“It takes one decision.” Discover how three celebs ditched alcohol & how you can too
More people than ever are becoming sober curious and discovering the benefits it has on you both physically and mentally. We spoke to three celebrities to dive into their booze-free lifestyles and what the experience is really like.
What does sober curious mean?
You might’ve heard of the term ‘sober curious’, but what does it actually mean?
The term ‘sober curious’ is used to describe someone who chooses to drink less or not drink at all, for health and wellness benefits. Being sober curious is different to someone who’s sober. Some people are sober because they struggle with an alcohol abuse problem. So why be sober curious?
“Most people look at sobriety as what they’re going to lose instead of what they’re going to gain” – Spencer Matthews
From losing weight and getting a better night’s sleep, to improving your brain function, there are plenty of changes you could see if you stop drinking alcohol. Read on to find out some of the improvements you could see from giving up alcohol, both short term and long term.
What to expect when you stop drinking
Wave bye to hangovers
Stopping drinking means no more hangovers. You can replace the headaches, nausea and tiredness after drinking with feeling good and possibly being more productive.
Say hello to better mental health
Drinking heavily regularly can affect the chemicals in your brain that help your mental health. Even though you might feel relaxed after you drink, alcohol can lead to low mood and anxiety.
Get energised
If you stop drinking, you might notice yourself feeling sprightlier, sleeping better and finding it easier to get up in the morning.
Drinking regularly can affect how well you sleep, as alcohol can affect your sleep cycle, making you feel tired during the day. Some people say alcohol helps them to fall asleep quickly, but it’s all about quality not quantity. Alcohol can affect the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of sleep. This can leave you tired regardless of how long you spend in bed.
With your boost of energy why not try something new? You could try getting more active or trying a new craft.
Glow up!
Drinking less alcohol can not only make you feel better, but it can also make you look better too. Alcohol can dehydrate your body, including your skin, and this happens whenever you drink. Stopping drinking or reducing the amount you drink can bring your radiance back and help your skin’s hydration. Reducing the amount of alcohol you’re drinking is the feel-good way to glow from the inside out.
Improved health
Taking the decision to stop drinking could reduce your risk of developing some alcohol-related diseases like cancer and liver disease.
If you’re overweight and you drink regularly, you might notice that you lose weight if you stop drinking. Not drinking can also make it easier for you to maintain a healthy weight.
Alcoholic drinks contain ‘empty calories’ which means your body isn’t getting any nutrition from them. They contain almost as many calories per gram as fat and many alcohol drinks are also high in sugar.
Stopping drinking can lower the risk of:
• Stroke
Personal paths to sobriety
Quitting alcohol is a personal thing. Some people may have a list of reasons why they want to stop drinking alcohol and some people may not have a reason at all. Whatever your reason, the great news is that if you want to remove alcohol from your life, you aren’t alone. Scott, Millie and Spencer opened up about why they stopped drinking alcohol.
“The big moment for me was when I got escorted out of a work event” – Scott Thomas
Being drunk had started to affect not just his social life and personal relationships, but also his work. Alcohol was slowing him down professionally. If you’re a regular drinker, you might notice your productivity and energy reducing and you might not be performing to the best of your ability.
“I was a different person when I was drinking... I literally had no confidence unless I was drinking” – Millie Gooch
Alcohol can change the way we think and feel, which can affect how we make decisions in the moment. It can affect the part of our brain that controls inhibition which means you might feel relaxed, less anxious and a bit more confident after a drink. These effects can wear off quickly and make you actually feel worse, regardless of how you felt while you were drinking.
“…What am I doing drinking on my own?” – Spencer Matthews
Realising if you have a problem with alcohol is the first big step to getting help. You might need help with your alcohol use if:
• You feel like you need to have a drink
• Your drinking is causing health issues
• Other people speak to you about how much you’re drinking
• You’re questioning your drinking habits
If you think you do have a problem with alcohol, there’s help and support available to help you.
Our sober survival guide
It can be difficult to challenge temptation – some people become dependent on alcohol and this can make it difficult to stop.
To help minimise health risks from alcohol, the NHS advises that both men and women should avoid drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week. If you get physical withdrawal symptoms like shaking, sweating or you feel anxious when you don’t have an alcoholic drink, make sure to get medical advice before you stop drinking as there may be risks linked to suddenly stopping drinking alcohol.
To help, we’ve put together a sober survival guide with top tips from Spencer, Millie and Scott.
“Start right now… don’t wait for the ‘right time’” – Spencer Matthews
Why hold off on the decision to ditch the drinks? There’s no need to worry about perfect timing – the best moment to start is this one. Every step of your journey counts and the first step towards a healthier you can begin right now. You’ve got this.
“Make a decision with yourself and mean it” – Scott Thomas
It’s important to remind yourself and the people close to you why you want to stop drinking. This can help with accountability and help to keep you on track. When you’ve made the decision with yourself that you want to stop drinking, speak to your family and friends and explain your reasons.
They can help you to celebrate your successes and they can be more understanding if you don’t want to be in certain spaces.
“Try non-alcoholic options” – Millie Gooch
Choosing a non-alcoholic or alcohol-free drink can be a simple way of adjusting your routine without it feeling too drastic. If you do still enjoy going to the pub or for meals out, try choosing a non-alcoholic option. Many places do mocktails, but there are also some places that offer non-alcoholic alternatives to spirits if you enjoy the taste of a particular drink.
“Set yourself realistic targets” – Scott Thomas
Stopping drinking doesn’t mean your social life has to end. It’s important to set realistic targets to help you. You need to consider what you’re capable of doing, for example if you’d usually go to the pub for drinks at the weekend, instead of staying in and not seeing anyone or socialising, you can organise to meet friends somewhere else and try something new like the theatre or bowling.
So, wave goodbye to hangovers and say hello to a healthier you. Cheers to a life beyond the bottle.
If you'd like to listen to more of Scott, Millie and Spencer's stories, check out the Taboo Talks episode - Sober curious: Your guide on the booze-free experience hosted by Vogue Williams.
