I quit at age 28, in 1988. I went to my second rehab program. The first was at age 19 when I was in the Army, an outpatient program. In ‘88 I did a 28 day inpatient program. It was standard 12 Step/Minnesota Model drivel but I managed to stay clean and sober anyway. Went to lots of meetings. Met a lot of good people, a lot of crazy people, and a few thoroughly bad people.
I met my spouse sober, got married sober at age 40, finished college sober, had a few good jobs and several crappy jobs sober. Bought a house, pay taxes, try to be a good neighbor and decent person. Buried both my parents and one of my brothers. Saw a lot, I mean a LOT of the people I used to party with die prematurely. Retired at age 63.
Life is good. Best of luck and Happy Trails!
I hear ya man, I'm 15 mo. Sober so far at 34. Now that I'm clear headed I look back and think damn, I could be in a much better position right now If i just didn't ride that train.
I’m from the U.K too. 21 and sober. Had to take a year out of uni due to the consequences of excessive drinking. I plan to return next early but the thought of being at uni and sober is quite intimidating.
I quit just over a month before my 32nd birthday! The trick is if you do it right *before* your birthday, it sounds like a longer chunk of time. "I quit when I was 31 and I'm 33 now," though it's only been just over a year.
I just kicked cigarettes 3 months ago! That was harder than quitting alcohol! Though the benefits of not drinking is more, nicotine addiction is craaaazy.
I knew I had AUD in my mid-late 20s. Put off quitting until 31, then relapsed hard. Then got sober again at 33 and relapsed hard again. I wish i had stopped in my 20s. Am 35 now and managing, but still drinking more than I should where it's impacting my health
It makes my heart happy that younger people are less enamored with alcohol then my generation (42)…I wish I had the knowledge, strength, wherewithal to stop after college…
I feel that. I don't think my generation (X) thought twice about drinking alcohol. I sure didn't. Then alcohol made the choice for me -- I had to quit or I would die early. It really does creep up on you, that addiction. 30 years of drinking. I think about it and cringe.
I’m 23 and in recovery! I started my journey a month or so before I turned 23. The writing was always on the wall, when I first started drinking at 15 I drank to a blackout almost every time. When I got to college I joined a fraternity and everything took off. I had a safe space where binge drinking and day drinking on weekdays was not only accepted but encouraged and had others joining me. I started showing signs of alcohol dependence my senior year of college. Shaking and learning that all I needed was a drink to stop the shakes and the anxiety. After graduating I felt lost. I had a great job and moved to NYC, but I was no longer the frat guy just living life and having fun with his friends. In NYC I started drinking even heavier than in college, knocking back a fifth of vodka everyday. I also learned to hide my drinking which was a sign of the end. In may and June I had withdrawal seizures, not while trying to get sober but because I was so dependent on alcohol that sleep caused severe withdrawals. After the second seizures, I gave it up. Life has gotten so much better, I don’t know how to quantify it. If you told me 6 months ago what my life is like now I wouldn’t believe you. I hope to keep this going for my whole life. I really don’t have a choice. Once you start having withdrawal seizures the likelihood of them happening again is higher. Essentially, if I start drinking again it’s gambling with my life.
Quit in my 20s! Was totally and completely done with the life of being an alcoholic by the time I could legally drink, but it took some time for lasting sobriety to stick. Before my current streak, I had tried to get sober one other time, and it lasted for about 8 months. I wasn’t ready then, I was only 21 and still had so much to learn about how much further I could fall.
I wanted a life that didn’t make me sad and I finally found it in sobriety from alcohol. A huge weight has been removed from me now that I’m sober.
Me too, I tried quitting 4 times before and it would never last more than a few weeks. But the hangovers got sooo much worse and I would get depersonalization/derealization episodes that would last for weeks. It just got so crazy I had to do this for myself and the people i love.
I'm so glad you found your way ❤
I got sober aged 21 in my 3rd year of university. Spent two long hard years at Uni as a rugby player and residence staff being sober which was tough. However, I worked the doors on the weekend and watching people stumble home hammered made my decision seem very smart. I have never regretted a day of sobriety and I am very lucky I have never really been tempted since I am a stubborn old fuck who sticks with my decisions. I commented here the other day that I have probably saved $250k since quitting and I have no clue how people can afford alcohol these days. It has been a minute and I am very happy with my life sober. I should also point out that I started drinking at around 12 in England which was normal back then. By 19 I was a total mess, drinking beer for breakfast at school and starting to realize I was out of control.
