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.

I am off alcohol 3 years and my husband now also drinks a lot less and he appreciates that change in his life (although not necessarily at the start!). Things will be different, so be open to that. Different doesn't mean worse. What makes big events and celebrations special is the people and you will still be there with them. Friends - you never know. You may inspire a couple to change their behavior, or you may find that you enjoy the first few hours out and then just head home when it gets messy. Some people can feel that you not drinking is a judgement on their drinking. In some circumstances I was careful to talk about why I'm doing it for me and not in terms that might apply to others (even if that was the real reason!). E.g. I'm doing it because even small amounts of alcohol make me feel terrible the next day and it's not worth it, rather than I feel like a bad mother and I want to be a better example to my kids. Some people you can be truly honest with, others keep it light and breezy. You can do this.

I'm right there with you. My last drink was on the 31st of December. I have tried quitting before, I actually managed to be alcohol free for two years in 2020 and 2021, but I unfortunately slipped back in 2022 and didn't manage to make quitting stick. I intend 2026 to be the year I am sober all year.

Thanks! 😊 I’m sure a lot of it is just water weight and Christmas lbs that came off as quickly as they went on. Still chuffed though!

Drinking a bottle of wine a night equals about 600 calories, not to mention the extra cals from stodgy food or takeaways I’d eat or buy the next day to help the hangover. No wonder the weight has piled on in recent years!

5th dry day for me and the full week is in sight. This is already the longest I have gone without a drink for 2 years (since I was last pregnant). Alongside not drinking, I am going to run every day in January. That can be a short run if I am fatigued or a longer one if I am feeling good but I am trying to ingrain the habit of exercise back into my life. I used to be very fit (pre children) and I have replaced the buzz I got from exercise with drinking so I am trying to switch back (on the basis that if I am going to do a lot of something, exercise is the much better option!)

Well done everyone!

Wow! 2 years, that's amazing. Do you mind me asking why you started again?

I haven't RTFT yet (I will later) but yes - I'm in. Didn't start on 1st Jan as there was a big occasion on the 3rd, which was used as an excuse. But technically started yesterday.

I did just over 3 weeks alcohol free in September and managed to moderate better for a little while after, but truthfully it didn't take long for the bad habits to creep back in 🙁 I had a few nights over the festive build up where I chose to drive where I could have drunk, but it was mainly wine and a lot of wine.

I'm desperate to make a real change to my lifestyle this year. Part of me wants to be someone who can go out for a couple of small glasses and leave it at that, but part of me wants to just go sober full time.

Questions I have (and apologies if these have been covered) -

• is the reframe app worth the cost
• has anyone tried Mother Root or another evening/ritual alternative?

And another qu - has anyone tried any alcohol free wines that aren't disgusting?!

0% freixenet sparkling is lovely and has the best reviews I've ever read.
Aldi's 0% nozecco, white and rose is really nice. Great value, too.
I've yet to find a white wine 0% that's any good. I'm still searching 🤣
Red - forget it.
My favourite so far is crodino and fever tree blood orange tonic - delicious. I'll have a lot of this in summer.
Favourite af beer is definitely perroni. With a dash of lime.
I tried Thatchers 0% cider. Awful. But af kopparberg is like the real thing for me.

THIS REALLY HELPS!!!!!

Eight things no fucker tells you about quitting drinking in 2026

👇

Over a year alcohol free after 45 years of drinking. Here's what they don't tell you starting this year.

Social media makes it harder and easier simultaneously.
Harder: Everyone is posting drinks. "Dry January giving up already." Weekend stories. Constant triggers.
Easier: Sober communities. Honest content. Real people sharing reality. You're not alone. You're just scrolling past people who are.
Choose which one you focus on. That determines difficulty.

Inflation means you'll save even more money than before.
£8 pints in 2026. Cocktails £15. Wine bottles £12+. Not drinking saves fortune now. That's £500+ monthly. £6000+ yearly. That's a holiday. That's savings. That's not pissed up wall.
Do the maths on your actual spending. Then do it sober. The difference is staggering.

Nobody cares about your sobriety except you, and that's liberation.
Used to think everyone noticed. Judged. Cared. They don't. Too busy with their own lives. Your sobriety is your business. Their discomfort is their problem. Not yours.
That's freedom. Nobody watching. Nobody judging. Just you. Choosing you.

Zero alcohol alternatives are everywhere now, but still taste like arse.
Every pub has options. Every shop. Progress. But they still taste like trying too hard. Don't force it. Water's fine. Coffee's fine. Just be sober. Don't need replacement liquid.

The wellness industry is trying to monetise your sobriety constantly.
Sober coaches. Programs. Courses. Apps. Subscriptions. Everyone wants your money. You don't need them. You need discipline, routine, and honesty. All free. All available. All yours.
Don't buy sobriety. Just be sober.

Climate anxiety, the cost of living crisis, and world chaos make drinking seem logical.
Everything's expensive. Everything's uncertain. Everything's anxiety-inducing. Drinking seems like a reasonable response. It's not. It's adding personal chaos to global chaos.
Sobriety is stability in an unstable world. That's the point. Not escaping reality. Handling it.

