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.

Oh my goodness yes. I totally identify with this.
I think I would find it so much easier not to drink if I could do more other things in evening.. but by the time the kids are in bed and settled which is often gone 8, I don't feel like doing much at all and it is generally too late for any clubs/classes.

Of course could work on getting bedtimes earlier but just can't seem to make that happen!

I am exactly the same!

Me too. I always drank regularly, but not every day, and we never kept booze at home. We lived in central London so our drinking was done out and about, socialising with friends or colleagues.

Then we had DC1 and that winter moved to a place in the countryside where you couldn’t even walk to a shop. Suddenly life was long commutes, dark nights and childcare, so we splashed out on a fancy DVD player and started buying wine with the weekly shop. We very quickly went from just weekend drinks to drinking any time we fancied it, and suddenly it was almost every night. It felt like there were a lot of people around us in the same situation doing the same thing, which normalised everyday home drinking.

Cut to 25-ish years later, and what started as a glass of wine as an antidote to boredom is an ingrained bottle-a-day-each habit, regardless of what else is going on in life. I wish I could go back and tell myself not to bloody start!

Hi all. Checking in again. I thought about not mentioning this, but for accountability's sake I will. Went for a night away with a friend at the weekend and lots of wine was drunk. It had been booked for months, way before I decided to commit to this, so while I'm a bit disappointed I'm also ok with it as a) it was pre planned and b) it was not drinking alone to excess and hiding how much I was having from my husband. And I'm back on the sober wagon again now! What's nice is that usually I'd say what's the point in continuing after an event like that, but this time it's feeling a lot easier to just keep going. So I'm going to take that as a positive at least.

@Notbwinetimeitsmyprimetime was it enjoyable? Did you have a hangover! Well done you for being honest and yes I totally agree re drinking alone and hiding it. I don’t think my friends realise that I drink so much alone in the house so when they say oh just moderate hsve a couple when you go out. That’s never my issue I can moderate fairly well ( now) when I’m out but it’s the drinking to excess home alone that’s the issue especially when you then can’t admit to a banging hangover on a random Tuesday as it sounds awful!
re blood tests for liver yes this is why I’m on this journey. Mine steadily increased all last year ( alt and ast) and dr booked me in for a whole set of bloods ( hepatitis , folic acid etc) which I’m getting done next Friday and a liver scan on Feb 2nd. Tbh my enzymes were only slightly raised but just kept going up. I will let you know the outcome!

On my blood test form it says “liver profile” then Alb, Bil, Glob, TP, AST, ALT in brackets - not sure what any of that means but it sounds pretty comprehensive? I think I’ll just stick to the blood test rather than enquiring about a scan at this stage. If anything comes back high then I will ask for a scan (or perhaps you get that automatically?) I will also update on the results - I should get them end of next week.

Annoyingly yes, it was a bloody brilliant night 😂 but felt rotten the next day and I hate just losing days to hangovers. But I'm the same - under the public eye I can go out and have drinks and not be blind drunk. So I'm not so concerned about drinking on the very rare occasions I go out (with toddlers it's not often!). But the drinking at home, to excess, with no moderation and enjoying when my partner when to bed before me so I could drink without being watched...that has to stop. And that's what I'm hoping I get out of this.

Re livers - I've had a lot of blood tests and only once were enzymes elevated. The issue is that livers cope and compensate really well...until they don't. So any elevation should be respected really. Other things like hard exercise can increase some of the enzymes, so the tests aren't totally specific to liver function, but given we all like a bottle of booze...I'd err on the side of caution if raised x

It’s definitely worth getting back on the wagon. One night of drinking in Jan would be a massive achievement - don’t throw the baby out with the bath water, as they say. I’m actually very bad at practising what I’ve just preached because I’m very ‘all or nothing’ but even if my mind works like that, I know my body doesn’t; less alcohol is always better than more so regardless of how much you’ve drunk or how many times any of us might slip up, it’s absolutely worth keeping going 💪

Thank you - I’m feeling a bit better now. I just felt oddly bereft for about 3 hours. I think I’m going to try and get a bit of sleep. My toddler is up at 5am at the moment and I’ve had a really busy few days so I think I’ll feel better for a nap 😴

Great response.
Another phrase worth remembering “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good” .
Which I take to mean - “don’t berate yourself for not being perfect but give yourself credit for being better than you were and for doing your best . “

So guilty of this. I almost tell myself that if I don't try then I can't fail, and that is the exact opposite of the mindset I need!

Well done @Notbwinetimeitsmyprimetime for getting back on the wagon! I think it’s a great strength if you can do that. As others have said I’m very much an all or nothing person - if I have one I really struggle not to throw in the towel 😞

Day 15 done - and tomorrow we’ll be halfway through January! 🥳 Sleep well all.

Maybe my favourite thing about doing this is the headspace I've gained back from the endless decision-making and bargaining with myself over what/when/how much. One decision taken in late December and that's it - simple. I used to envy AF ppl and now I realise I can be one too... I'm so grateful to you OP for starting us on this journey, and to all the crew for the mutual support and honesty.
A big social boozy weekend lies ahead but for me it's AF all the way and no regrets in the morning. Let's do this!

Morning all! Day 17 here which marks the longest I have gone since my 22 month stint ended in 2020!

Time is passing quickly and I’m surprised by the fact that any desire for wine has been quite fleeting and easily shut down in my mind (so far!!).

I think that might be the key for me- shutting down the thought of a drink quickly without allowing myself to ruminate or fantasise about it.

