The support thread for those trying to lead an alcohol free life - Summer 2026

[Lavrander]

Hello and welcome!
This thread is for anyone who is trying to live an alcohol-free life. It was first set up by @drybird and has grown into a safe, supportive space to share thoughts, ask advice, swap experiences, or simply check in as we give up and keep off the booze.
There’s no judgment here – just encouragement. Whether you post every day, once in a while, or just read along quietly, you’re part of the group. Many of us have found this thread invaluable, whether brand new to abstaining or years into AF life.
Wherever you are on the journey, someone here will have been there too. Don’t be shy about posting – we love celebrating successes of all shapes and sizes, and we’ll support you through the tougher times as well.
The only thing we ask is that your aim is complete abstinence. If your goal is moderation or a break, there are a couple of really good threads on this board that will be a better fit. That doesn't mean that slips don't happen, and we'll support you in picking yourself back up and carrying on.
So climb aboard and join the shipmates (as well as our dog mascot Sid!) and see how good alcohol free life can be.

I've sent you a DM due to the thread stalker.
( Not heard a peep since MN intervening but you never know).

Well done @Booksandstuff!!

Right.. off to look at LED masks.. again.

If it's the one I think it is, it's gorgeous! Have you made a decision about it?

I will not drink today

Morning all.

It's just started to rain here.
Bff is coming over for lunch. I've not seen her for a fortnight.

We're off for a second viewing of the thatched cottage on Tuesday. It's tiny for us but I'm hoping we can squeeze into it with a mega sort out.
Darker weather makes me nest!

My niece brought her baby to meet me. I don't do babies, I think I've only cuddled three in my life and two were mine! A photo was taken to commemorate the moment!

I've had some layers put into my hair as I was beginning to look a bit school girl. I might join you on the LED mask lads. Worth a try although I did buy a Jaegar coat of eBay yesterday to go with the sapphire Mulberry bag (not had an outing yet). I class this as my former booze money.
Have a peaceful day all.

On opening this thread this morning I've just recalled a dream from last night.

I was with a colleague at a bar and we were ordering drinks. I asked for a glass of red wine (I was always a white wine and whisky drinker) and the bartender apologised that they didn't have any red. I replied, "That's okay, I'll have a dry white" and then (in the dream) gasped, turned to my companion and said, "What am I doing? I don't drink!" At that point I woke up.

I'm not troubled by it - just a bit surprised: I've been sober for decades. I can only imagine that it's due to having joined this thread (which I've done in case I can be helpful to anyone), thereby bringing alcohol back to my conscious mind rather than subconscious.

Isn't the brain a curious beast?

Hope everyone has a good day.

14 days today, the past couple of days have been tough as in I have had cravings, but I went through old pictures that brought up memories of past events and the anxious feeling and that helped the cravings pass.

My next goal is to get past the maximum amount of days I had in a row previously, even though I had around 6 months alcohol free in 2024, I did break that for a couple of days so if I get to 111days it will be my longest streak bar pregnancy since I was in my 20s!

How long does it take to not really think much about alcohol at all? I know it will be different for everyone, I don't really remember getting to that stage even at the 6 month point before.

@pinkclouds26 lots of people say 100 days.

@WendyWagon thank you, I wish I kept more detailed notes last time, I do remember feeling fantastic, the best I felt in adult life around that time, but I am thinking I must still have been thinking about alcohol as I drank on a trip not long after and soon enough was back to where I started.

I think I will pick up a little notebook to keep track.

I think it happens really gradually, without you noticing @pinkclouds26 - and then suddenly you realise the noise around alcohol has gone.

Catherine Gray reckons that on average it takes 66 days to break a habit. 100 days is the marker where people start feeling really good about themselves, so the thoughts get less intrusive. During the first year, there are so many “firsts” that it’s hard to avoid thinking about alcohol completely, but it gradually fades. So after a while the 6pm cravings stop, but you might still feel twitchy when you go to the pub. Then you find you can handle the pub, but go on holiday, and have to learn new ways of doing that.

I think a notebook is a great idea

Hello Chums!

Funnily enough, I dreamt of babies last night... I'm a bit terrified of babies, they're more vulnerable and less explicable than animals... My neighbour gave me her GD to hold and my god, they are so heavy for their size! Those enormous brainy heads, I guess...

Anyway. Day 41. I've been plagued by sweats the last few days, just feel over heated all the time, and a bit hyper, but I think that, since not drinking, I'm also taking less Nurofen Plus, so I might be withdrawing from the codeine as well! I used to eat fistfuls of those things just to get out of bed in the mornings... Codeine cold turkey is brutal... So I'm tapering, almost off them...