Young people drinking less makes you feel late, and that's dangerous thinking.
Gen Z is drinking the least in history. Makes you feel behind. "Should've quit years ago." That thinking kills motivation.
You're not late. You're here. Now. That's what matters. Not when you should've started. When you actually did.

AI can't do this for you, and that's strangely comforting.
ChatGPT can't quit for you. Apps can't. Technology can't. This requires a human. You. Making a choice. Daily. That's old-fashioned. That's real. That's the only way it works.
You. Choosing. Repeatedly. That's it.

2026 is different:

More expensive to drink. More normalised to not drink. More resources are available. More excuses to drink (world's on fire). More reasons not to (world's on fire, don't add fuel).
But fundamentals same: You either drink or don't. Choose one. Commit. Follow through.

Over a year sober. Started 2024. Different world now. Same choice. Same discipline. Same daily decision.

World changes. You change. Process doesn't.

Q: Is it easier to quit in 2026 than before?
In some ways, yes (more acceptance, more resources). Some ways no (more triggers, more chaos). Net result: same difficulty. Just a different context.

Q: Should I use apps/programs?
If they help. I didn't. Used cold water, food, routine, and discipline. Free. Effective. Choose what works. Not what markets well.

Eight things about quitting in 2026.
The world's different.
Process isn't.
You still have to choose. Daily.
That's timeless.
Save for when 2026 chaos makes drinking seem logical.

#SoberBeyondLimits #sober #soberlife #2026 #fyp

Sure! I can actually remember the very day. It was the 28th of February 2022, and the war in Ukraine had just started. I just couldn't believe that we had come through a pandemic only for war to break out, and something in me snapped and I drank that day. I'm not saying that to excuse myself, but I remember having a 'what's the point?' feeling. I think that my sobriety had never felt really real because a lot of it was because of lockdown.
However, alcohol has never ever made anything better for me, except in the very short term indeed. It can relieve anxiety temporarily, but never for long. And longterm, I need to put my health (both physical and mental) first.

This is brilliant!!

wow I could have written this! I quit in 2020 and didn’t drink throughout lockdown right up to Xmas 2021. I started couch to 5k and lost 25kg. Then I moderated and progressively over the last 2 years through one thing or another got my one bottle a night habit back and put on 10kg. Tomorrow is day 1 again.

I'd second the 0% freixenet. It is lovely, dry and keeps it's fizz. A year on, that is my go to when I am celebrating and want to "join" my friends - eg getting invited for the festivities at friends houses. There are a few AF white wines that taste dry - the market is picking up that there is more of a demand for them.

AF lagers are especially good - I am currently on hols, and bought a few from the local supermarket - nice to have one in the sun (I was never a lager drinker, but did have the odd beer on hols).

At the start, my drinking ritual was always open a bottle while cooking dinner and AF wines saw me through keeping up that ritual and I actually looked forward to it and it made me feel like I wasn't losing out. I rarely drink it at home now, but as I say, it is a nice alternative when celebrating/hols/occasions, but In generally drink sparkling water these days. I also drink herbal/flavoured teas now in the evenings.

I also agree with the PP who says her husband has cut down massively. Mine too - I buy and pour wine and drinks for family and friends. My journey is my own, I never judge and don't care what others drink. If they get too pissed, I look after them, as they have done for me many a time.

I am very much a sociable "life and soul of the party" kind of person, and I can honestly say it makes zero difference when out. My friends all know I don't drink, it only becomes a bit of a deal (and even then after the initial "what, you don't drink/ Like EVER???") when I am with new people who quiz me on my sobriety (my standard line is to say I am driving, but in Scotland (UK in general though) it does spark a bit of interest that you don't drink), but as I say, it soon wears off and folk move on.

My (new workplace) night out - I was the only sober person in a room of 40+, but I very much doubt many people noticed or cared...I took one of my colleagues home who had previously pleaded with me not to let her go out out after the party and to sneak her away...which I did, and dropped her home and made sure she got in OK. Driving home, I felt tearful with joy that I wasn't drinking and was relieved to wake up without those hellish nagging thoughts of what I said to whom. It is liberating.

It genuinely is an eye-opener not drinking. There is nothing sacrificial about it. I will be honest, the happy clappy, joyous brigade books that I read grated on my nerves and didn't do much for me when i was trying to stop. They gave off (to me) a vibe of smugness and superiority which irritated me....BUT...I often think of them now and realise a lot of what they said (the "joy" of being sober kind of thing) is absolutely true...I think (for me) it was just the delivery that I didn't connect with, but it is so true - everything is better; sleep; physical and mental health; weight; fitness. I think the number one thing for me is sleep. I sleep deeply and it is so restorative. Before, it wasn't sleep - it was knocking myself out, then the dreaded 3 to 5 of wide-awakeness, and the wanting to sleep in..I hated driving in the mornings and did everything I could to avoid, for fear of being over the limit. I remember lying in bed early house trying to work out the units I had and when it would be safe to drive. Urgh. I will never ever miss that trauma.

