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.

Morning all, checking in after being absent for a few days.

I think I am sold on Copenhagen for my extreme day trip, however plans are fluid as my lovely parents may throw a spanner in the works (through no fault of their own), it’s a toss of a coin whether I will get to go or not. If not, the flights are only £70 return. I will endeavour to book today, I really wanted 2026 to be my year of not saying no to anything.

Day 19 here I think. Not had any cravings, and yeah withdrawals weren’t an issue thankfully as I caught my relapse straight away.

World Cup fever has reached here in Scotland, all anyone can talk about is the game tonight.

Good morning Shipmates,

So sorry you had a rubbish night @WendyWagon - hope the day will be better. Your above comment is absolutely true. Lads, I can vouch for this one personally - layers of my tooth enamel were obliterated when I was at my drinking worst. I didn't lose my teeth, but it certainly affected them. When I was getting life back on track after my worst phase lasting a few years, I returned from the dentist and he was extremely alarmed. I remember him muttering "it's all gone at the back" more than once. Not just just from the serious level of spirits I was drinking, but from the throwing it back up as well (sorry) almost every day. Don't let this happen to you, lads.

Day 19 is brilliant @Adsy1988 top stuff. Glad to hear your plans are still on track for your Copenhagen adventure. £70 is an utter bargain. Hopefully your parents will be OK for the day. Will keep everything crossed for you. I'm a bit sour on this World Cup due to the Orange One and appalling cravenness of Fifa, though still rooting for England of course. I have been genuinely delighted by Scotland's progress. They really deserve their success and the Tartan Army seem beloved (rightly) wherever they go. I saw the new report the other day about the TA donating money to local charities wherever the team plays - in this instance $10,000 to a small independent hospice for babies and children with cancer in Boston. Absolutely marvellous - spirit and kindness in a nation where that is hugely lacking at the moment. Flowers of Scotland indeed.

I have decided to launch "Operation Stop Titting-About" in relating to dieting. I've not been engaging with SW as much as I ought to and so I'm making a renewed commitment to get back on track. I have stocked up on some lovely fresh veg and brown rice and will make a renewed, concerted effort. Cricket tomorrow - I am hoping it won't be too hot. Sid has been showing his support by engaging with salad (see below)...

Strength and courage for the weekend. xx

Hi everyone,

I’m on day 34. This is the longest I’ve gone without drinking, probably since I was a young teen. I’ve done dry January a few times (followed by a wet February!).

I’ll probably be awol for a while. Got a lot on and trying to stop procrastinating on my phone!! Plus big holiday coming up soon.

I wish everyone a lovely weekend!

Fantastic @Kakkilakki - that's amazing. All power to you. xx

Hi All

Fantastic @Kakkilakki. We'll still be here. Do feel free to post if you're wavering, especially with the big holiday.

Arthur doesn't understand why he's not getting a walk at lunchtime. I've tried to reason with him that he wouldn't like it anyway due to the heat but he keeps dropping his toys in front of me as if I need a clue. He's panting in the garden as I type.

AF drinks on chill in the fridge KLAXON

Fabulous work @Kakkilakki ! Enjoy your break and check in if you need us.

I also echo @Lavrander - now is the time for everyone to make sure they have stocks of whatever helps you through, whether it be ice cream, AF alternatives or gallons of sparkling water with ice and lemon. Please don’t leave it until 5pm when you’re tired and twitchy!

Wise words @Lavrander and @Onewildandpreciouslife - I've got to 5.28 and the twitches are here. Nope. Sid. I choose Sid. And a guilt-pocked hangover is a thousand times worse in a heatwave. So am off for a Sidwalk in the shade and going round to see a friend ('twas her dog who passed away recently; Sid's boyfriend). Cricket tomorrow and "Operation Stop Titting-About" remains in force. My friend has made veggie bolognese with wholemeal pasta, god bless her. Strawberries for pud.

Strength and courage shipmates. Don't give in. xx

Thanks @WendyWagon and @REP22 for the info on the spooky thread.Enjoyed scaring myself with that. In fact it reminded me that I love ghost stories.
Understand why you wouldn't want to live near those woods though Wendy.
Wishing you all courage over these warm days. I'm travelling for a friend's wedding so that will keep me busy.Relieved I'll be sober ,it's old friends and I want to put my best foot forward :)

@Adsy1988 yay on day 19!! Glad you didn’t have major withdrawals this time!! £70 for flights is a bargain!! Someone here mentioned juice pairings in Copenhagen and I’ve been thinking a lot about that! How cool is that?!

