National sobriety support group for restaurant workers launches in Birmingham

The restaurant industry is known for its long hours, late nights and fast pace. Add in easy access to alcohol, and it’s no surprise that many food and beverage workers struggle with addiction. That’s where Ben’s Friends, a national nonprofit sobriety support group, comes in.

Founded in Charleston by longtime hospitality veterans Mickey Bakst and Steve Palmer, Ben’s Friends has recently launched a chapter in Birmingham. Read on for details, including where to attend in-person meetings.

The story behind Ben’s Friends

Ben’s Friends was born out of tragedy. Steve and Mickey, both now sober themselves, started the group after the death of their friend and colleague Ben Murray, a young chef who lost his life to addiction.

“We just got tired of watching kids destroy their lives—or die. When Ben died, we said, ‘Enough is enough.’ We announced to our community in Charleston that we would meeting every Sunday at a particular time and place, and all of a sudden, 20 people showed up for the very first meeting. So, we started meeting every week, and word started spreading.”

Mickey Bakst, Co-Founder, Ben’s Friends

Now, there are meetings all across the country and even internationally. But why are restaurants such a hard environment for people struggling with addiction?

According to Mickey, the hospitality industry doesn’t cause addiction, but it can intensify it.

“It’s stressful, the hours are long and you’re constantly surrounded by alcohol. You get off work late at night with nowhere to go, so blowing off steam with drinking or drugs becomes the norm. That environment makes it so much easier for people with addictive tendencies to spiral.”

Mickey Bakst, Co-Founder, Ben’s Friends

What to expect at a meeting

Unlike traditional 12-step programs, Ben’s Friends doesn’t emphasize rigid rules or a specific spiritual path. Instead, it focuses on community.

Meetings are open, welcoming and industry-specific. A typical gathering includes a leader, a topic for discussion and plenty of honest conversation. Subjects might range from practical questions—like how to pour a drink while sober—to personal challenges, like dating for the first time in sobriety.

“We stress community. And I have found that there are people all over this country that, like me, couldn’t relate to some of the things they found in other programs, but they could relate to the idea of being part of something greater than themselves.

I always, always, always believe that what got me sober in AA was really the people that helped me along the way, and that’s what I bring to Ben’s Friends: the understanding that on my own, I couldn’t make it, but if I created a team of like-minded people, I could get there.”

Mickey Bakst, Co-Founder, Ben’s Friends

How to find Ben’s Friends in Birmingham

Want to get involved, or know someone who might? Here’s how to attend meetings in Birmingham:

• Remote: Daily Zoom meetings are available at noon and 10PM, making it easy for hospitality workers to join no matter their schedule.
• In-person:
  • Where: Saturn, 200 41st St S, Birmingham, AL 35222
  • When: Mondays at 1PM
  • More information

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