“Surely one drink won’t hurt?” The thought pops into your head from nowhere. Now you’re thinking about trying to moderate and wondering whether it’s a good idea. Just one drink sounds so harmless. So normal… so reasonable…

When it comes to taking action, you feel stuck. You spend a lot of time thinking about your drinking; worrying and wondering whether you should quit. You buy books about alcohol free living and follow sober bloggers on Instagram…

When I first quit drinking, one of my biggest concerns was how I’d celebrate without alcohol. I wondered: how would I mark special occasions? Victories? Big accomplishments? My birthday? Anniversaries? Or the end of a tough week…

Deciding to go alcohol free is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made – there’s no way I’d ever give this lifestyle up. But I’ve got to admit, sobriety isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. When you quit drinking, you start to notice…

Picture the scene: you’re trying to be good when all of a sudden, you’re offered a free drink. It might be during a flight or on holiday; at a wedding, a party, a restaurant meal or a work conference… Wherever it is, there’s something…

You keep thinking about quitting drinking, but every time you’re about to dive in and really go for it, the fear of failure takes over. Suddenly, there are 101 reasons why now isn’t the right time: you’ve got a holiday coming up, you’re…

In our boozy world, alcohol and celebration tend to go hand in hand. So how do you stay sober at a wedding or party and still have fun with everyone else? For many people, the idea of not drinking at these events feels so daunting…

When it comes to sober celebrities, it tends to be the stars who’re struggling that grab the headlines. This is a shame, because it reinforces the impression that alcohol-free living is hard or just for people who’ve hit rock bottom…

At this time of year I often hear from people who’re worried that a sober holiday means missing out. They can’t imagine skipping cocktails by the pool or saying no to wine with their evening meal. Sampling the local booze is all part…

“The most expensive thing about having children is all the wine you have to drink!” “You’re not really drinking alone if the kids are at home!” Nowadays, this kind of messaging seems to be everywhere, from fridge magnets to cards…

I can’t tell you how many times I swore I was done with drinking. I’d decide I’d had enough – it was time to stop. But then the doubts would creep in. I’d start to wonder if I was overreacting. I’d find ways to justify my drinking and convince…

“Is my drinking normal?” I used to ask myself this question all the time. At the height of my drinking career, my alcohol intake certainly didn’t feel ‘normal’. I tried all kinds of things to cut back, but nothing ever worked for…