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Whether it’s Christmas party season, a festival-filled summer, or just a Saturday night, alcohol is ever-present in our social lives. But what effect is this having on our sex lives?
The people of the United Kingdom are no strangers to drunk sex; in fact, according to our survey, 64% have had sex while intoxicated (Lovehoney/Cint survey, 2,005 respondents, August 2024).
However, only 20% of people ‘always enjoy’ sex while intoxicated, and just 29% of men and 11% of women always orgasm when having drunk sex.
To talk about the connection between alcohol and sexual wellness, we’ve teamed up with Spencer Matthews’ alcohol-free spirit brand CleanCo, bringing these statistics to life and sharing how you can have great sober sex.
Key findings:
64% of people in the UK have had sex while intoxicated
The most likely age group to have done so is 45-54 (75%), while the least likely is 18-24 (49%)
Of those that have had drunk sex, just 20% ‘always enjoy’ it
One of the top reasons for preferring sober sex is “appreciating the moment more” (53%) as well as “being more likely to orgasm” (46%)
Just 29% of men and 11% of women orgasm every time when having drunk sex – compared to 45% of men and 15% of women who orgasm every time ordinarily
Two in five drink more during Christmas, leading to regret
According to a new survey in collaboration with CleanCo, 39% of people tend to drink more during the festive season (Lovehoney/Censuswide survey, 2,000 respondents, November 2024). However, it isn’t always mulled wine and a good time, as 23% also say that doing so has led to actions they regret.
Specifically, 60% of those that have got frisky at Christmas have regretted their drunk actions, with the most common of these being: kissing someone (20%), kissing someone in a relationship (10%), engaging in oral sex (9%), hooking up with a colleague (9%), or even cheating on a partner, which 4% are guilty of.
Older age groups more likely to drink and grind
It’s no secret that the UK loves a night out, so it’s unsurprising that 64% of people have had drunk sex at some point in their lives, according to our survey.
But there’s an interesting split when you look at the different age groups. Less than half (49%) of 18-24-year-olds have had drunk sex before, compared to the majority of 45-54-year-olds (75%) and 35-44-year-olds (74%).
The truth is, Gen Zs just aren’t drinking as much alcohol as older generations. This sober curious movement is well-documented, and the results of our survey are no different:
18–24-year-olds are the most likely to have never drunk alcohol before (15%). They’re also the least likely to have a drink on a weekly basis (17%). Meanwhile, 24% of 45-54-year-olds drink at least once a week. It’s no wonder young people are having less drunk sex.
The ‘Sobergasm’ chasm: being drunk decreases likelihood of orgasm
The orgasm gap (the difference between the number of men that orgasm during sex vs. the number of women that do) should be ingrained into the public consciousness by now.
We found that there’s a similar orgasm gap between people having drunk sex and those having sober sex.
30% of people orgasm every time during penetrative sex, with 45% of men doing so and 15% of women. In the same survey, we found that only 20% of people orgasm every time during drunk sex; 29% of men and 11% of women.
This means that there’s a 33% orgasm gap between those engaging in sober sex and those engaging in drunk sex, rising to a 36% gap for men, and a 27% gap for women.
Appreciation of the moment and awareness of partner top sober sex sensations
According to the data, just 20% of those that have had sex under the influence of alcohol enjoyed it every time. Hopefully their sober sex is much more pleasurable!
Curious to know whether sober sex really is better, we asked our respondents to tell us what they like about it. The most popular results were:
Appreciating the moment more (53%)
Being more aware of their partner (52%)
Feeling more in tune with their body (47%)
Being more likely to orgasm (46%)
Annabelle Knight, Lovehoney sex and relationship journalist, said that:
“Drunk sex certainly isn’t a new thing, but it’s still clearly quite common. It’s great to see the younger generation is embracing a more sober-curious lifestyle and engaging in drunk sex less frequently.
As the results of the survey suggest, having sex while drunk can inhibit not only your pleasure, but even your ability to orgasm.
There is a general disconnect between your brain and the rest of the body when you drink, including your sexual organs.
Practising sober sex means that you can feel more present in the moment and more attuned to your own body’s stimulation but also your partner's, leading to an all-round more pleasurable experience.”
Collaborating with CleanCo: The Sobergasm Cocktail
To really amplify the message that you don’t need alcohol to have a fulfilling sexual experience, Lovehoney is collaborating with alcohol-free spirit brand CleanCo.
CleanCo founder, Spencer Matthews:
“This partnership between Lovehoney and CleanCo has been a pleasure to work on, but also surprisingly eye-opening. Alcohol really does effect so much of our lives and relationships, and sex is no exception. It’s been fascinating to see the results of our sober sex study and really delve into the world of sexual wellness, and how it intersects with alcohol.
Hopefully this partnership encourages people to understand why both men and women prefer sober sex and to open up this festive season, have real conversations and reflect on their relationship with alcohol in a way that’s light-hearted and pressure free.”
We’ve come together to create the 'Sobergasm cocktail’, so that you can enjoy a night of drinking without any of the repercussions of alcohol.
In the words of CleanCo founder, Spencer Matthews:
“The “Sobergasm" cocktail may be one of my favourite Clean Cocktails yet. It’s great. Spicy, sweet, tangy and deliciously fresh. Hot Honey has been popping up everywhere across the London restaurant scene, so I really wanted to see what we could do with it when it comes to making incredible alcohol-free cocktails. It pairs perfectly with our Clean T 0.0% tequila alternative, and is a must-try for anyone who loves a Spicy Marg but wants to ditch the hangover.”
The "Sobergasm" Cocktail recipe
- 25ml fresh lime juice
- 50ml CleanCo Clean T
- 1tbsp fresh orange juice
- 1tbsp Dr Stings hot honey
- Sea salt, chilli flakes and lime to garnish
Method:
1. Make a chilli-salt rim by sprinkling a few teaspoons of sea salt and chilli flakes onto a small plate. Rub one wedge of lime along the rim of a glass and then dip it into the chilli salt to cover the rim.
2. Combine lime juice, CleanCo Clean T, orange juice and hot honey in a cocktail shaker. Add ice.
3. Shake hard and fast. Pour into your glass. Serve with a wedge of lime.
Fancy an exclusive 20% off discount for CleanCo? Type Code LOVEHONEY at checkout to get money off delicious Clean Spirits and Bundles.
Valid from 18th Nov - 18th Dec.
“Discount code is valid at www.clean.co for UK & Ireland residents only. Valid across all CleanCo products, excluding gift cards. Valid from 18/11/24 to 18/12/24. Discount code is not valid in conjunction with any other voucher code or offer, unless otherwise stated. Only one voucher code can be used per order, per person. We reserve the right to change these Terms and Conditions at any time.”