For Kristy Bridgers, life looked picture-perfect from the outside. She was healthy, active, well-connected in her community, and living in one of the South’s most vibrant college towns. But beneath the surface, she knew something was off. Social gatherings, weekends, and celebrations all seemed to revolve around alcohol—and she began to question the role it played in her life. What started as a personal awakening evolved into a public journey, one she shared with honesty and vulnerability through social media. Now, Kristy is the founder of Sober on the Square, a growing movement to normalize alcohol-free living in social spaces like bars, restaurants, and tailgates. I caught up with Kristy and had a candid conversation, she opens up about what led her to sobriety, how the Oxford community has responded, and why making room at the table for everyone—including those who don’t drink—is something worth toasting. – CINDY COOPWOOD
