Calling time on wine: 100 days sober - starting 01/01/26

[reset100]

My wine drinking has slowly spiralled into a daily habit and I’m calling time on it. No drama, no rock bottom - just the realisation that it’s become a crutch and I want out of the swirl.

From 1st January, I’m committing to 100 days sober and I’d love others to join me. This isn’t about moderation or “just weekends” - it’s about a clean break and supporting each other to go completely alcohol-free for the full 100 days.

If alcohol has crept in as a daily default, if you’re tired of negotiating with yourself every evening, or if you simply want a proper reset with people who get it, you’re very welcome here.

No judgement. No pressure. Just accountability, honesty, and support.

Well done everyone! 💪

It’s social anxiety that’s worrying me about the assessment - that I’ll put my foot in it or say the wrong thing and people won’t like me or think I’m weird. Drinking wine won’t help that, but it will at least take away the anxious thoughts for a couple of hours. But then of course I’ll feel worse tomorrow. I absolutely know it’s not worth it so why do I even think about it?

I worry about putting my foot in it too. It's horrible

I have six :( I couldn’t believe how puffy my face looked in a recent photo!

Thank you for that - I have just printed it off and it is going on my kitchen notice board where I will see it every morning when I get my breakfast.

I'm popping onto this thread to give you all a huge boost and hopefully my story will help inspire.

This time last year, I was where you were - awful hangxiety; making excuses to drink; seeking situations to drink; making promises to myself at 3 in the morning that that was it, no more wine, by the time afternoon came, I had gone back on my word and would buy wine...it went on and on. I drank every night, and rarely had a night free of alcohol. I read everything, saturated myself in quit lit...it resonated, for a bit (and I did cut down) but I couldn't actually stop.

I read on Mumsnet a recommendation for a book, and listened to it on audio. It changed my life. I made the switch (by this I mean I switched from feeling wine was doing something for me and I craved, yearned and deserved it to I did not want it, it did nothing for me and I would not miss it). The book was what I needed to hear and I have not touched a drop of wine since 16th January - so almost 1 year sober, I know I will never drink again and it makes me euphoric. I love being sober, clear headed, always in control and hugely relieved to get my life back and never have to play those awful mind games with myself again.

Once you make the switch, you never WANT to drink. It sounds mad, but it is true.

Anyway, worth a read if my story resonates with someone. "Alcohol Explained" by William Porter. It is a no nonsense, factual account of what alcohol does and makes it easy to quit. He wrote a follow up which I listened to once I stopped.

When you see it for what it is, it becomes a natural thing to give it up. Best of luck everyone.

Thanks for your posts. They are really helpful.

Im really grateful to everyone on here for your honesty and insight. I’ve been drinking for over 40 years . I know my life will be better without alcohol.

Another day sober and our first dry weekend DONE! A big well done to everyone for getting this far. Getting through the weekend feels like quite an achievement.

@FizzPleaseWell done to you! Your post is truly inspiring and I would really love to be writing the same next year. I read that book also and it was very informative must read it again.
This is whst I am trying to do, look at it as gaining something rather than missing out or being deprived. I can honestly say I have not actually had a craving since I started ( day five almost done)
Im going to continue in this vein and hope it serves me as it did you. The more I think about what I have put my body through the last few decades the more I am really wanting to reverse the damage.
Thank you for sharing

@SwiftyFifty You are welcome. I think it just hit at the right time. I hated what alcohol was doing to me and was very worried about the effects on my health, but more on the hold it had over me if that makes sense? I went from loathing the idea of cutting down to actually wanting it out my life, so that mindset was likely in place when I read the book. I remember the part in particular about the cycle of addiction and cravings and thinking how it was so accurate.

Anyway, good luck - when you make the switch as I like to call it, it is easy. I see it as an addictive poison now. If you had told me that earlier in the year, last year I would not have believed that.

There is so much to gain when you don't drink - again, sounds ridiculous, but it is true and I wish I knew that years ago. I love the freedom more than anything. I also spent a fortune - it mounted up to a phenomenal annual amount when I was truthful about what I spent drinking at home as well as all the holidays, occasions, etc when I drank a lot more.

I have this book! Never read it but will now. Thanks for the suggestion @FizzPlease I need something to read at night to help me wind down - let’s hope this helps and the actual science behind it sinks in!!

I'm in. Just three glasses and my head is foggy the next day. Tired of it.

Welcome! We’ve just got started so you’re in good company. I just can’t seem to get to bloody sleep.. 😴 going to make myself a hot chocolate in a mo and start reading the William Porter book.

You are me!! I’m in as well….

Morning all. Day six here. Slept a bit better but I’m up all enthusiastic about going to the office. I am loving that when I wake up the first thing is not “ I am not drinking tonight”, and other such negative self loathing thoughts. Like @FizzPleasesays, I am now thinking of it as a poison and something I want out of my life. Hopefully that will help. I’m focussing on healing my body now ( with sugar so far!)
Happy Monday all

Most people think hangxiety means they’re broken.
That they’re weak.
That they suddenly developed anxiety overnight.

They didn’t.

They drank a depressant.
Then their nervous system rebounded.

Alcohol sedates your brain.
When it wears off, your system snaps back hard.

Adrenaline spikes.
Cortisol surges.
Heart races.
Thoughts spiral.

That dread you feel the next morning isn’t a moral failing.
It’s your nervous system screaming to rebalance.

Here’s the bit nobody tells you.

Alcohol borrows calm from tomorrow.
With interest.