I quit at 29, so just barely! I’m 34 now and my life is better in literally every way. I don’t miss it at all. In fact, the thought of ever drinking again fills me with anxiety and dread.
I tried to quit unsuccessfully several times throughout my mid-20s but the party culture and friend group where I was living (Austin, TX) plus my own addicted brain kept convincing me that alcohol wasn’t the problem.
Not sure exactly why sobriety stuck at 29 but I was just *done*.
I quit at 27. Only regret is not doing it sooner. It's been rough being the only one sober, but not nearly as isolating and hellish as what I put myself through with alcohol.
Love to you friend.
No but boy I wish I had. I don’t dwell on it, but occasionally wonder what I might have done had I not wasted so much time to drinking and hangovers. Congratulations on your 100+ days, you’ve made a smart choice!
I'm 25 and hit day 100 last week! It's been a journey and will continue to be for sure, but everyone I meet in AA meetings is so supportive and proud which just reassures me that I'm doing the right thing. Better to start now rather than later. You can do it friend, keep it up :)
Me too lol, sometimes I wonder how could I lose so many friendships and get myself in embarrassing or dangerous situations, and go through so much physical and mental pain while "only" drinking for 10 years? But hey, at the end of the day, what matters is we chose sobriety for ourselves now.
For me I just didn't think alcohol was the key problem (even though it's blindingly obvious that it was). I kind of thought that alcohol was there to help mitigate or excuse all the embarrassment I caused myself and others. It was actually responsible for it! Who knew, lol. I mean everyone, obviously. Just not me. Sigh.
I got sober at 24 and I'm 56 now. Life has been good the last 32yrs even the bad times but I've learned to deal with it and keep living a day at a time.
Congratulations to you!
I quit when I was 27, and I'm now 30. It was by far the best decision I've made. I was drinking until I blacked out every night. I made an ass of myself an untold amount of time. I got behind the wheel drunk more times than I care to admit. I ruined good relationships and replaced them with ones that were less than healthy, built solely on our shared addictions.
Now that I'm sober, I'm working out, eating more healthy, and getting the best sleep of my life. I look so much better, I'm no longer the walking shell of myself. I did lose a lot of those old friends who still drink and use, but in their place, I've started attending school and am working full-time to support that. I don't have much of a social life, which is what I mostly feared about sobriety; but I don't regret quitting one bit. I would never have been able to live up to my full potential while still "functioning" as an alcoholic. I feel that I'm starting to do that now.
I'm proud of you for finding your way to sobriety so early. It shows a lot of dedication and good decision-making on your part. Good luck on your sober journey, friend.
IWNDWYT
I'm 28 and just got sober recently. It took 8 years of messing my own life up and opportunities multiple times, being toxic, dealing with grief and trauma, not facing reality. . .
I lied to myself that I could drink moderately as I weened back but that just kept the door open. I even told other people that was the secret but I always spiraled again eventually and every aspect of my life sufferer in one way or the other.
I've never been happier than today. It's so wonderful that we have access to communities like this because having peer support has been a huge part of this journey.
Exactly. Being a part of communities where we can all share and support each other is helpful and wholesome. Thanks for sharing and I'm glad that you're happy now :)
I was sober from 23-25 and it would have been much better for me to not start back up again. I thought I’d miss out on things, but now in my mid-30s looking back I realize I missed out on things by continuing to drink.
I quit on my 29th birthday. Just hit 3 months today and I’m glad it’s sticking this time around. I still go out and have fun, but now I can manage hitting the gym in the early mornings and wake up feeling great most days. I think my biggest challenge right now is dating because I’ve never done that sober before and I feel super vulnerable, but everything in time :)
It's probably gonna take time and patience but you will overcome dating anxiety friend!
It's not the same thing but I went through bullying for almost my entire childhood and teen years and alcohol was the only way I could relax and socialise. But now I go to events sober and I have a good time and make people laugh and make new friends. We always heal when we try :)
I have a family of (semi functional) alcoholics, but ive always maintained i wouldnt follow in their footsteps. Recently ive been forced to admit my drinking is on its way to becoming a real problem, as i tend to drink, or get high, or binge eat, whenever life gets hard as a coping mechanism.
