Sober Sex: What Can We Learn From Porn Performers?

In collaboration with KOLONNE/NULL, CHEEX has conducted a survey on alcohol consumption in the dating world. As part of this survey, we asked porn performers what sober sex meant to them.

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© Danae Cuesta 2023
“Porn work, just like any other job, is safer when there is no alcohol involved. In my 8 years’ experience, I have never been on a set, or have worked, with drunk performers, directors, or crew. All roles within a porn set require a great level of responsibility and awareness, so being intoxicated in any way always comes with the risk of overlooking other people’s boundaries, safety measures, or handling tasks and equipment in unsafe ways, with the potential of causing physical or psychological harm.Porn Set Culture is sober by default. While there is no judgment about people’s alcohol and drug consumption habits outside of work, nobody would expect alcohol on set. I have never heard of performers requiring any, and producers and directors would never use it to encourage actors to ‘loosen up’ or to ‘get in the mood’ either. We are actually rather offered healthy snacks and non-heavy warm meals.”@linabembe
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© Neen Sever
“Being sober during moments of deeper and more vulnerable intimacy allows us to see and feel the reality without a distorted lens. It might feel strange and uncomfortable at first, but thanks to those soft natural boundaries and insecurities, we give ourselves and each other time and space to get to know one another.It is normal to feel weird and awkward because sex with another human being, especially if new, is a big deal. It can be fun and light-hearted, but it is a powerful encounter nonetheless. When we are not intoxicated, we navigate uncertain waters, and it gives us the chance to see if we chose the right partners for such a revealing intimate experience.For me, sex embodies a pathway to forging a connection with another person, whether captured on camera or not, transcending the mere pursuit of our physical desires. It is a conversation where we find a language we can all understand. I cannot feel that connection if I am not sober.I don’t condemn those who like to be inebriated during sex, but it is a personal boundary of mine that became easier to honor over time. Although, I do hope that people are as safe as they can be, and maybe conversations like this one will contribute to the cause.I identify as a trans man and I’m amidst a profound journey towards healing. In my past, not only I had sex while intoxicated but sex itself was an addiction. It wasn’t easy to come back to my raw self and sit with my pain, not understanding the intersection between fear and the need for intimacy as it often is with trauma. I see my queer siblings struggling in a similar way. Still, we choose to connect and heal our bodies and psyche; sometimes, we do it through physical intimacy, deciding to be present for each other, unfiltered, clear-headed. It is scary…but we do it anyway. It is worth it. It is worth it to experience feelings as they are.” @neensever
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© Jasko Fide

“The benefits of being sober in a professional setting is that you can trust people to be more capable to express their boundaries, their no-go’s, and wants for specific scenes. This is crucial for a good shooting, and it makes any scene safer, softcore or hardcore. It is important to be able to feel yourself at any given moment, and to be able to voice and stop anything that could feel triggering or unsafe.

This also applies to sober sex in a private setting, and it is not only about checking-in but being able to experience more pleasure too. When sober you can be way more attentive to yourself as well as your partner(s), which might give you more pleasure and agency so you can all engage together.

I would recommend sober sex over intoxicated sex, especially with new people. Sex with new people means entering a new dynamic, where you will be learning new things about somebody else, as well as yourself – so having the focus and attention is not to be underestimated.

It is quite subjective but being a bit tipsy can also be fun and relaxing. Nevertheless, it always depends on the situation, the people involved, and their state of intoxication. The more intoxicated we get, the harder it may be for us or our partners to express wants. It also gets harder to say no to things that one of us may suddenly not feel like doing anymore, to only realize afterwards that things have gotten too fast or too whatever.” @jasko_fide

© Dwam Ipomée

“Having sober sex to me means that I am more aware of how I am with my partner and that also allows me to check in more with them. I am obviously a lot clearer with what I am doing and how I am doing it.

In contrast, intoxicated sex means I take more risks. I am also prone to be less caring about my partner’s current sexual health, but also my own. It is not to say that I have not had great intoxicated sex. The messiness of it all can be extremely fun. But that is also the issue; it is messy. Alcohol can change one’s perception and could loosen one’s boundaries. In moderation, it can help ease one’s nerves, but in a situation where the other person is not someone familiar, it could either make them uncomfortable or something could happen that violates one’s trust and sour the experience. In the end, when dealing with intimacy with unknown people, it is better to have a clear head and connect soberly.” @thebishopblack3000

Together with KOLONNE/NULL, producer of alcohol-free premium wines, we have launched the limited 0% CHEEX Rosé Wine: sparkling, delicious and pleasure-increasing. Anyone who gets their hands on the bottle can test CHEEX for free during 7 days.

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