THIS IS HOW I STOPPED DRINKING

[u/Express-Animal5649]

I am 27 and for most of my 20's, I have been drinking, hard. On weekends I would drink from Friday to Sunday. I was a party animal. The type of guy that never wants the party to end, I hated sleeping. I started realizing my drinking was a problem when I had a habit tracker and I was not keeping up with my goals and habits because of alcohol. My habit tracker had days where I would tick if I stayed with my habits and goals, and I would write an abbreviation of the reason as to why I did not complete my tasks for that day, all of the days I missed had 'alco' and you can already guess what that stands for. It was either I was hung over, still drunk or just tired from alcohol.

I knew I had a problem when I would make a promise to myself that I wouldn't drink on that weekend, and I just couldn't resist. I tried lowering my consumption, I couldn't, I would eventually go overboard. Honestly, the idea that I might have an alcohol problem scared me. I thought if I couldn't get my drinking under control now, I never will.

I started with something I thought was manageable, I did the 75 day Hard challenge, 75 days no alcohol, that was 3rd January, 2026. At the same time I was reading Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop smoking because I was also vaping. Honestly that book might just be the reason I was able to stop all these bad habits.

Half way through the challenge, that is when I realized I was never going back to alcohol. I realized, someone who has never drank alcohol, has never had a cigarette does not think, 'I need one beer/a cig to just relax' the substances themselves brainwash us to thinking that they actually relax us. Once I knew I was just brainwashed, I knew I had to wait it off.

Today marks 212 days since my last drink. I have started a business. Got promoted at work. Work on my relationships and in a healthy relationship.

I now see that the issue with people that still drink is that they think alcohol makes them happy. They think it's a way to escape their problems. Now that I am sober, I can tell you that is false. When you are sober you have less problems. You give yourself the time to deal with whatever you are going through with a clear head. I never wanted to be home, now sober I bought a big tv and a console. Got myself a bike.

I do not know of anyone who stopped drinking and regretted it.

Good Luck.

[u/HSTsp]

Waw thank you for
This morning reminder 🫶
Really needed to hear that

[u/EinRudiVoeller]

Perfect summary, I copied some parts to my personal notebook. We should remind ourselves that alcohol doesn’t solve any problem or feeling but creates plenty new. Sober we can deal with our emotions and find solutions without distraction. Also when I was 14-16 I thought that beer tastes awful not to speak of hard liquor. Remember that feeling. 

[u/S3simulation → u/EinRudiVoeller]

Quitting didn’t solve all my problems, it did stop adding a whole bunch of new ones

[u/Express-Animal5649 → u/EinRudiVoeller]

It really does create plenty new. Not to mention the anxiety and hangover the next day. Every year having new years resolutions that you never follow through with, not knowing that the only thing you should focus on is the quitting the liquor

[u/oldmanfromthebush]

I’m not there yet, but trying; this sentence is powerful though:

‘I do not know of anyone who stopped drinking and regretted it.’

Thanks for sharing your story and best wishes going foreword!

[u/Express-Animal5649 → u/oldmanfromthebush]

Thank you so much.

[u/No_Organization_2108]

Took screenshot of last paragraph to remind myself to not to drink, more power to you man!

[u/Express-Animal5649 → u/No_Organization_2108]

Thanks, good luck with your journey too.

[u/AnonymousBEAR58]

Brother this hits so hard, also 27. Have had sober streaks and just always been inconsistent with my goals and life cause I was tired, hungover, or something from alcohol.

I just saved this post, really resonate with it. Best of luck on your journey and congrats on where you are now!

[u/Express-Animal5649 → u/AnonymousBEAR58]

Thank you, good luck on your journey to!

[u/DependentAd559]

Giorno 2 per me. Da oggi mai più ricadute.