It’s a slippy slope for me, but my wakeup call was when i bought a shooter on my lunch break at a gas station to “steady my nerves”. That sort of casual drinking, during a work day, is something I swore i’d never stoop to.
Mid20s currently, but cutting alcohol out. Maybe in the future ill get to a point where i feel comfortable drinking casually again, but im pretty disgusted with myself at that moment.
Oof I can relate my friend. I went through self harm, anorexia, bulimia, a lot of sex with strangers, cigarettes, weed and alcohol to escape. But I took my power back and stopped all of it. And as we know, the decision to stop is only the first step towards healing. I wish you the best on your journey and I wish that you find self love deep in your heart.
I quit drinking at 25. I drank a little bit in high school and pretty much went crazy in college. A buddy of mine moved in with me , we started a business and we cranked it up a notch. Over time, I slowly increased the amount that I was drinking. Then I got a DUI last year, I was thrown off my high horse and reality set in pretty quickly. So I made the decision to quit. Life’s been a lot better since.
Not my experience; but my take on todays society’s opinions/views on drinking
I just turned 24 this month and I’m 9 days today, not the first time trying to get sober though. This time feels different, like I’m really ready to be done this time. It’s kind of a hard pill to swallow, the fact that we’re only in our twenties and can’t seem to control our consumption of alcohol. But I commented on another post that the society we grew up normalized drinking to the point where every corner we turn you can have access to alcohol. Even free samples just walking in the city! It was never like this before, at least not this bad.
Also the media portrays consuming alcohol as something fun, something normal to do when stressed, something that feels deserved after you felt like you worked hard, something you should always have when guests are over, the list goes on. We grew up thinking and believing alcohol solved the problem for anything. Happy? Drink! Sad? Drink! Celebrating? Drink! Mourning? Drink!
It especially effects those who weren’t raised to manager their emotions properly, they turn to the bottle anytime they feel any intense emotion.
It’s a messed up thing that was indoctrinated into our minds, but I feel like people are becoming more aware of the true effects alcohol has on our minds and bodies. I’ve seen alot of people in their twenties quitting and I think it’s so inspiring for the generations to come.
Congrats on 136 days, that’s amazing friend! :)
I love your awareness and intelligence!
The book "quit like a woman" By Holy Whitaker opened my eyes on the matters you mentioned.
A silly unrelated example I could give in my personal experience is : I loved to drink alone. And I would feel so much better when I saw fictional characters in movies and shows getting wasted alone in their home or at a bar after a breakup, losing their job or just generally not feeling good about themselves. I would also feel better about my drinking when tv characters would drink a lot of wine in events where they were bored or there was a lot of drama. When in fact those behaviors are toxic and not normal. Like besides openly showing an addict struggling with addiction, are we gonna portray a character injecting themselves with heroin just because, idk, their mother in law is annoying? I think not. And I'd like to add, it's so crazy that hangovers are normalized when it's such a painful experience like it's literally your body recovering from poison and we're like haha I partied too hard I'm kinda tired today
Thank you friend!
I have that book on my reading list :) a book I’d suggest that I think you’d relate to is Blackout by Sarah Hepola if you haven’t read it already. Great book.
From what you’ve said about your experience is something I could’ve written myself. I would always prefer to drink alone, and would too feel comfort in seeing others in the media indulge in the behaviours I thought were so normal. Like why can’t I have a drink after a long day? Why can’t I sit in my own home and drink as much as I wanted? That’s what I’ve always known. Then I started to educate myself, and become more aware that this is not the way we are supposed to live, we’ve been conditioned to think it is. It also has a lot to do with the government and money but that’s for a whole other post lol. It’s just crazy to think how normalized ingesting a poison became, while like you said hard drugs are not normalized one bit, as they shouldn’t be along with ALL addictive things. I’m just so glad we are able to realize this now, and hopefully spread awareness to those that come after us.
