FUN and friendship without the booze – that’s the offer from a new group set up for the Black Country.

Dudley woman Shaena Jasmat, who gave up drinking earlier this year, has launched a Bee Sober social group.

She stresses it is not a support group, it’s all about finding new things to do for enjoyment.

For example, there’s a coffee and clay event planned for October 17 in Hagley and a Kinver walk arranged for October 25 as the group.

Shaena, 40, had been drinking since 17 to numb her mental health issues.

“Alcohol and mental health issues are the worst combination and the most common combination,” she says.

But she was never addicted and when she visited India recently she took the opportunity of the change of environment to change her life.

Now she is the leader of Bee Sober Black Country and if you want to join in just email: beesoberblackcountry@gmail.com.

But you have to be 30 days alcohol-free and looking towards a sober lifestyle.

Let the fun begin.

  • Bee Sober Official (the founding group) has just launched new online support sessions. It’s called the Bee Sober Support Lounge and it’s a weekly ticketed event (£3.50 per session) which is open to anyone who is thinking about sobriety, are a few days in or have been alcohol free for years. “Think Alcoholics Anonymous but with a modern take,” said Shaena.