I went to a women-only, sober rave and I think it might be time to give up booze for good

A woman stands at the door, dressed head-to-toe in sparkles, covered in rainbow face paint, and gestures for me to step into a warehouse. “Are you ready to rave?”

I manage an unconvincing “sure” and a half smile before looking down at my all-black ensemble and wondering whether my minimalist attire was ill-judged. Thankfully, I’m told to leave all inhibitions at the door, because we’re about to dance the night away.

This isn't any ordinary club night though, this is ‘self love rave’ hosted by Caroline Kelf, aka DJ Flourish, and it’s all about making women feel empowered and confident. And it just so happens to be booze-free.

Read more: The 'sober raves' changing clubbing in Greater Manchester - and the incredible story behind them

Many of the women around me are dressed like they’ve just walked out of Studio 54, or maybe they’ve nipped over after a Pilates class - a mashup of trainers, leotards and jumpsuits, accessorised by chunky earrings, bum bags and a can-do attitude.

A few tell me they’re here to recapture their youth, fuelled by nostalgic recollections of sweaty raves in grubby warehouses - others are just really pleased to be swapping their mum cap for dancing shoes.

When I rock up at the converted warehouse in Cheadle, I feel a little apprehensive. I don’t tend to go out - or dance for that matter - without a drink in hand. It’s a comfort blanket, an immediate way to feel less self-conscious and inhibited. That said, hangovers don’t agree with me either, mostly due to the crippling anxiety, nausea and blurry recollections.

But, as I near the fourth decade of my life, I also find myself caught between two types of drinker - a slightly older cohort of social drinkers, and Gen Z, who hardly drink at all. But