Had a few shonky sleeps too... And I can see clearly that 'feeling bad and wanting to feel better' is a massive trigger for me... I've struggled a bit... This is a good thing to learn and strategise against, develop healthier coping and soothing skills...

But woke this morning bright and cheery from a good sleep (apart from the baby dreams) and SO grateful for sticking with it and pushing through - it's always brighter on the other side - SO much better than the constant 'back to square one', running on the spot of alcohol! 🤩

Going to get some lovely Mexican lime tonic to have with a child tonight... with a chili! That was a typo! I don't feel that bad about babies!!! 😱

Thanks for that, @Onewildandpreciouslife - 100 Days takes me to just before Hallowe'en, so that's a good one to shoot for...

I LOVE Hallowe'en... 🎃

66 days will be my next goal so, you all will be sick of me haha

Hello shipmates, just checking in. Sid is delighted that it is, at last, raining here. And he hates the rain.

Strength and courage. All shall be well. x

How's Sid's little tootsie now, @REP22 ? And how is your finger?

(Sorry, should have asked after your finger first...). 😆

Aw, thanks @Gribouille - that's kind of you to ask. You definitely got the order right - I know my lowly place, hehe. Both are much better thank you. My hand is back to normal - Sid's paw is still returning to it's natural state but he's finished his meds now and is much, MUCH better. He's missing his tablet chicken though. xx

Evening all. Just back from a walk after a break in the rain. Was rather lovely.
We absolutely will not be sick of you @pinkclouds26! I gave up in July last year and it took me getting through Christmas to not have it on my mind. Dry Jan was a welcome relief. But it won't be like you feel now every day for the next six months. Do keep a diary. I wish I had.

Whilst I don't love Halloween I am incredibly excited about the new Practical Magic film. I loved the original and I hope the clothes are just as lovely. I've been looking on Vinted for that kind of style and discovered that now it features sellers from USA and Australia and you can't filter it out, so I'm trying eBay instead.

@Lavrander I’ve been selling stuff on Vinted for years and was rather perturbed when I saw some items going to the US and Australia but actually they didn’t take any longer than the usual uk ones. I was really surprised.

@Lavrander I didn't even know about Practical Magic the first time round! 🧙‍♀️ Don't know how I missed it, it sounds right up my strasse... thanks for the steer...

This will be the first Hallowe'en in 11 years without my little black kitty girl, who was always perfectly dressed for the occasion... 🐈‍⬛😥 But we have a new pair of kitties to whom to introduce the festivities... got to get their puzzled heads around their first ever autumn now... 🍂

I'm an eBay girl lads.
I do wear lots of designer but I can't pay full price these days. I also like mending things. I have 17 coats to sell this autumn.

When handbags came into the charity shops I used to spend time polishing and padding the insides. I even washed a Mulberry Lily once that was so filthy it was that or the rag man. Came out fine.

@Gribouille I had chilli tonight too. Orange juice my tipple dejour.

I had a totally unexpected offer for my house today. Unencumbered purchase. It might be easier than renting it out.

Note to the thatch as they say in the USA 'come to mama'. Well they did in the 1980s!😂

Morning all.
Up early with the DH.
Carpet cleaning today. Joy.

I'm loving the darker mornings and the rain.

DD who doesn't really want to move approved the chips from the van in the favoured village. Very excited for Tuesday.

I will not drink today 🍉

Thank you for your opinion @WendyWagon on LED masks..I respect and appreciate your views. Do you think the Prai range is better than Emma Lewisham?

@FiloPasty ...I used the Medic8 night cream as it came in my SpaceNk Christmas calendar. When I've used up my current supplies and free samples (from mainly Clarins) I will start buying it.
Please do say how you get along with Philips ReAura as my mask is old enough now for me to start saving for an upgrade .

@mermadeincornwall I have never tried Emma Lewisham.

I do like Clarins super restorative cream.
My favourite is Glow from Shiseido but it's not sold in the UK anymore.

Seeing you all talk about skincare and clothes I am looking forward to investing in myself again, embarrassed to say some nights I didn't even wash my face or brush my teeth.

Day 15 sleep has improved and having a nice fresh Sunday Morning

@pinkclouds26 that's probably me prattling on.

I don't trust a lot of people on sm but on this thread we seem to be an interesting bunch of women.
I would love to hold a party for everyone as people have been so supportive and kind.
I've personally met a few people who live close to me and when I was at deaths door last year I had emergency supplies sent! Yorkshire tea.

I work in beauty and was a colour analyst and model many years ago. I'm not classically beautiful but I scrub up well and when you have pounds in your pocket after not spending it on wine it's surprising what you can treat yourself to. Fwiw I use to spend £50+ a week on booze. More if I was out. This week's treat was a Jaegar coat off Fleebay.