@Kakkilakki you’re going great!! Have a wonderful holiday and do post if you’re feeling tempted to drink. We’ve got you!!

@Lavrander I’m stocking up on drinks tomorrow, will pick up some af beers and maybe ciders. I have a soda stream so sparkling water is always available 😅 I’m still kind of obsessed with elderflower, lime and fresh mint.
Also stocked up on some new Nespresso pods to make iced coffees with oat milk - I’m a little obsessed with these !!

@REP22 sounds like you have a good plan with SW. I do intermittent fasting and at moment also keeping a rough track of calories. My weight can fluctuate like crazy ( like 3-6 lbs crazy) especially around ovulation and then my period, so I try to weigh most days and take an average.

@Teaforthetotal enjoy the wedding sober, what a lovely weekend to get married! 🌞

Wishing you all a lovely weekend. We’re having FIL over for a bbq tomorrow- he doesn’t drink anyway but I fancy a beer so will pick some up at Tesco. Looking at either Heineken or lucky saint- both seem to have good reviews.

Lucky saint with the lemon in is really nice @TickleMeElmo1

Morning all
was expecting sunshine this morning but will settle for clouds. Just never know what to wear in this kind of weather! Meeting a friend for brunch and then a walk. I'm going for practical but also have done my makeup natural yet glowy. I don't see her very often and although of course friends don't care what you look like yada yada yada it is important to me that I look well rested and glowy but also like it comes completely natural to me to look well rested and glowy. HA!

@Booksandstuff I just wanted to add quickly - maybe I'm jumping to conclusions, but it sounds as if you think you will always feel like this.

But - it gets much, much easier. I just don't think about it now. Maybe once every few weeks I think a cold glass of something might be quite nice, and feel a little wistful... but only in the way I think it might be quite nice to be 18 again (I quickly remember alllllll the reasons why not!)

Good morning shipmates.
I'm lazing around as it's my first morning not up or out this week. I've done two brunches and one lunch plus musical cars with the DH and the garage.

My new car is on the production line! Delivery in a fortnight. Hoorah. The DD has no excuse not to be in person at university thereafter.

I'm off midweek to see a ancient (16th century) cottage in the posh local market town. I'm also going to revisit the one I saw a few weeks ago as a comparison. It really is quite swish. No work for DH or me other than the garden and a gate to keep Mr Tiggle in . No plants at all other than a specimen tree. Very odd but I have plenty in pots!
New agent didn't turn up yesterday. Bizzare.
I ordered a new dress from jigsaw yesterday. It's the green linen shirt dress. I'm hoping it fits as I am still suffering from imposter syndrome. I order stuff and it's too big. I waltzed out in a Jaeger linen tunic yesterday I'd bought and kept as it was too small. Popped it on and bingo!

Dodgy tum so milk for me later folks .

@taylorean I think you’re right. I have tried many, many times to reduce or moderate. I can’t do it. Just the way my brain works. This is really reassuring, about it just being a passing thought eventually.

Almost a week in. Had pizza and AFs with friends last night.
@Lavrander what’s your preferred glowy product? I like the Charlotte Tilbury wand thingy.
We’re off for a big walk in the woods and picnic with friends today.

Well done @Kakkilakki, what an achievement.

It wasn’t to be for Scotland last night. You’re right @REP22, the Tartan Army are wonderful ambassadors for Scotland, it’s great to see donations made to good causes.

I would have been 11 months sober today had I not fallen off the wagon three weeks ago. It doesn’t have me feeling down or defeated, I caught it quickly and didn’t let it become anything bigger. I’ll just need to do even better this time round.

I honestly believe had it not been for me posting on here that I may not have come back from it. This thread and all of you wonderful posters are such a great help with my ongoing sobriety x

@Adsy1988you had a blip. You are coming up to your 1st year soberversary. Be proud. X

@Booksandstuff i agree with @taylorean in the beginning it is all consuming, I used to clock watch until I’d get the 10pm notification from my Try Dry App to say I hadn’t drunk that day and I could tick it off. Now I just forget to fill it in and often have to tick off 4/5 days at a time. I’m just a non drinker now and it’s a total normal state for me. Just keep going it gets phenomenally easier I promise.

Good morning Shipmates,

Mercifully cooler here today, so Sid and I are off to watch the cricket.

