part, posting about my nonalc journey on the internet has been overwhelmingly positive. Of the comments I get, 99% of them are positive and genuine. However, getting sober can be a difficult thing for others to absorb. For example, some of the friendships that I had when I was actively drinking evaporated when I cut out alcohol. It was difficult to realize that some of the friendships I had revolved around alcohol; in other words, I only hung out with certain people when they wanted to go out. I have also seen that some people have taken my sobriety journey personally, seeing it as a personal commentary on their own habits. However, I will reiterate that 99% of cutting out alcohol has been overwhelmingly positive. There are countless benefits, from better health, better sleep, less anxiety, spending less money, stronger relationships, and more.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Alcohol Free in Dally is an online platform via Tik Tok and Instagram where I post about living a nonalc live and the sober curious movement. I too post about living an alcohol-free life in Dallas, such as activities in Dallas to take part in that do not have alcohol present or have nonalc options, restaurants and bars that are alcohol-free friendly, where to go on dates in Dallas as a sober person, etc. I also share tips and tricks on sobriety, about everything from what to order at a restaurant to surviving a night out on the town sober.
I have had the benefit of also working with some incredible brands. I often recommend nonalc products on my page, and have gotten the opportunity to work directly with the following: Cali Sober, Recess, Loverboy, Curious Elixirs, Starry, Athletic Brewing, Starla Wines, and more. I have hosted nonalc and sober events at local businesses such as Alive and Well Health, Beyond the Bar, Class Studios, Carrie’s Pilates, Session Pilates, Corepower yoga, Barrys Bootcamp, Coast Cycle, and others. I got to be featured in a few publications, from Business Insider to Bankrate, and have been on various podcasts, from Sober Girls Gone Wild to a Sober Girls Guide.
Probably one of the most exciting things I got to do as of late is go to New York and visit Loverboy HQ, where I connected with Carl Radke from Summer House on Bravo. He is very open about his sober journey on tv, and we got to chat about the nonalcoholic Loverboy that he makes. I also will be hosting a Sober October Panel at Alive and Well Health in October with Seedlip, which I am very excited about getting to share info with the larger Dallas community about a sober lifestyle.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I work a full-time job outside of doing Alcohol Free in Dally, so I bookend my day! I tend to get up really early to work on posts for Tik Tok and Instagram, and then after work I will also create content and then work on admin. I find it to be a really fun opportunity as I was a Journalism major in college and did my MBA in Marketing. I don’t get to use those skills as much (I work full-time in the consulting world as a Talent Acquisition Manager), so I am able to use the Alcohol Free in Dally platform as a creative outlet. It makes me feel fulfilled and like I am contributing to the wider community by sharing my story and experiences and letting people know that you don’t have to drink in order to have fun in Dallas. Moreover, it is an opportunity for me to be creative in putting together content and use some of my digital media and marketing skills that I went to school for.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: alcoholfreeindally
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@alcoholfreeindally?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Image Credits
Morgan Reed Photography
