Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard the news that Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has cancer. It brings to an end weeks of wild online speculation about her. But what does all that have to do with alcohol-free living? Well, quite a lot actually. There are some key takeaways for all of us here and I explain what they are in this week’s blog. Key points We never know what’s really going on in someone else’s life Kate Middleton’s surprising news – after weeks of scrutiny  – is a reminder that whilst we might think we know what’s going on in someone else’s l ..read more

Have you ever done something stupid when you’ve been drinking… a drunken mistake that’s left you cringing for weeks? Yeah, me too. But we don’t often talk about this stuff. The awkward, embarrassing and shameful things that happen… And yet it can be a huge relief to hear other people’s stories and know you’re not alone. Which is why I’m sharing some anonymous, cringey confessions this week… Confessions from Sober School graduates: Christina “I got asked to leave my little brother’s wedding. I was a drunken mess before dinner had even ended and then fell over on the dance floor. Both our pare ..read more

“I bet they make a big deal out of me not drinking…” “I feel as if I’m letting other people down… What if they think I’m boring?” If any of these thoughts sound familiar, you’re not alone. It can be tough to be the first person in your family or friendship group to decide that you’re ditching alcohol, especially when everyone else drinks. Maybe you’ve taken time off from drinking in the past and the response was hardly enthusiastic. Don’t worry – I’ve got three tips to help you handle it in today’s video… Key points: It can be tough going first It’s frustrating when other people give you a h ..read more

What do airports, planes, holidays, restaurant meals and sunsets have in common? They’re all things I thought sobriety would ruin for me. Seriously. I never believed I’d be able to get through them without drinking. Or if I did somehow manage to resist, I couldn’t imagine actually enjoying any of those things without alcohol. They wouldn’t feel as special, right? It would seem as if something was missing. If you can relate, this week’s video is for you. I filmed it a few days ago, during a trip to Costa Rica… Key points What’s on your “I can’t imagine” list? We all have one – a list of thing ..read more

Picture this: You take a break from drinking and it goes OK… but you miss the taste of wine. Eventually you let yourself open one of your favourite bottles… Only to discover that it’s nothing like you remembered and doesn’t taste nice. WHAT?! So do you tip it away? Or do you plough on and finish the glass, wincing your way through it? What you do next really matters and I explain why in today’s blog… Key points Can you relate to this? Here’s the email I received from Tiffany: “I got through January without drinking anything but I really missed my wine. I missed the ritual of opening a bottle ..read more

We’re a month into the New Year. If you set a goal to quit drinking or take a break from booze… how’s it going? I know many people began 2024 feeling fired up and motivated, but January is a long old month If you’re struggling with your motivation now the “New year, new me!” enthusiasm has faded, I can help. In today’s video, I’m talking all about how to take action when you feel like giving up and the one key question you must ask yourself… Key points Understanding motivation I used to think motivation was something that just happened to me. I either had it or I didn’t – I thought it came ..read more

“What’s been your alcohol-free highlight of the year? And is there a picture that sums up that moment, that you’re happy for me to share?” That’s the question I asked some of my Sober School students earlier this week. The photos they sent in are AMAZING and I’m delighted to share them here with you. Each picture gives you a glimpse into life as a non drinker… and just how much bigger, better and brighter life gets when you ditch booze! There’s a story behind every photo and I’ve done my best to capture it here, in what might just be my favourite video of the year… What about you? If you’ve ..read more

Imagine buying something that you thought was going to make you feel less stressed, only to discover that it didn’t really work. Perhaps it distracted you for an hour or two, but then it woke you up in the early hours. And the next day you felt even more stressed – life seemed harder, not easier. Would you go back to the shop and ask for your money back? Today’s blog video is all about the fact that alcohol doesn’t *really* work… Key points Alcohol doesn’t really work It works just enough to keep you chasing it, but it doesn’t really work. You get the crumbs of something – a brief distractio ..read more

“Why can everyone else drink normally apart from me?” When I was struggling with my drinking, I must have asked myself that question a hundred times.  The shame of not being “normal” like “other people” kept me stuck, trying to cut down over and over.  I wish I’d known back then that I wasn’t alone at all. Perhaps you need to know that too? So that’s what today’s video is all about. Key points No one talks about *this* kind of drinking I suspect you’re nothing like the clichéd stereotype of a problem drinker. You have a job, responsibilities and deadlines that you meet. Everyone yo ..read more

If you’re sober (or trying to be), an issue you might have to deal with at this time of year is having drinks pushed on you. Here are a few examples of things you could hear: “What do you mean you’re not drinking? Don’t be boring.” “I’m not taking no for an answer, I’ve got you a drink anyway!” “Come on, one glass won’t hurt…” Argh! It’s annoying that you have to deal with drink pushers now, so early on in sobriety, when you have plenty of other things to be thinking about. Here are my tips for dealing with this nonsense at Christmas! Key points Drink pushers aren’t mean saboteurs Let’s giv ..read more