Many people use alcohol to help them loosen up, especially when filming reality television. Alcohol helps fuel the drama, keeping viewers entertained. But sometimes the stars go too far and become addicted. Carl Radke quit drinking several years ago. The Summer House star opened up about filming the show sober while everyone else gets wasted.
Carl Radke Opens Up About Filming Reality TV Show Sober
Several Real Housewives stars have spoken out about how Bravo provides them with unlimited alcohol and even encourages them to drink. Former RHONY star Lea McSweeney is embroiled in a lawsuit with the network over allegations that she was pressured to drink despite being sober.
Summer House star Carl Radke stopped drinking in 2021 after his brother died from an overdose the year before. He’s shared every aspect, good and bad, about his sobriety journey. The reality star released a memoir in 2025. That same year, he launched a non-alcoholic bar in Brooklyn. He recently hosted an event there in honor of Alcohol Awareness Month.
Reality Tea attended the event and spoke to the Bravo star. A new season of Summer House premiered in early 2026. Season 10 documents the failing marriage between Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula. She recently confirmed that she’s now dating co-star West Wilson.
There’s a lot of drama happening in Season 10. Add alcohol and you have a hit reality show. Carl Radke is five years sober and determined to stay that way. He revealed how he navigates filming the show without alcohol.
“I started on reality TV drunk, coked up, Adderall, all the things. Anybody who has watched seasons one through four of Summer House, I’m sorry,” he began.
The Bravo star continued, I wouldn’t be doing Summer House if I was drinking because I wouldn’t be there. It’s given me a lot of freedom to really show up, to film, and be a part of our show. I might be less messy or less crazy, but sober people can be d*cks too. Sober people can still have emotions.”
Summer House Star Says Society Has ‘Evolved’ Away From Alcohol
Recent studies have shown a surprising decline in alcohol consumption among adults. Carl Radke, 41, shared his prediction that reality TV shows could stop providing alcohol while filming eventually.
“Reality TV is definitely a weird animal. Some of the best reality TV has been fueled by alcohol. And I’ve been a part of some of that. But I think as our society has evolved, and the [conversations about drinking] are shifting.”
Carl Radke added that it was “amazing” to be able to show the audience that it’s possible to be sober and still have fun. He was joined at the event by Bachelor Nation’s Zac Clark and Laguna Beach star Jason Wahler, both of whom have shared their own sobriety journeys.
Tell us in the comments if you’ve seen on-screen changes in Carl Radke since he got sober.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