I feel as though I need a series of barriers to help me keep the door on alcohol tightly shut! I think this thread is helping be one of those barriers (which is a bit odd as I’ve been part of AF communities before and didn’t feel particularly accountable- maybe because I have a clean streak with this group that I want to keep?). Blood tests next month are definitely a big barrier to succumbing, plus the fact I started at NY and feel motivated to keep 2026 ‘untainted’. Plus all the benefits I’m experiencing of course.

I suspect none of these things would be enough to rein me in on their own, so it’s nice to have a combo that feels like it’s working at the moment!

Blood tests next month are definitely a big barrier to succumbing, plus the fact I started at NY and feel motivated to keep 2026 ‘untainted’.

Totally relate to this! I’m very glad I had my blood pressure and blood test now after two weeks sober, and not during the second half of last year when I was drinking heavily! I know what you mean about 2026 as well - it felt good to tell the nurse I haven’t drunk this year.

I still think about alcohol a lot but for the first time this morning I woke up and thought, I don’t need a drink today. I’m sure I will feel differently this evening when I’m twiddling my thumbs! I wonder if the true sign that you’re “over” alcohol is when you just never even think about it…

At midday today we’ll be halfway through January. I’m half pleased and half alarmed how time in general is flying. Well done for reaching the halfway point of January everybody!

Morning everyone! Day 16! 🥳🥳🥳🥳

Does anyone else find that their BP is increased by drinking alcohol? ❤️🥰

Good morning! Day 10 and I’m feeling great 😊

To avoid over explaining I told a friend yesterday that I am doing dry January. She replied “oh well, we’ll get together in February when you are back to normal”. This is my new normal!!!!

IWNDT 🩷

Yep, and my resting heart rate. Mines dropped from about 65 BPM to 45 BPM since significantly reducing alcohol intake. Shows how much extra work we make our bodies do 🙈

Morning all!

I have woken up with a pounding headache today which im not impressed about. The small win is knowing that it is not self inflicted.

I have a rare day off today so im in bed with a coffee at the moment. Its kind of a nice feeling to know this is self care, as opposed to feeling sorry for myself because I've over done it again.

Shout out to @TheDogLassie , you are doing incredibly well! How do you feel after what your friend said? I have had a similar comment, and without sounding dramatic, its made me feel like i need to re evaluate that friendship. Not to the extent of ending it, more reassesing the amount of value I have placed on it. (Perhaps this person is more of a casual, fun time friend rather than a close friend and thats ok).

Just to reiterate what I have said before and to mirror what others have said.. I am so bloody glad to have found this group! There is a strength and inspiration from everyone that is so amazing and and really quite powerful. Thank you @reset100 for starting our little community ❤️

I have a rare day off today so im in bed with a coffee at the moment. Its kind of a nice feeling to know this is self care, as opposed to feeling sorry for myself because I've over done it again.

100%. I feel my morning coffee is fast becoming a luxury treat in the same way that wine is. Thinking of enjoying that the next morning makes resisting in the evenings easier.

I am so bloody glad to have found this group! There is a strength and inspiration from everyone that is so amazing and and really quite powerful. Thank you for starting our little community ❤️

Couldn’t agree more!!!

I’m feeling positive this morning. The weather is beautiful and I got through a very challenging day at work yesterday, not to mention surviving the grim weather AND a doctors appointment. I’m definitely feeling more in control of stuff like my health, life admin, finances etc, which feels good. My clothes feel looser and it might be psychological but I’m sure my face looks so much fresher!

Without a doubt alcohol raises your BP as it constricts blood vessels. I have had high blood pressure for about 10 years which I put down to family history (both parents had high blood pressure but were alcoholics doh/being overweight/aging (I’m a non smoker). I’m on medication for it.

If you really want to see just how bad it is, here’s two screenshots of mine - one the day after a 3 day binge where I got through about 5 bottles of wine plus maybe 10 gins - the other two weeks later AF. Post binge is dangerous diastolic (bottom reading) level. Shouldn’t be higher than 90 and this is the stage when your heart should be resting so it puts you at high risk of stroke and heart attack 😱. I know all this but still kept drinking !

(images will likely take a wee while to show)!

@freshstart2026 same!

I had such puffy/baggy under eyes I was looking into Botox and even a face lift!!! Now the bags have virtually disappeared- once I put a bit of foundation on, you can’t see them. I’m totally amazed and delighted!

Yeah my BP was high at doctor's appointments when I was drinking. And I have had low BP even through 3 pregnancies - never blipped at all. I'm hoping it will be a lot lower in 3 months after 3 months of no wine.

Last night DH went to bed early and had his dinner in bed as his back was sore and he needed to lie down. That would usually be a cue for me to drink downstairs for a few hours. I ate my dinner, had an AF beer and went up to bed with the dog at 9.30 - sober and happy.

Mid-month sober check-in… and honestly? Who are we 👀

Anyone else noticed the mindset shift? Friday is just… Friday now. Not “woohoo pour the wine”, not “survive the day for the reward drink” just a normal day that doesn’t revolve around alcohol. That feels like a massive win!

We’re waking up clearer, calmer, less anxious. No regretful messages. No blurry evenings. No piecing together conversations. Just fully present, fully in control. This feels good.

If you’re feeling strong - brag, we want to hear it.

If you’re struggling - say it out loud, you’re safe here.

If you’ve slipped - no drama, you’re still one of us, just reset and carry on.

Mid-month and still standing. Actually thriving.
Look at us go. 💁‍♀️✨