Hello Friends,

I gave up drinking over a month ago so I thought I should post a blog post on how I gave up alcohol and tips to quit or cut down. I genuinely feel way better in myself and my life has changed so positively since kicking the drink.

Giving up alcohol was a huge step for me. I have thought about it so many times over the years, too many to remember. Growing up in Ireland, the drinking culture was a big part of life. It seemed as though, once I was old enough to buy alcohol, it was a huge victory. I was somehow led to believe that alcohol was the be all and end all of life!

It is a huge part of the culture in Ireland, where people get together socially and drink. Whether at the pub, each others houses, concerts, dinner and just about everywhere you go. It is almost expected as part of the social ritual that you will have alcohol.

Needless to say, we lapped up the chance to have alcohol as a fun, social way to relax and enjoy ourselves from a very young age. I first experimented with alcohol with my best friend when we were around 14. We raided the drinks cabinet and found some Sambuca. With no idea what it was or how to drink it, we decided to mix it with milk. Stupidly, we knocked back a few of those and were both violently ill, falling into bed after vomiting in the neighbours plant bed!

Not exactly the most wonderful of experiences but we did giggle a lot before the puking and passing out in bed, so we weren’t deterred! Thinking back, we were really naive and immature but I guess that is the norm for 14 year olds! Sadly, that wasn’t to be the last of the drunken escapades. They continued well into my twenties and thirties.

I have had a good and bad relationship with drink over my lifetime. To be honest, I thought drink was the best thing ever and the answer to all my problems. I would live for the weekend when I got to go and get drunk with my friends and go pubbing and clubbing or socialising anywhere with alcohol. The parties were endless and the alcohol flowed like water.

I’m not sure exactly when I first realised I may have a drinking problem, it was probably in my early 20’s. I often drank to excess and would do stupid things or else have a blackout of sorts where I couldn’t remember parts of the night or getting home. This was a worry, but never stopped me from reaching for a drink the next weekend, or even the next day in some cases.

Unfortunately, I was more interested in having a good time, forgetting my problems and getting drunk than paying attention to my health and state of mind. I think I used alcohol as a crutch in that way. It was always there for me when I needed it, helped me relax and I thought I needed it to enjoy myself.

I could not imagine having a good night out if alcohol wasn’t involved. I would never have dreamed of going to a booze-free party or anything like that. There were odd nights where I would drive and only have a non-alcoholic beer or two but those nights were extremely rare. Looking back, those were the best nights out as I made more genuine connections and remembered the whole night clearly, with no hangover the next day to deal with.

I nursed so many hangovers over the years with the pounding headaches and sickness. Dehydrated and unable to move in some cases but I never let it deter me. After all, it was worth it in my eyes for the night out and hilarious stories (half not remembered) from the night before. Sure everyone else was in the same boat, so that made it normal.

Literally everyone I know drank, socialised with alcohol and got drunk on the weekend. It was hard to avoid, even though I never would have avoided it before. It was pretty much assumed that if meeting up for whatever occasion that alcohol was involved. I look back and wonder, are we all under the spell of alcohol? I mean, is it all its cracked up to be???

Since giving up alcohol, I have been asking myself this question a lot. I assumed every social experience would be boring, I would feel left out and excluded from the fun and even be seen as an outsider. I had all this worry of seeming like the boring sober one. When actually, without it I feel so much more present when socialising, like as though I am a better person, have better conversations and best of all, remember everything.

I feel fresh as a daisy every day now with no more dreaded hangovers, brain fog and waiting for ‘wine o’clock’. The absolute best feeling is of being in control and that gives an ultimate sense of freedom. Freedom from the clutches of my drinking habit. No more living for the weekend, waiting for the kids to go to bed to drink wine and no more feeling like a slave to alcohol.

It is only now that I realise, I have been a slave to alcohol for the last 20 years. All my life I have been living for alcohol. My social life revolved around it week in week out since as long as I can remember after the age of 17, practically. I honestly had no idea that you can have a perfectly good night out without drinking.

