The Fourth of July is an American holiday primarily celebrated with a few popular things- fireworks, flags, barbecues and beer. It is a fun and patriotic day where everything is colored red, white and blue. But for those in recovery, it is another holiday that challenges their sobriety.

Just because you’re in recovery doesn’t mean you can’t have fun or attend a barbecue. It only takes a little extra planning and caution to have a sober 4th of July. Here are some tips to keeping on the right track.

– Attend an event with other people in recovery. Whether it be an all sober event, or just bringing a sober buddy along with you to a party, having support is ideal.

– Always have a non-alcoholic drink in your hand. If you’re already holding a drink, people are less likely to offer you an alcoholic drink.

– Plan to attend an extra meeting or two. Attending a meeting before, after or both is often helpful to keep those in recovery focused on their sobriety.

– Call your sponsor beforehand. A few words of wisdom will go a long way.

Most importantly, have fun! Being sober doesn’t mean being boring. Fun is possible in recovery.