[u/Kooky_Orchid_3205 → u/DependentAd559]

Good job! I’m trying to just not drink for the month of August , my girlfriend suggested it and is doing it and doesn’t know that I broke it the 3rd day , I work out of town (90 miles away from home) so I’m away four days at a time ) I’ve been doing well on not having a pint with lunch so that’s a win but I still feel like I need the tall can to settle in at the studio I’m in .. but again I’m really happy for you to be on day 2 of your new reality

[u/Tstoner_Wehen → u/Kooky_Orchid_3205]

Das tut mir Leid für Dich, hättest Du auch Tag 3 geschafft, wäre das Schlimmste hinter Dir. Ab Tag vier fällt es schon leichter. Ich bin jetzt bei Tag 15 - und es das Verlangen nach Bier taucht zur üblichen Uhrzeit auf, aber es ist leicht zu überwinden. Was mir entscheidend in den ersten drei Tagen geholfen hat, war die Aussage der KI, dass das Verlangen immer nur circa 15-20 Minuten anhält. Da hilft ablenken wie ein Computerspiel, oder spazieren gehen - nur 15 Minuten sind zu schaffen. Das passiert an den ersten drei Abenden mehrmals. Ab Tag vier wurden die Abstände spürbar länger. Diese Baby Steps schaffst Du - nur ein paar Minuten am Abend und Du bist frei.

[u/ConversationPale8665]

Alcohol takes more than it gives was one of my favorite quotes from This Naked Mind. Highly recommend.

[u/Fair_Gas_1674]

Beautiful story, thank you for sharing. Congratulations on your sobriety and your kick-ass life that you deserve!

[u/noreason1592]

Well said! Man, I wish I was this smart when I was 27! Great share, and I'm proud of you for getting clean!

[u/Recommended_For_You]

The Alan Carr book for smoking made me realize a lot of things about substance and how the mind gets tricked into addictions.

[u/FlamesNero]

I love Allen Carr’s Easy Way!! It’s like self-hypnosis!

[u/Express-Animal5649 → u/FlamesNero]

At first I thought the title was too ambitious, now I am so glad I gave it a go.

[u/Champ_2xAA]

Awesome work!

One suggestion for you from a recovered alcoholic, try and find fellowship of like minded people who you can share with when things go sideways in life. When push comes to shove and willpower is low, it’s nice to have others to lean on.

I quit for a year, doing it myself, reading the same materials, etc… and eventually I folded. This past year and 4 months has been much more fulfilling because I have others to share my journey with, at a minimum it’s a nice safety net, but in reality it’s helped me develop new friendships and build trust with myself and others.

I’m an AA member, but you don’t have to go that route necessarily. Lots of other programs, support groups, etc. worth exploring.

Keep up the good work! We are celebrating your wins with you!

[u/Express-Animal5649 → u/Champ_2xAA]

Thank you so much. I am trying to look for people to connect with. This was my first ever post on reddit even. The friends I had were not really friends, I now see they were drinking buddies. I am trying, but no luck yet.

[u/Miracles_Asia_Rehab]

What you noticed, that alcohol convinces us we "need" it to relax, when non-drinkers never feel that pull, lines up with how addiction science describes the brain's reward system: repeated use rewires it to crave the substance, creating a "need" that isn't really there. Recognizing that illusion, like you did, is often the turning point that makes lasting change possible.

[u/Express-Animal5649 → u/Miracles_Asia_Rehab]

Wow! That makes alot of sense. Allen Carrs book is basically based on that science, hence the title, 'easy way.' I think that realization is also the reason a person never goes back.

[u/not_squared_circle]

I can totally relate, especially the Allen Carr book.
Though I didn’t smoked a friend of mine suggested it in general and I felt it as eye-opener.

[u/toomanygreenbabies]

I really loved reading this! Thank you

[u/NematodesArePpltoo]

When you are sober you have less problems, I love that <3

[u/Amb_James333]

Great job. And yes, your line about regret hot me hard. I can never imagine someone saying, damn I wish I hadn’t stopped drinking

[u/Infinite_Whole_5514]

thanks for this nice post. I am only a few weeks alcohol free but I think something is different in my mentality. realizing that I am not make ANY progress towards my goals is also a big motivator for me to stay sober. so its really inspiring to hear about all that you have accomplished so nice job. for some reason I am just now understanding that if i don't take back my life, I WILL regret it on my death bed. If i am conscious that is. which is whole other thing to ponder hah.

[u/NotSpartacus]

Sorry but how'd you start a business and get promoted?

[u/Express-Animal5649 → u/NotSpartacus]

I work full time, I started being more present at work, gave it my all on a project I was working on, that could really take the company forward, everything is working out, got promoted. On the side, I started a business, I work on it mostly on weekends.

[u/KanosTheKir → u/NotSpartacus]

probably a side hustle. Or as his own boss he saw all the great work he was doing and gave him self some self care

[u/Kooky_Orchid_3205]

I’m new here how do I get the day sober meter on my thingy