I am so glad I have managed to give up my old habits and start my new life. I have had many nights ruined, special occasions tainted, friends lost. Enough was enough. I had opened my eyes to the effect that alcohol actually had on my life. For all the good times, the drink had brought me many sorrows to go along with the memories.

One night I got really drunk on a rare date night out and ended up having a mental blackout after a few glasses of wine and a few high-alcohol beers. I didn’t realise but I was in a right state. I didn’t remember getting home or anything after my last drink. I woke up at home the next morning oblivious to the fact that I had been a complete mess the night before. I was practically crippled with the hangover too, I had to vomit a few times the next day and was sick as a small hospital.

I was getting annoyed looks and the cold shoulder from a couple of people so that made me feel even more crap but I deserved it. It was a much-needed wakeup call for me. I actually needed to have a reason to quit drinking and I knew that this was the time. That was over a month ago and I am happy to say, I have given up alcohol at last.

If you are looking to cut down or quit drinking, then my advice is – just to give it a go. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Society seems to promote drinking but actually, when you think about it, it doesn’t really do anything except lower your inhibitions and make you a bit woozy. After that, it can get messy. Unless you know how to stop and when to stop but then again, alcohol does decrease your ability to rationalise.

So here is how I gave up alcohol and my tips to quit or cut down – Good luck!

1. Write down a list of reasons to quit such as mental wellbeing, improved health, no more hangovers, saving money, etc.
2. Write down a list of goals to achieve when alcohol-free such as a new hobby, saving for a holiday, spending more quality time with family and friends etc.
3. Consider having some distractions as deterrents from drinking such as reading, writing, crafting, fitness, meeting friends for coffee etc.
4. Buy a book to help you quit drinking. I bought one called “Kick the Drink Easily” by Jason Vale. *(Affiliate link) It puts things into perspective in a good way.
5. Join online groups of even AA if you think you need more support when having moments of weakness and hard days.
6. Remember why you are doing this and what you want to achieve. Picture your life as a healthy, confident, happy and free individual.
7. Think of the good impression you will make and example you will lead for others who will look up to you.
8. Remember that drinking to excess is a serious problem and can lead you into dangerous circumstances.
9. Think of your health and how much better you will be – mind, body and soul. Anxiety and stress are often caused by alcohol, not relieved by it.
10. Address problems head-on and talk them through. You won’t find the answer to your problems at the and of a bottle. Alcohol is a crutch at best.

My advice would be to tell everyone that you have quit drinking, therefore you won’t be accidentally challenged by people offering you drinks. Also, this keeps you accountable for staying true to your word. You might be pleasantly surprised by peoples reactions. I found mostly positive reactions with plenty of support. Some people looked at me as if I was crazy, others couldn’t believe I could give up the “beloved” drink and some probably thought I was just saying this for the millionth time.

Funnily enough, I think everyone says they’re “never drinking again” after a night of heavy drinking but in all honesty I really meant it and even had my partner back me up so that people would believe me. I sent messages to loved ones explaining I really meant it, just to be clear and to try and pave the way forward mentally.

Amazingly, my best friend had decided she was quitting alcohol and giving up drink for good a couple of days before my announcement. She was a great support and I guess we both had the same mindset at the time. We had been drinking too much and it was starting to cause problems so we knocked it on the head together.

She suggested the book* to me and I bought it that day. It is a book that can help you quit the drink altogether or simply change your relationship with drink and cut down. It is along the same lines as the Alan Carr book which helps people stop smoking. It really opens your eyes to the falseness of alcohol and wakes you up to the pressures of society today.

If you want to grab the book, you can get it here.* It helped me to change my thinking and realise that alcohol isn’t all its cracked up to be. We can live a perfectly happy and fulfilled life without it. Life is in fact, better without it. We are conditioned to believe otherwise but it is an addiction like any other.

