People's stories

I didn't feel alcohol was contributing positively to my life so I wanted to do something about it. I had also taken up running and was starting to take it more seriously and I didn't feel it was compatible with my training so again another driver to stop. It wasn’t easy at first, but I set myself small goals - like having one more day off, and one less drink in the evening. I found online groups really supportive and I really like the new alcohol free options that you can get these days (Jasmine, aged 46).

Over the last year my husband and I have experienced our first alcohol free holiday, birthdays, Christmas, social events including weddings and even set ourselves the challenge of sober dancing.  One of the biggest issues we've had is other people, if you tell someone you're not drinking they make a big deal of it.  Even if they're not doing the whole 'come on, just the one' thing, they embark on a whole conversation about how much or how little they drink, almost seeing you not drinking as an attack or judgement on them.  It's taken us a while to overcome this, mostly be downplaying it (Pam, aged 61).

I was a heavy social drinker for decades and I drank to cope with stress, but I never thought anything of it. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer it was a total shock to find out that alcohol might have increased my risk. No one ever told me about that before. When I told my children I had cancer, I wished I’d never drank the toxic poison! I have been through hell and back with my treatment. Since then, I overhauled my entire life, and ditched alcohol completely. I just want other people to be aware of the reality (Julie, aged 57)

The biggest challenge for me when reducing my alcohol intake was the fact that I like the taste and at first I didn't many nice alcohol free options available. Then there was the worry about being judged for not drinking… we need to change the social norm! Not drinking should be applauded, people shouldn’t be made to feel uncomfortable because they have chosen not to drink.  I found online sober support networks, blogging and reading quit lit really helped me to stop. Knowing there was a worldwide community of people just like me, going through the same problems and being able to communicate and support one another was invaluable (Joy, aged 43).