Organizers in bid to expand ‘Sober St. Patrick’s Day’ throughout the U.S. -VIDEO

Sounds like a great event...too bad it's not ON St Patrick's Day...missing the whole point entirely, of providing the public with a booze-free alternative on the day when the world focuses on getting drunk...having it the day before ..makes no sense to me..

I went last year and this is good event for people in recovery. They have an AA meetings at the start and at the end in the basement. Also, the major treatment centers are there with information. God bless Bill Reilly and all those great peeple who show us that being in recovery and sobriety is still fun. Go forth and make money on Sober st Patricks Day for yourself -everyone else is doing it.

I don't think the holiday is an excuse for binge drinking for the majority of people so the organizers are feeding into a negative sterotype. They are certainly reinforcing it. Nor is st pats day about sobriety for most people. I agree with previous comment --feels like a sober business in the making feuled by a bunch of people in recovery.

In re-reading -- I don't even understand what this means--“The whole mission is to change the perception of what St. Patrick’s Day can be" --- can be? this is double speak and assumes that one only has a negative perception of the day. Not so for many.

Interesting that you called this a brand and that Belfast will incorporate the brand into their festivities. This sober st patrick's day project feels like it's a for profit business set up to license the brand in cities where ever. I heard that the name is all trademarked. This does not feel like a community service event but a sober business in the making. True, this has been done before but not as a business. With all the focus on alcohol -- this too is high-jacking the holiday for a profit. This just reinforces negative stereotypes too. What is next? selling sober shirts? selling sober plots of land in Ireland, sober vacations? Sober is great if you are an addict. For many, St Patrick's day is not all negative. The sobriety and recovery sector is a big business and makes millions for those involved.

Great idea, but it's been done before, just not on such a large scale. I'm, sober 25 years, founder of the Smart Party NYC's Alcohol-Free Social Network. We will be holding our third annual sober St Pat's Party right on March 17th, called "Keepin It Green.." It is for adults over 21 only, not families/kids. Adults are the ones that need an exciting, creative booze-free alternative to the bars on that day, not six year olds. (Hip singles I know do not attend "family friendly" events.) I 've been promoting partying sans booze for over 20 years. and do events year round, not just on St Patrick's Day. The lack of alcohol-free social venues for adults is one of the most overlooked facts, when dealing with alcohol abuse. It is a story the media will not touch/discuss. I know this, because I could paper a mc mansion, with the press releases I've sent out. Like wake up and smell the coffee:) This venue sounds great, however, and wish you the best! With all that warm friendly, funny Irish spirit , sure and it will be quite lively..God Bless...

How many would attend the NYC St. Patrick's Day parade if the bars, taverns, pubs, restaurants and carryouts were unable to sell alcohol until after the parade?

Great idea. I went ti Regis. Beautiful building and theater. Good location for this event but in the future they will probably need t bigger place, in a not so ideal location. Of course they could expnad into the basement of the St.Ignatius church across the street.

People can choose to celebrate the day without alcohol and have a good time, but I don't have a problem with people who drink responsibly on Patrick's Day. What disgusts me are the people who use the day as an excuse to get drunk and obnoxious and who couldn't care less about St. Patrick or Irish heritage/culture.