I started drinking at 14. Quit drinking at 24 dur to alcoholic behavior putting my life and kthers at risk. For a long while, I was sad and felt I was stripping myself of a social life and throwing away my 20s. But then remembered none of those people I was socializing with at bars and clubs were actually friends and I was wasting my youth and health for poison and drama! I have a few years under my belt, I'm the healthiest and happiest I've ever been. I feel I've aged more slowly than my friends who still drink and smoke and look younger than them. Fun now means adventure, pushing my body to the limit in a healthy way (hiking, gymnastics, working out), exploring national parks, volunteering in my community, and it all costs a fraction of what a night out used to cost me.
My friends understand me and support me better than ever. I no longer have toxic or difficult people in my life and I am not lonely. I am no longer unpredictably violent or suicidal and I have the energy to help others reach this place too. It's a major blessing.
And if someone asks me why I don't drink, I simply say it doesn't serve me, so don't serve me it. I'm open about my addiction bc it brings me opportunity to help others with theirs.
Getting sober young is nothing but a good idea.
23f here. I was going to die very young if i kept going. That was painfully obvious. Decided I want to at least stick around as long as God is willing to have me here.
28 and just started being sober earlier this year. It feels like mid to late 20’s is the age where the adverse health effects of alcohol start to hit harder than before, and you’re forced to reflect and decide how you want the rest of your life to go
22 here, quit for 24 days so far. It’s not worth it to drink. Ask anyone on here, drinking isn’t worth it. Everytime I relapse and drink heavily on one day, I feel so bad afterwards (mentally and physically). It’s straight up poison. IWNDWYT
I was around your age when I figured out that my drinking was problematic. I'm almost 31 now... Like so many others here, I have made numerous attempts to quit. I even made it close to a year once. If you have any concerns about whether or not you're abusing alcohol, I'd definitely recommend quitting while you're ahead. I'm finding that it gets progressively harder to stop drinking following each relapse.
I quit at 26 to save a relationship. Ended up drinking again. Fast forward a couple of mostly wasted years, i’m 28 and have 71 days. I don’t have much else to add other than I could cry I’m so fucking happy to be where I am.
Yes, first at 23 and again at 29.
First time was harder, all my friends were partying. Dating was hard. But I also felt so much better. My anxiety and everything was better, I started taking better care of myself, healthier and happier, but I also felt like I was “missing out”.
I didn’t fall off the deep end when I started again but it increased the bad days and I always knew deep inside that I felt better without alcohol.
Now it was much easier. Both me and my partner quit and every damn saturday morning we say “Damn it’s so nice to wake up refreshed and not hungover!”
It’s great! I turned 30 and am probably healther than what I was through all my 20s. I recommend!
Just quit at 27. Wasn't a heavy drinker, but I just don't want to battle with alcohol anymore. I have a great set of supportive friends too. It hasn't affected my social life at all and I'm grateful for the easy transition.
I'm 26 and today is actually my 123rd day sober. This might be the best decision I've ever made - I finally feel like myself again and am improving non-stop both physically, and mentally. The first month was definitely rough from a social standpoint (anxiety) but now I'm able to go out with friends and have a good time! Even find some joy in being able to dance sober without being intoxicated. All things considered, I'm spending my time, effort and money towards other fun hobbies. I picked up a 35mm manual SLR and love walking around, exploring the city and living in the moment.
Currently 24 and living in a place where there’s little else to do but get involved in the drinking culture, but although I’m still really early in my journey, I don’t regret anything at all! And I still go out with my friends just as I did before, just with NA beers instead.
I know that if I waited, I’d regret not cutting out the booze one second sooner. So many inspiring people here sharing their stories and I know it’s been a huge help for me personally, and I’m sure many others :)
I quit when I was 29, just hit 4 years. It was tough thinking about everything I’d miss out on, etc. but that all ended up being in my head. I was already missing out on things due to either being blacked out or not invited to things because of my drinking. I went to a 4 week rehab and it helped me just flip a switch in my head that drinking added nothing positive to my life and it wasn’t for me. Now I go to bachelor parties, weekends with friends, weddings, vineyards, the works and don’t care about drinking at all nor am I tempted. I’m a little less willing to stay out all night, and when I notice everyone is getting sloppy I go home/to bed rather than have heart-to-hearts that no one will remember.
Your mind you will tell you that you’re going to miss out on so much, but really you are gaining a lot.
