Important: this app is not a replacement for professional help

Sober Awkward is a community and support tool designed to run alongside professional help — including doctors, counsellors, therapists, addiction specialists, AA, SMART Recovery, and any other treatment program you're working with. We're here for the in-between moments. We're not here to diagnose, treat, or replace medical care.

Alcohol withdrawal can be medically serious. If you're cutting down or stopping, please speak to a doctor first.

In a crisis? Please reach out.

Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 · Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
UK: Samaritans 116 123 · Drinkline 0300 123 1110
US: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline · SAMHSA 1-800-662-4357
NZ: Lifeline 0800 543 354 · Alcohol Drug Helpline 0800 787 797
Outside these regions: call your local emergency services.

1. Welcome

By creating an account or using the Sober Awkward app ("the app"), you agree to these Terms & Conditions. If you don't agree, please don't use the app. We try to keep this plain-English — no jargon, no traps.

2. What this app is (and isn't)

Sober Awkward is a peer-support community app for people exploring or living an alcohol-free life. It includes daily check-ins, milestones, community posts, AI-powered prompts ("Tea Bag"), and curated content from the Sober Awkward podcast and website.

The app is designed to be used alongside — not instead of — professional medical or psychological help.

Nothing in this app constitutes medical advice, therapy, addiction treatment, mental health treatment, or a clinical diagnosis. The content is for general informational and peer-support purposes only.

3. You're an adult

You must be 18 or older to use this app. By signing up you confirm you are.

4. Your account

You're responsible for keeping your login details safe. Don't share your account. Anything posted from your account is your responsibility.

5. Community guidelines

Be kind. Be honest. Protect each other's anonymity. The community works because members feel safe.

You agree not to:

Bully, harass, threaten or shame other members.
Share other members' personal info or out anyone's sobriety.
Post spam, scams, MLM pitches, or unsolicited ads.
Promote or glamorise alcohol, drugs, self-harm, or eating disorders.
Post anything illegal, hateful, sexually explicit, or harmful.
Impersonate Vic, the Sober Awkward team, or anyone else.

We may remove posts and suspend accounts that break these rules — usually without warning. You can flag any post you're concerned about.

6. AI features (Tea Bag, daily prompts, etc.)

Some features use AI to generate prompts, suggestions, summaries and chats. AI gets things wrong. Treat AI replies as a friendly nudge — not professional advice. Never rely on AI for medical, legal, financial, or crisis decisions.

7. Local events, meetings & resources

Listings for AA meetings, sober events, venues and helplines are provided as a convenience. We don't run them, can't guarantee they're current, and aren't responsible for what happens at them. Always verify directly with the organiser before attending.

8. Your data & privacy

We store the info you give us (email, profile, sobriety date, check-ins, posts) so the app works. We don't sell your data. Community posts you write are visible to other signed-in members. You can download all your data or permanently delete your account any time from the Privacy section in your Profile. See our Privacy Policy for full details, including overseas data storage disclosures (Australian Privacy Principles).

8a. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia. Any dispute will be handled by the courts of Queensland, Australia, unless local consumer-protection laws in your country require otherwise (e.g. Australian Consumer Law).

9. Content ownership

You own what you post. By posting, you give Sober Awkward a non-exclusive licence to display it inside the app. Sober Awkward branding, the podcast, Vic's writing, and the app itself remain the property of Sober Awkward.

10. No guarantees

The app is provided "as is". We do our best to keep it running and useful, but we don't guarantee it will be uninterrupted, error-free, or suit your specific situation. To the fullest extent allowed by law, Sober Awkward is not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of the app.

11. Payments, subscriptions & refunds

Most of Sober Awkward is free. Some features (e.g. retreats, premium content, donations via Patreon) may involve a payment. If you pay through the app or a linked checkout:

Prices are shown in the currency listed at checkout and may include taxes where applicable.
Subscriptions auto-renew until cancelled. You can cancel any time before the next renewal date.
Refunds: digital purchases (in-app content, subscriptions, donations) are generally non-refundable once delivered. We will consider refunds on a case-by-case basis where required by law (e.g. Australian Consumer Law) or where there's a genuine fault on our end. Email support@soberawkward.com within 14 days of the charge with your receipt and reason.
Retreats & events: separate booking terms (deposits, cancellation windows) apply and will be shown at the time of booking. Those terms override this section for that purchase.
Payments are processed by trusted third parties (e.g. Apple, Google, Stripe, RevenueCat, Patreon). We don't store your full card details.
Chargebacks lodged without contacting us first may result in your account being suspended.

12. Reporting a user or post

See something that breaks the community guidelines? Please flag it. Every post in the feed has a Report option (the ⋯ menu) — tap it and pick a reason (spam, harassment, harmful content, impersonation, other). Reports are anonymous to the user being reported.

We aim to review reports within 48 hours. Outcomes can include: leaving the post up, removing the post, warning the user, or suspending/deleting the account. Repeat or serious offences = immediate removal.

If you feel unsafe or are being threatened, please contact local emergency services first, then email us at support@soberawkward.com with screenshots if you can.

13. Got an issue? Bugs & support

Something broken, weird, or just not working? We want to know. The fastest way to reach a human:

Email: support@soberawkward.com — please include your device (iPhone/Android/web), what you were doing, and a screenshot if possible.
Account & data requests (delete my account, export my data, change my email): same email above. We action these within 30 days.
Safety concerns about another member: use the in-app Report button or email us directly.

We're a small team — not a 24/7 helpdesk. If you're in crisis, please use the hotlines listed at the top of this page.

14. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms occasionally. Material changes will be flagged in-app. Continuing to use the app after a change means you accept the updated terms.

15. Contact

For anything else, email support@soberawkward.com or visit soberawkward.com.

THESILVERTREE.COM.AU PTY LTD (ABN 86 144 496 926), trading as Sober Awkward, Queensland, Australia.