Congratulations on 11 months @Adsy1988 - that's majestic.👑 @WendyWagon is right - a blip is a blip and you owned it and pulled yourself back up. Brilliant. I agree with you. I'd be lost without this thread and such amazing compatriots here.

I can't moderate either @Booksandstuff - if it's there, it'll get drunk. None in the house is the only way to be for me.

Strength and courage. It will be alright. xx

We’re driving Up North to get DD’s stuff down from uni. It’s also the uni town DH and I met in, so there’ll be some visiting of old places, sober. We’ll be the boring middle-aged couple we’d have had nothing to do with in our 20s.

@Kakkilakki well done on your month+ and enjoy your holiday.

@Adsy1988 well done on 11 months. I’m around the same as well. A whole year in a couple of weeks, minus a few minor blips. Incredible.

@REP22 good luck with SW and definitely take Sid with you to protect you from Gaudy Gent. I liked SW and the recipes.

@Lavrander I hope you enjoyed the meet up with your friend and that you glowed in every way! My DDs recommended a glow brush/stick which I use every now and again. I can’t remember what it’s called (and makeup bag is in the car boot atm) but it does the job for what I need.

Re moderation, yeah, couldn’t do it. For some bizarre reason that I don’t remember I started at a hobby group ten years ago not drinking. And for that one evening a month I never did.

I’ve been doing Headspace for the past week and haven’t used melatonin since. So this is good. I’m not sure I’ll continue after the free trial but I still have a week to decide. I’ve started a couple of the courses but it’s strange when there’s no “progress”, every session seems exactly the same :) (Also finding only one of the voices pleasant and he’s not always a choice.) I’ve downloaded the other app too but haven’t properly explored it.

Have a nice afternoon everyone. We packed for a nice summer’s day and it was raining (just a drizzle) by the time we got to the Northampton services. I’m hopeful DD has a hoody I can fit in.

@postcard has your DD finished?

Sorry folks if my rattling on is boring. I'm feeling better and I have house fever.

@WendyWagon she’s finished year 2 but staying till mid-next week as she has parties and saying goodbye etc. So we’re only going there today and back tomorrow to get her stuff. It’s our uni town as well, otherwise would have organised something else for a few pots and pans and pink towels. BTW I think I missed the details about your car, sounds exciting if you know it’s on the production line now!

I’ve seen a sign for Doncaster. (“Doncaster?”Did anyone see Dancing Queen with Rick Mayall and Helena B-C.)

Nothing to be sorry for @WendyWagonI enjoy reading about what's happening with everyone. What's the situation with selling yours? Any interest at all? I just had a look at the dress on Jigsaw - really like the wide belt.

I don't have a special glowy product @Booksandstuffalthough I did use some bondi sands tanning drops last night and dealt with the face fuzz too! I used erborian cc cream (bloomin lovely - your skin but amazing ) , a beauty pie cream blush and a little mineral powder. Tight lined my eyes and mascara. I am however interested in the Charlotte tilbury wand and the one you have in your car @postcard. Brunch was lovely - we went for a nice walk and then had coffee and pancakes - not American ones - this place does the thin ones with fruit and yoghurt. I don't like the thick ones they always taste like they have too much baking powder in.

Andy is the only one I listen to on headspace @postcard. I know what you mean re progress but they would probably say it's not really about that - it's just living each day in the present. But you may not need the app for that. The Mark Williams/ Danny Penman book is great if you would like more of the theory and to go it alone. It's what first got me interested in it. I was nodding along to so much of it!

I hope the spagbol went down alright @REP22. You have a very nice friend there. Well done for making it through Friday and choosing Sid. You're also choosing you - your health and contentment. You're worth that.

So glad I found this thread. I'm on day 24 alcohol free. I was getting a bit (ok, a lot) out of hand. I got up one morning after a particularly bingey weekend and read 'The unexpected Joy of being sober' then immediately started Annie Grace's 30 day experiment. I was also lucky with timing and was able to join a Naked Mind free 5 day seminar. I'm finding it all so interesting trying to understand how my brain works. Damn you subconscious for your urges. This change has been a long time coming for me and I really need this change. Thank you for the thread, and the community. it's inspiring. Will comb through it all for your top tips to survive and thrive!

Thank you @Lavrander - very much appreciated. xx

Welcome @MagicalCrocodile - I am so glad you've found us. So much support and kindness is here.

We won the cricket! Sid is overjoyed but tired. x

@MagicalCrocodile welcome.