Hoping this helps and I am not falling into my own trap of irritating those of you at the start of your journeys. I felt I should contribute to this thread, as I was helped so much by this board when I was at the start of my own journey, and was inspired by others that had managed to break the cycle of daily drinking.

Best of luck.

I can really identify with that switch-flicking feeling - I get it when I feel overwhelmed by my children sometimes (obviously not like a war starting but sometimes it feels like it 😂) . Like an instantaneous 'fuck it' and I throw the towel in.

Well done on your two years - your body is undoubtedly in better health because of that time you spent AF. Good luck getting back on the wagon for good xx

This thread is moving quickly but is absolutely fabulous, a group of incredibly supportive people sharing all the same feelings.

I have the Reframe app, for someone that asked about 30 posts ago! I really like it and can justify the cost. It’s about £4 a month I think although I paid annually. You can try it free for 30 days, which might be an option?

I like that it gives you daily insights re the science of alcohol use (similar to here), there is a forum that you use (I don’t), you can choose to moderate or be sober, daily insights, you can choose to journal if you want, there’s mindfulness etc. in fact, I don’t use half of the stuff it has on it but a daily check in seems to focus me a little.

I’ve toyed with reducing/sobriety throughout 2025, hence I’ve had the App a while. I’ve used it daily since 26th December which is my day one, so I’m on about day 10 now.

Interestingly, my cleaner arrived about an hour ago. She looks fabulous, so rested and clear skinned. Turns out she quit drinking on 27th December…….

This thread is flipping fabulous!

Shall I tell you what I like most about not drinking ethanol? I no longer have to argue with myself in the supermarket about whether to buy wine/gin. I don't have to make promises and deals with myself. It's so freeing !

Thank you @FizzPlease.I find your posts really motivating.

@FizzPlease So good to hear your “ journey” and yes I agree re the seemingly smugness and easiness some bloggers/ authors etc seem to give up. Your story is inspiring and I will read back when I am struggling.

This is really inspiring. I am also making intentions and about to choose one word for the year. Thank you for the solidarity!

My sleep isn’t consistently good yet. Woke at 3am and couldn’t get back to sleep. Didn’t help myself, by drinking a strong coffee from the machine at that hour, but am surprised to be waking still.

I think my word is Self-care
Considering it’s only day six ( for me) , I’m in the office and it’s the first Monday of the New Year, my mood is positively jubilant!

Mine is Confidence.
I know I can do it. I know I love the benefits an alcohol free life brings, and I need to remember these benefits when self doubt aka the wine witch, comes knocking 💪

I’ve managed 5 days pretty easily because I’ve been ill since NYE, but like you @reset100, at the usual witching hour (late afternoon/early evening when I always start cooking with a glass of prosecco and some music or Netflix), I’ve still caught myself considering it, even though I’ve got a banging headache and can barely breathe.
So I think my really challenging days are yet to come!

One thing that’s really motivating me to do this is the possibility of being able to reset my sleep. It’s been buggered for years and years, and over that time I’ve blamed it on work stress, wakeful kids, peri-menopause, then menopause - and I think all these things definitely didn’t help. But throughout I was drinking on a daily basis. Rarely to the point of appearing drunk, but steadily and consistently enough to wake dry-mouthed and thick-headed almost every morning.

I’ve become so accustomed to terrible, disturbed sleep patterns, waking at 5 am and never dreaming (which is an indicator of no REM sleep cycle), that whenever I do manage a proper night’s sleep (which I can count on one hand across an entire year), I feel like a completely different person. It honestly feels miraculous - the energy, the clear-headedness, the bright, positive mood. It’s like I’ve had a two week spa break!

Lack of proper sleep is apparently as bad as smoking 20 a day, so with that plus the booze god alone knows what kind of a state my body and brain are in. Thanks again for this thread. I’m lurking daily and hoping it’ll give me the inspiration and resolve to finally break the cycle.

Hello all, been following on but haven't posted yet. I'm also on another thread but I'm finding this one really helpful too.

I gave up for 2 months last year and slowly went back to old habits. Not as bad as before those 2 months but still a slippery slope so I'm keen to have a dry 2026, but will start with 100 days. I'm actually breaking it down to dry Jan, then beating my last stint, then 100 days then hopefully onwards from there.

For those asking about alternatives, I was a white wine drinker and I found flavoured sparkling waters really helped (and still do). I didn't even realise I liked sparkling water until I tried a flavoured one and it hits the spot every time. My favourites are San pelligrino but Dash and Libra(?) are also nice, just a little weaker on the flavour. I always have it in a wine glass usually with a slice of frozen lemon to make it feel special. I'm on day 8 today (had a really lovely sober NYE) but was really tempted while cooking the other day. I poured myself a flavoured water in a wine glass and the temptation passed.

I’m feeling very anxious about my job assessment day this week. I would love to drink a bottle of wine to “forget” my anxiety for a while, but I know it’ll be ten times worse going into the assessment feeling groggy and hungover with a fuzzy head. It’s potentially a good opportunity but I could really do without it this week 😞