I am spending more time with my family where I am fully present and a better parent. I am way more productive, with various projects on the go and I am looking forward to opening our new business with a clear head and no more hangovers to slow me down. I am gaining clarity more than ever as this has been a huge wakeup call. There is so much more to life than drink.

My skin has improved and I look more awake and healthier, naturally. I am able to buy nice things as I have more money to play with. I have a clear head and no longer have to deal with brain fog and the grogginess that comes with dehydration and alcohol withdrawal. I feel like a better person, especially knowing I can handle myself and won’t have to face the regret from drunken escapades. I no longer experience “the fear” from memory loss after a big night out.

I feel way less anxiety in general and I’m more alert and confident in myself. I know I can count on myself and that is the most freeing thing of all. Alcohol is no longer a crutch to help me deal with my problems or socialise better. That was all in my head and I am realising that I can walk on my own with a little help from the people I love. That makes me humble.

I know my triggers and have learnt to deal with them. My triggers are stress and boredom so that is why I have distractions such as reading and writing or watching series on Netflix. I have learnt to deal with them through determination, willpower and courage.

Once the first few days are over it gets easier. It is just like any addiction, such as sugar, smoking, a bad relationship – you need to stay focused and motivated to stop giving in and stay strong. Once you have made your decision you need to follow through and of course, that takes willpower. Just remember why you chose to give up and that this hard part will pass. Once you are past the first few days, the worst is over.

After a week, you will be feeling great and way less inclined to cravings. The cravings will still be there of course but they will become much easier to handle and eventually, they get less and less. The physical withdrawals may be difficult, depending on how much you drink. I was drinking almost every night, a glass or two of wine or more…

I handled it well because I made a real decision for my life, wellbeing and health. Once I made that decision for real, it was easy to steer clear. I removed the box wine I was used to having lying around for ‘wine on tap’ and although there were bottles of liquor and even wine still in the house, I had no interest.

Every lunch and dinner I was faced with people drinking wine, as we live in France so that is cultural and ‘the norm’ here. That involved a little willpower and still does but it gets easier and I know the craving will pass.

I did have a moment of weakness after a month, where we were presented with an expensive bottle of wine so I had a glass but I immediately felt guilty after my pledge to myself. I didn’t let it get to me but I recognised that trigger and decided it was best not to do that again for a while since I was taking a step back.

I do however, believe that eventually I will be able to enjoy the odd glass of wine or beer and not have the craving for more. It is a mentality and although not for everyone – I like to think I will have the option to do that some day. It’s not an aspiration or end goal but I would like to not feel ‘under the spell’ of alcohol anymore. I don’t have to prove it to myself either. I could probably go without completely. There are some decent non-alcoholic beers out there too!

I was initially worried that I would feel awkward when socialising at night but I have had a few get-togethers where everyone else was drinking and I opted for water. It was a great night and I honestly didn’t even miss drinking. I knew I had made the right choice after all this time.

I have lost some belly fat from my gut which is a nice thing but I have actually started eating more sugar. I have been substituting my cravings with it. However, I just did that until the cravings subsided and as of today, I am getting back on track and cutting sugar down to a minimum.

It seems the more sugar I eat, the more I crave too so I am replacing one bad habit with another! It was worth it for what I gained though and I am going to go cold turkey on the sugar now. Apparently it is quite common to crave sugar when quitting drinking as your body has withdrawals from sugar. This is normal so don’t let it deter you. You won’t put on weight because you are cutting out the alcohol which is a calorie deficit already. Even if you do put on a little weight, who cares? You can lose it once in better shape and have more energy.

You will feel more energetic and motivated so try to get out for walks  or do some at-home fitness and enjoy the perks of being free from alcohol and hangovers. There are so many perks!

It is one step at a time but it really does get easier. I think you need to be serious about your decision to quit or cut down completely otherwise it would only result in a half-attempt. This requires real determination and stamina for the first while. Habit is hard to break so you need to be diligent. Self care is really important so you need to look after yourself in the time of this vulnerability.