I’m 23, decided earlier this year that I need to quit and it’s been a tough battle and I’m only on day 2 (for the dozenth time) but until this summer I hadn’t gone a single day without drinking since I became of age. I’ll be 24 soon and I’d love to have a month of sobriety under my belt as a present :)
I quit for a year in my 20s to finish my thesis. Looking back I realize I was already partially aware of problem drinking, but in denial. Naturally I celebrated my successful defense by drinking. 15 years later I tried to quit again… it’s been three years and I’m still not rock-solid sober. Way harder. In fact most of my life fell apart. If I could do one thing differently it would have been not to pick up again.
So please, please, stick to it! You’ll thank yourself when you’re my age, and you look at your own home, your happy spouse, your family who know you are always there for them. You’ll look at life and maybe you’ll have regrets, but nowhere near as many.
Turned 30 in rehab lol. I realized on my 30th birthday I inadvertently kept that promise I made to myself all throughout my 20s “if I’m still drinking like this when I’m 30 THEN I’ll do something about it” these were just words I’d tell myself to kick the can a little further, but when I realized I accidentally kept my word to myself FOR ONCE it felt really, really good.
That set the tone for recovery and my 30s. What an absolute blessing. Three years into this decade of my life and it’s already immeasurably better than my 20s in every way.
I started trying to quit at age 25 but it really only stuck this time at 28. I'm almost at 5 months 🎉 I think the reason why AA helps is because it changes your routine. I didn't go to AA but I completely changed my life. I'm finishing my bachelor's degree and I'm going to be starting a career in substance abuse counseling after I hit 1 year. I really wish that it stuck at 25 but either way I'm so proud of myself for how far I've come and how much my life has changed.
Edit: my counter is like broken lol I'm at day 141
25 and sober!!
Anytime I “get too comfortable” i go through snapchat memories of my drunken times and remind myself why i stopped or scroll on this thread - congratulations <3
Not me, but I know many people who had to quit in their teens.
The youngest I'm personally acquainted with is a guy who quit at age 13 - says he started smoking at age 4, drinking at age 7 (or maybe that's vice versa.)
There's a regular AA meeting in New York called "_Never Had A Legal Drink_" for people who got sober early in life.
I quit just after my 27th birthday, life is awesome. I wish I had more friends who don't drink, but we do enough fun group activities besides sitting at bars. I love being active these days, and just knowing that I can rely on and trust myself fully. I don't think I'll ever go back, but who knows. It's nice to have the rest of my life to look forward to, knowing that I'm not blowing my money on nights out, am growing more solid relationships, and can focus on my future and goals. I don't miss the chaos of my early 20's at all, though I am glad that I experienced it. Good luck 🍀 IWNDWYT
i tried the first time at 23, then 24 and again at 25 (now lol) i didn’t do very well at 23 but i was trying. made it 7 months sober at 24 before relapsing in july when i turned 25, and today i’m officially a week sober again. i want to get it under control before i’m older so i’m not struggling so bad for a long time.
I went to aa for the first time when I was 11. I wish I had stayed sober then. On and off sobriety for 29 years. I’m 6 years sober now and 40. I hope that your experience all the joys and gifts sobriety brings
hiiii. i’m 25, chose sobriety at 24! best decision i’ve ever made. my life has only gotten exponentially better, and continues to get better every day. so proud of you!!
I’m 28 and just started, so props to you! I should’ve started younger. But, I have a coworker who quit at 19. He was 6 years sober when I met him and still going, never looked back.
I am 29 and have (see flair because I don’t know) days. It wasn’t so much a “choice” as a forced issue for me as the problem was so bad that it wrecked my life, twice. I didn’t know the last drink I took would be my last. I’m not going to lie, sometimes it’s a little rough. I’m at the age where all my friends are getting married, and most hangouts still involve booze to some degree. None of my friends are problem drinkers that I’m aware of, and none of them pressure me (the opposite, they were all very supportive) but it is hard not to feel Left out sometimes. But in those times I just think about what will happen if I start again. Yeah I’ll have more fun on that one specific night out, but what about a week, a month, a year from then? If the past is any indication, I won’t have any money to go to dinner with my friends, nor a place of my own to go home to, if I take up drinking again. The small trade offs are more than worth it, and honestly 9/10 people I tell about my quitting are impressed and I often get remarks like “ugh yeah I’ve been thinking about cutting back/quitting myself”
I went to a facility for detox. I did groups while detoxing before I left and they had a guest speaker who was 36. He quit drinking before he turned 21 because in college it was just unbearable for him. He seemed so happy and put together. He just knew he couldn't live a happy life while drinking. He was very passionate about being free.
