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Since giving up alcohol (originally temporarily) at the end of 2024, I really haven’t missed it at all. I thought I would. I assumed I had a budding dependence (part of why I stopped) and genuinely thought it would be a struggle. It turns out, once my brain decides on something, it’s VERY easy. A similar thing happened with my lucozade habit. I craved it, I couldn’t consider getting through the day without a couple of bottles of that liquid energy. Then one day I decided it had to stop and I have never wanted it since. Weird.

Back to drinking. The only times I’ve felt a little tempted by alcohol is in the company of others. I have no need for social lubricant, I’m very happy to stay out late, dance and karaoke sober. The issue isn’t my want for the drink so much as I feel like I’m letting the side down.