Do some nice things for yourself to help you feel good and take your mind off it. Go for a massage, buy some new clothes/makeup/skincare, spend time with friends and loved ones and just relax. I started listening to hypnosis at night when going to sleep and wow, I had the most amazing sleep ever! You really do sleep better after quitting alcohol. Here is a post on how to sleep better naturally if you have any issues. I know some people use drink to help them sleep but you do not need to at all.

Do you feel you are drinking to combat stress or relax? If so, have you tried meditating? I love meditation and there are so many apps available as well as free downloads and Youtube guided meditations to help. I often use Headspace and I even have my kids listen to meditation music. Have a read of my post on how meditation music helps calm my kids & I.

It should be known that alcohol is a depressant. Not only can it make you feel physically depressed but it depresses the nervous system. This is why people associate it with a relaxing feeling. Initially it does provide that but after another drink or two you begin to feel woozy.

Alcohol causes people to lose their inhibitions, which can result in greater risk-taking and poor decision-making that a person would never make sober.
While intoxicated, people are also vulnerable to unintentional accidents and injury. – Michaels House Alcohol Treatment.

The thing about drinking is that alcoholic drinks never seem to quench your thirst. You always need another. That is why people scoff at the idea of ‘going for one’ and laugh as they say it cos they know instinctively its not true. Then the social buzz keeps you out aswell so it is a catch 22. Most people don’t realise that you can go to the pub or any social gathering with no drink and have a great night! It’s all in the mind.

The truth is, alcohol is addictive and with any addiction there is denial. If we deny our addiction then it is acceptable. If you have a problem with drinking, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are an alcoholic. If you are using alcohol as a crutch then you need to learn to walk on your own two feet. Maybe you need to cut down or change your relationship with drink. Everyone is different but we are all the same, deep down.

If you rely on alcohol to have a good time, relax or take your mind off things then you probably have an alcohol problem. If you can’t stop at your limit then you probably need to cut back. If you can’t go without alcohol in your life then you definitely need to try quitting. To be reliant on alcohol is an addiction that needs to be addressed and dealt with before it turns into full-blown alcoholism.

Most people have been affected by alcoholism at some point in their lives. A relative, friend or stranger, we all know the consequences. The question is, are you willing to face up to facts? If you’re reading this and think you may have a problem then do yourself a favour and follow in my footsteps. You will soon prove to yourself that you are not a slave to alcohol.

I hope I am not going on too much but it is a subject close to my heart so that is why I am sharing my journey with you. If you have your drinking under control then good for you. I am happy to sit in the company of other drinkers and I do not judge. I was a drinker for 20 years and nearly everyone I know are regular drinkers.

More and more people are giving up alcohol these days. So much so, that they have even opened up an alcohol-free bar called Virgin Mary, in Dublin, Ireland. Check out the post about that here – Ireland is Changing.

Part of my journey involves being around alcohol daily and soon I will be running a bar and restaurant so I will have to be around alcohol all the time. I understand that alcoholics need to stay well away and I fully understand that but I am able to sustain, thankfully. All paths are different but you ultimately find what works for you and that is the way to go forward.

All I can say is, I am happier, healthier, have lost nothing and only gained from this experience. That is my story of how I gave up alcohol and my tips to quit or cut down. Life is not perfect and there will be ups and downs, good and bad times and it’s not a cure-all situation but it definitely helps.

I definitely drink more tea now which is way better for my body and mind. Check out my post on tea and the health benefits here.

Best of luck and feel free to message me via the contact form in the About page if you want to chat or have any questions. Let us know in the comments if you have any further tips for kicking the drink. Do subscribe for updates and more positive, healthy lifestyle posts.

Lots of love,

Ciara xxx

*This post contains an affiliate link to the book I used to help quit alcohol. If you make a purchase through here, I make a small commission. Helps keep the blog running. Thanks!