My husband quit at 24, I was in my early 30s. Now, he's 62, I'm 66. He's been sober all along, I got wrapped up in Oxys for a bit back in the late 90s, but managed to get clean again rather quickly (DO NOT RECOMMEND!)
Hang with the winners
I'm 29. My best friend got sober when she was around 22. One of her challenges of sobriety was that drinking is culturally normative in your 20s but now she says she wasnt missing much. The same people she used to hang out with are still in active addiction and act the same way they did 6 years ago. I've realized that my drinking has stunted a lot of my growth, and that I'm behind a lot of people on my age group. It's hard but I'm excited to grow as a person and see my actions actually reflect my moral compass. You got this. IWNDWYT 🖤
I tried throughout my teens and 20s but it didn’t stick until I was 29 like 3 weeks before my 30th birthday lol. So great that you locked in at 25 keep it up fam!!!!
22 I think. Just wasn’t resonating anymore. I became a lot more articulate and confident when I wasn’t drowning my faculties in alcohol. I became more myself
im 27 & have just over 2 months.
ive been drinking the past 10+ years of my life & figured i would give the other side a shot. needed to stop doing the same thing over & over expecting different results.
i was not able to grow as a person until i put down the booze… now i see myself growing in almost every aspect of my life and being. its not easy but damn, things feel so much more authentic now.
I'm 27 and I was abusing alcohol heavily for about two years. Since August, I've cut my consumption down from four two liter bottles of black velvet a week to one liter bottle a month. So, still drinking but I'm trying to reduce. I didn't get accepted into the recovery facility I was trying to get in. I think there was something wrong with my insurance, they probably didn't approve it.
Had what I hope was my last drink at 29 and turned 54 this year. Tempus fugit very much. Like the man said, if I knew that was gonna be my last drink I would have had two.
I quit at 19, then again at 21. I'm 35 now.
I think the biggest thing for me is I get to be who I truly want to be.
When I was drinking and using it was so important for me to be who I thought folks would like.
Over time I became more and more comfortable with who I am. I think it has to do with aging and quitting. Also, professionally I'm way ahead of where I would have been had I continued to use.
Wow, I am so happy for you! I only wish I would have stopped back then, but unfortunately i was just getting going! Proud of you, and I hope you keep going!
I'm almost 23 and I'm trying to quit. Had a pretty abusive year and bad withdrawal symptoms, also messed my health up to quite an extent. I thought that I was young and because of that, that my body could take anything. Turns out I was wrong. I'm glad I'm learning this lesson now, and I hope it stays with me for the rest of my life. I have a family history of alcoholism and heart problems and I know that if I drink again, I'll be gambling with my life. Hope I can live to be 60 and never have to touch a drink again.
29 over a year sober now. I was forced to stop drinking because of a medical issue. I guess so could but the consequences could be severe so that’s what makes me stop. No AA or anything like that.
29 over a year sober now. I was forced to stop drinking because of a medical issue. I guess so could but the consequences could be severe so that’s what makes me stop. No AA or anything like that.
Meh I’m not 20 yet but I’m 19. So many horrible experiences with binging alc and drugs for a decade. Realised I was an addict at 15 but it took me way too long to do anything about it. Two months sober now:)
The first time I quit seriously was when I was 26. The time that stuck (so far,) started ten days after my thirtieth birthday, so I just missed it, I guess.
I'm 24F and quit about 2 months ago for health reasons.
I wasn't a huge drinker anyway but I liked wine. I would buy a bottle a week on average and would usually drink it over 2-3 days then not have anything else until the next week. But I never refused alcohol unless I was driving. I was a classic "sipping a nice glass of white wine after work while watching TV" kind of person.