So the night feels relaxed.
The next day feels unbearable.

You replay conversations.
You magnify small moments.
You convince yourself you embarrassed yourself, offended someone, ruined something.

Most of it isn’t even real.
It’s a chemically distorted mind scanning for danger.

Hangxiety feeds shame.
Shame feeds more drinking.
And the loop tightens.

That’s why people say “I only drink to relax” while living in a constant state of dread.

I lived there for years.

When I stopped drinking, the hangxiety didn’t vanish overnight.
But it stopped being constant.

Because my nervous system stopped being whipped back and forth between sedation and panic.

Real calm doesn’t come from numbing.
It comes from stability.

Food.
Sleep.
Hydration.
Movement.
Breathing when your head tells you to run.

Hangxiety isn’t a sign you need another drink.
It’s a sign your body is asking you to stop abusing it.

If you wake up anxious after drinking, listen to that message.
It’s not a weakness.
It’s feedback.

Save this for the next morning, you wake up with dread and wonder what the hell is wrong with you.

Nothing is wrong with you.
Something is wrong with the substance.

I love your posts Swifty

Good morning all. I’d like to join. I started 3rd Jan so will aim for 12 April. I was so close last night to paying £500 to do the sober schools getting unstuck course.

My why is the shame. I’ve started recently taking drugs on big nights out when absolutely wasted, my 19 year old daughter suspects. I also been vaping when drunk. Low point in December was my husband calling me out on lack of presence as my 16 year old was desperate to decorate the house for Christmas and I was too hungover.

I start a new job this year and current job been big contributory factor to this behaviour.

my worries are

1. impact on relationship my husband loves a drink and doesn’t like drinking wine alone
2. losing friends as have a lot that alcohol is big part of social life
3. how to navigate big events like holidays, celebrations

I hope this thread keeps me accountable. Thank you to the OP I needed to find this, I actually feel a bit tearful.

@JustAnotherDayWorkingAtHome I too was hungover and angry doing the tree. In fact I have been the last few years. No shaming here please get stuck in and post your thoughts. It’s really helping me and everyone is so supportive.
you can do this !

Thank you. I’m going to start journaling my thoughts. I have made intentions for 2026 rather than resolutions and my 3 words are Calm, Patience, Gratitude.

i planning a low social profile for Jan which will make it easier. Big worry my work leaving do but will be 6 weeks in by then so hopefully more ready to deal with that.

A great AF drink - lots of ice, half ginger beer and half sparkling water. Big squeeze of lime.

@JustAnotherDayWorkingAtHome one day at a time. I love your plan for your leaving do, the drink sounds great, but just do one day at a time for now. And keeping a low social profile is the best move for now.
You can do it 💪
@SwiftyFifty that last post about hangaxiety, makes so much sense.
Whenever I'm af, my anxiety all but disappears because I'm able to think calmly and logically.
( I appear to have sailed through the menopause. I'm 58 and my 3 symptoms are anxiety, insomnia and slight depression but all 3 of these disappear when I'm af and looking after myself, physically and mentally).
It really is Poison In A Fancy Package.

@GoandygoIm roughly same age and yes absolutely the same with me. The hangxiety is horrific. I overthink everything and get stressed at work when there’s no need also have a pity party going through my friends ( all coupled up, I’m single) thinking of ways they have somehow “ wronged” me. Shameful I know!
I am feeling so so positive I hope everyone else is.
Also I think as you age, the impact on the body is worse. Inflammation and stomach issues. I currently feel bloated and haven’t lost anything despite all the wine calories but I’m hoping to lose the bloat as I continue.

Hello all, I’d like to join please. I’m in the same boat as many here, in the habit of drinking a bottle of wine a night, mainly manage to function ok on that but I am not living my best life. Im
not present enough for my kids or focussed enough for work. I did 4 months dry last year and thought I had stopped forever. But slowly reverted to old habits. Interestingly I found socialising AF pretty easy, after the first drink when everyone is getting tipsy and you’re not, it’s actually fine. You start to see how silly folks look when drinking and it gives you extra motivation to not do it. My weak spot is wine in the house. Love wine o’clock. I just need to remember how good it felt last year to always be able to collect the teenagers from evening activities because I would always be able to drive. It felt liberating not to be drinking. Going sober actually sets you free. I read lots of great quit lit. Will dig out my books, re-read and list here. Here’s to the sober journey 😊

I think also that it's common to think alcohol improves social situations.
I thought it did for so many years. Nervous, apprehensive feelings before going out - I'm an introvert really. So, I drank to combat those feelings but more often than not, ended up making a complete fool of myself, or worse, in hospital.
Yesterday and on so many other occasions such as new year's eve, I had a perfectly lovely time not drinking.
I ask myself Would wine make this occasion any better ?

Morning everyone and welcome to day 5!

My sleep isn’t fantastic but is sooo much better than when I was drinking. Previously I’d be wide awake from about 3-5am every night, but now I’m sleeping all the way through (albeit with a few restless episodes) and waking up energized in the morning. I’m also getting tired earlier in the evening - I’m sure I always was but alcohol was masking the feeling.

I also stepped on the scales this morning for my first weekly weigh-in after starting the 5:2 diet last week. I’m down 4lb! If that isn’t motivation to keep going I don’t know what is.

@freshstart2026 that's brilliant, well done !
I also find that whilst the weight doesn't exactly drop off when I'm af, I do lose it.
Last year I was af for 6 months and lost a stone. So quite slow, but a stone is a stone.
When I drink, it just comes back on.