Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Sees a Shift Toward Sober Celebrations

Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations have long been associated with lively parades, traditional Irish music, and plenty of pints flowing at local pubs. While the holiday remains a time-honored tradition deeply tied to the city’s Irish heritage, a growing number of people are choosing to celebrate in a different way—by skipping the alcohol.

Tommy McCarthy, owner of The Burren, an Irish pub just outside of Boston, has noticed the shift firsthand. His establishment is one of the top Guinness pourers in the country, yet he has been steadily increasing his stock of nonalcoholic options in recent years. McCarthy, who moved from West Clare, Ireland, to Boston, has been running The Burren since 1996 and has seen how drinking habits have evolved over time.

St. Patrick’s Day and Boston have been linked for centuries, with historians tracing the city’s first celebration of the holiday back to 1737. Irish immigrants organized the event as a way to honor their patron saint and show solidarity within their new home. Over time, the holiday became synonymous with drinking, but now a small yet growing crowd is embracing the festivities while opting out of alcohol.

Jackie Taylor, who has been sober for 12 years, acknowledges how strongly drinking is promoted during St. Patrick’s Day. However, she has found plenty of ways to enjoy the celebrations without putting herself in situations where sobriety might be difficult to maintain. Whether attending events with other sober individuals or simply making different beverage choices, Taylor says the shift has made it easier for people to have fun without alcohol.

At The Burren, McCarthy has seen a rising demand for nonalcoholic drinks, particularly during the pub’s four-day Irish music festival, where performances can last up to 10 hours. While he still enjoys a Guinness himself, he often opts for the nonalcoholic version when playing the fiddle. According to him, the taste is nearly identical, and adding a creamy head to the pint makes it feel just as authentic.

Michelle Flynn, manager at Brendan Behan, an Irish pub in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood, has also observed the shift. She notes that most bars now offer nonalcoholic beers, something that would have been unheard of decades ago.

One major factor behind this trend is the changing drinking habits of younger generations. Polling from Gallup in 2023 showed that adults under 35 were drinking less frequently than in the early 2000s. The survey also found that fewer young adults admitted to overindulging or drinking more than they intended.

Michael Scelfo, a Boston-based chef and owner of multiple cocktail bars, has been serving mocktails for over a decade. However, he has noticed a significant increase in demand since the pandemic. What was once a niche request is now an expected part of any well-rounded bar menu. According to Scelfo, bartenders take just as much care in crafting nonalcoholic drinks as they do in making traditional cocktails.

While some are choosing to abstain for health reasons, others see the movement as an opportunity to reclaim St. Patrick’s Day as a celebration of Irish heritage rather than just an excuse to drink. William Spencer Reilly, founder of the “Sober St. Patrick’s Day” event in New York City, has been working toward expanding his initiative to Boston. His event, which takes place after the parade, features live Irish music, dance performances, and traditional food—all without alcohol.

Reilly believes that shifting the focus away from drinking can help break harmful stereotypes about Irish people. His event aims to honor the real story of St. Patrick, the priest who was enslaved in Ireland before returning to spread Christianity. When he first proposed a sober alternative to the usual celebrations, many were skeptical about whether there would be enough interest. Now, after more than a decade of success in New York, he is in discussions with Boston’s local leaders to bring the concept to the city.

Scelfo sees the trend as part of a broader movement toward health and wellness. He believes young people today are more mindful of their choices, including how they celebrate holidays. While alcohol remains a part of many St. Patrick’s Day traditions, the growing popularity of nonalcoholic options shows that people are rethinking their relationship with drinking.

Ultimately, Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations continue to evolve, offering something for everyone—whether they choose to raise a pint of Guinness or a glass of sparkling water. The city’s Irish spirit remains just as strong, proving that honoring tradition doesn’t have to mean sticking to old habits.