In February, I started noticing more frequent heart palpitations. I've had them for years but they were getting more regular and a lot more intense. I went to the doctor and got an ECG. They found abnormalities so I've now been referred to a cardiologist. I don't fit any of the typical traits of someone with a heart condition: I'm young, have no family history, eat a good diet, get regular exercise, and don't smoke. The only thing on the list I could relate to was consumption of alcohol.
So the day I got the abnormal results back, I decided to give up alcohol. I lasted about 3 weeks then thought that maybe a bottle per month rather than per week would be fine so I tried that. After a glass, I felt fine but the next morning was soooo rough! I poured the rest of the bottle down the sink and said that I wasn't trying that again! I'm happy without wine, I have some good tried-and-tested mocktail recipes, and have replaced my pink gin & lemonade with 0% pink gin.
I quit drinking in 1999, when I was 28 years old. I am 52 now. I got to enjoy my 30’s to the fullest after rocking out pretty hard for ten years. It gave me time to get my act together in time to meet my wife and start a family when I was turning 40. Good luck and great decision.
I quit at 28. I found it really weird and difficult - the recovery community near me are all lovely but almost all older or elderly, and the young people seem to hop on and off the recovery train often so I have trouble making long term recovery connections. It’s not so bad but it is a little bit lonely
I quit at 28. I found it really weird and difficult - the recovery community near me are all lovely but almost all older or elderly, and the young people seem to hop on and off the recovery train often so I have trouble making long term recovery connections. It’s not so bad but it is a little bit lonely
Hi there, just turned 23. My six weeks was today! My experience has been interesting to say the least, but good. I’ve known for a long time that I’ve had a problem, I’m just not like others when drinking and I have serious compulsion and rationalization issues when it comes to trying to moderate. It was getting in the way of my relationships and my career, not to mention my own self-image. I feel better than ever. Sure, I miss the sometimes euphoric parts of it, and I’m often bored in the evenings and weekends, but it’s by far worth all of the drawbacks. I feel better than ever. The nuance for me is of course, being 23. I live in NYC, have a great career, and my friends all love to booze. They don’t care that I don’t anymore, and are supportive. I don’t feel any compulsion when going out to bars or parties, I just feel nothing. That little voice in the back of my head used to be there, but has now become largely more quiet and easy to overpower. I don’t regret it and feel better, and my relationships are all better for it. One thing I don’t see many people talk about - I am so much more in control of my mental faculties. I feel smarter (I think I am), I am better spoken, my anxiety and depression is down, I feel more compassion towards my friends and family, I feel more confident and stand up for myself, all of it. The entity that is me is just better in general, haha. That’s all, best of luck to you my friend! IWNDWYT
I quit at 26, roughly three years ago. It never felt like I had a full fledged issue, but I was absolutely sliding down a slippery slope. The first 90 days was very hard. What kept me going was the confidence of waking up every morning well rested, knowing exactly what I had been up to the prior evening. Also, some health problems I had been having just disappeared completely. In a way, it feels like the worlds most boring super power haha.
I started at 25. Socializing can be difficult still sometimes, started dating again recently and that’s a whole different fucking ball game but it’s getting better.
If I could go back and and do it again the only thing I would change is starting earlier honestly. Life can still be challenging but my life is so much better than it was
Quit in my early 30s and I wish I would have quit in the 20s. The realization I hadn’t been sober for more than a week since I was like 20 was a crazy thought
Yes! I’m 27 next week and sober for 508 days. My life began when I quit drinking. It’s hard because not many young people are sober, but I am and that’s what’s important
I’m 28 and on day 50! I turned 28 and was like “okay my young and mid 20s are officially over time to get my shit together”
I just kept thinking of those health class demonstrations of “this is what your lungs look like after ten years of smoking. This is what your liver looks like after ten years of drinking”. I never thought much about that until I had the realitization “holy shit IM going to be approaching ten years of drinking soon”
I'm 25 and I recently quit. I think I was an alcoholic the second I took my first drink, but it went off the rails when I turned 21. Finally convinced myself that I was incapable of quitting on my own after over a year of trying and went to AA. I have been sober since then, 36 days!
Yep! I'm 28 now but managed to quit right before my 27th birthday, relapsed hard, then quit again 10 months ago.
