For us, adulting meant coming back to our own place on a Friday evening after a hard week at work, cracking open a bottle of chilled wine in an elegant wine glass from the kitchen cupboard. This was the pinnacle of what being a responsible adult was, or at least it’s what they show on TV and movies! We repeatedly did this most weekends, whether at home, or in a restaurant or pub. If we weren't doing this, it was likely because we were sick or expecting a baby.
April 2025 |
9 minutes
Alcohol Change UK Ambassadors and Black and Sober podcast creators, Ricci and Alisha guide us into week three of Sober Spring. After noticing alcohol negatively affecting their relationship, particularly the cycle of weekend drinking they felt stuck in, they decided to try on an alcohol-free lifestyle out for size. Below they share what they learned along the way as their weekends began to transform.
“During our busy working weeks, our focus was often on reaching that Friday evening, when it was officially acceptable in society to treat ourselves to a few drinks.”
Surely, we were owed that time to relax, unwind, and switch off from the busy week, right?
“The mentality was ‘this is what adults do’, and it only happened on weekends.”
This, in turn, led to not-so-bright Saturday mornings, often accompanied by a possible hangover if we went overboard the night before (which usually was the case). By Saturday evening, if we weren’t going out for dinner with drinks, we might find ourselves at home with a take-away and another few bottles. The mentality was ‘this is what adults do’, and it only happened on weekends. Then came the second weekend morning, where we would feel even groggier than the previous one. Enjoying a Sunday dinner with wine felt perfectly fine, after all, Monday was just around the corner.
“The first few weekends into our sobriety felt completely alien; it was suddenly quiet.”
Now, this brings us to the start of the week when we felt even more tired. Many people find Mondays challenging, and that’s completely normal. But what if, like us, you quit drinking? We had so many questions when we started out. Would weekends be dull? Would we even be able to relax and fully unwind? The list went on…
The first few weekends into our sobriety felt completely alien; it was suddenly quiet. We stocked up on snacks and sparkling waters to get us through the weekend.
“Now, almost two years into our sobriety, we look forward to our booze-free weekends.”
Soon we noticed, our weekend sleep became deeper, and we started to wake up refreshed every single day, without having to rush out of bed for pain relief and coffee like we used to. We were now hydrated and didn’t need to bring a bottle of water to bed to prevent waking up thirsty and dehydrated. Dinners with friends and family felt wonderful as we could hold conversations, pay just for the meal without the high alcohol charges we’d usually rack up. Plus, we could always drive ourselves home afterwards.
Now, almost two years into our sobriety, we look forward to our booze-free weekends. Fridays usually kick off with either a delicious takeout or a nice “fake-away” (a habit developed during lockdown) along with a tasty alcohol-free drink. We’ve enjoyed trying different types of soft drinks and alcohol-free options. There are so many we are still exploring, having never given them a second glance when we were drinking.
“We often wonder how we managed everything while drinking the night before, it was truly exhausting, and we don’t miss it at all.”
Our dinners and outings became easier over time as our confidence grew. Our taste buds have improved, and we love treating ourselves to hearty meals paired with dessert. That said, we now eat less fast food or greasy breakfasts—hangover cures re no longer necessary in our house after all! Our kids are eating better, too without cheeky McDonald's breakfasts on Sunday mornings.
“The weekends no longer pass by in a flash like they used to when we spent so much time drinking.
Waking up after a deep sleep now allows us to get out of the house early to enjoy sporting activities with the children, all while being hangover-free. We often wonder how we managed everything while drinking the night before, it was truly exhausting, and we don’t miss it at all.
We accomplish so much more over the weekend, it genuinely feels like having an extra day in our week. The weekends no longer pass by in a flash like they used to when we spent so much time drinking. On Monday mornings, we feel refreshed and both of us make it to the gym by five or six in the morning.
Sober Spring is a great time to give yourself an alcohol-free break before summer - a chance to reset and let your mind and body rejuvenate. In fact, our “sober-versary” happens to fall on the 1st of May, and when we first realised this, we thought: ‘What a lovely spring date!’. This added an extra layer of motivation as we didn’t want to mess it up and lose it. By summer in our first year, we honestly felt amazing. We experienced what is sometimes called the ‘pink cloud’ moment and we both felt truly alive, living our best booze-free lives.