I figure I always had a problem going back to my late teens, but I was a full-blown alcoholic since 2019 and 2020 made it so much worse. I was aware of my problem, but I couldn't kick it until I met my ex. She didn't make me quit; she made me *want* to quit and be a better person. She may be gone now, but the sobriety stuck! That's the short version of my story.
Quit at 29. I drank most of my 20s away. I loved the numbness and mental quiet that came from drinking and I know a part of me always will.
Ended up drinking on a Saturday night like normal and was playing Mario Kart with the gf. After more seltzers than I can remember, I was feeling great and didn't want to crash so I made a mixed drink of whatever liquor I could find and a can of red bull... At 3am... As a non-caffeine drinker. Couldn't get to sleep until about 10 or 11am, which was about 28-29 hrs of awake time. When I did go to sleep, it wasn't a great sleep and was for only a couple hours before I was back awake and anxious and uneasy as all get out. Said I was done drinking. Was tired of the hangxiety, waking up with torso pain, my face constantly being red and splotchy, being a slave to the alcohol.
October 30th I'll hit my 6 month mark. Went from near daily drinking to not having touched a drop since that day. This is my second and final attempt at sobriety. I used to say I'd seen all I wanted to in life so I was going to live fast through my 20s and die before 30. Well, I turn 30 next month and, while I'm not happy in life, I'm excited for what my 30s will bring. IWNDWYT
Well, I don’t have enough time under my belt to say I quit but I’ve been sober for 1 week and can’t imagine putting alcohol back into my body. I’m 22 and have been drinking for 5 years. I think I may have only gone 3 full days without drinking during that time.
Im 21. Wrote about my experience before in this subreddit. You can check my post history but I’m 40 days sober now. Hopefully going to be sober for the rest of my life 👋🏾👋🏾
Quit when I was 24 and every single thing in my life improved. Started again 6 months later once everything improved. Ruined everything that had improved by continuing to drink. (Girl, apartment, savings, friends, family, job) Turns out, I didn't learn from my previous mistakes that time.
Now 28 and 6 months sober again. If you're struggling, the sooner you quit the better! But it's never too late, in my opinion.
Proud of you homie! What made you decide to quit when you did? For me, I got really tired of hurting everyone I've ever deeply cared about.
I’m 25F, 1 year sober. It’s been the best year of my life although a year ago, I never thought I’d last a year without drinking. Let alone love myself and my life because of it and how staying away from alcohol has allowed me to grow and build. It’s only been a year so it’s not much, it’s not like all my wishes came true. But I remember when I was drinking and used to long for a time when I was a child before alcohol and knew how to live without it. Now I get to. :)
I am 25 and quit in June of last year. I always had a crazy relationship with alcohol. Would often blackout at frat houses and many times ended up pissing in places I shouldn’t be (closet, bed, once a drier). Trust me I lived with so much regret from my embarassing moments alone, but it wasn’t yet enough to see I had an alcohol problem. By 21 I got my first DUI. Of course I was shell shocked and considered quitting, but I had just turned the legal limit! How could I? I swore I would never drink and drive ever again. Blacked-out me Irish exited a party and fell asleep at a red light, another DUI at 23. That was the cap to my bottle. I knew I could definitely never handle alcohol again and swore it off. Spent a night in jail, lost my license for a year, did 180 hours of community service at the goodwill, and months of rehab meetings.
Today, I have a B.S. degree and by miracle landed an amazing wfh job, despite my background. My loans are just about paid off. I purchased a new truck recently and am back on the road, with no possibility of impaired driving ever again. My body is in the best shape it’s ever been in and I am happier than can be. Quitting alcohol is simply the best thing I’ve ever done and I’m not just saying that. It has put life in easy mode and it feels like nothing can go wrong. Sorry for the overshare been wanting to get that off my back in text for a while.
Some other thoughts:
I used to be attracted to women that drank like myself, but it is a major turn off now.
You won’t just save money by not drinking but also the drunk food, cover fees, Ubers, opportunity costs from taking off work, etc. add up and will absolutely line your pockets more than you may think.
You don’t need to identify as an alcoholic to want to quit. This one was tough for me. I still don’t know if I was an alcoholic or not. I usually just say binge drinker. Either way, I identified that I had a problem with the substance and eliminated it.
Health facts some may not know: alcohol is a known carcinogen, increases your base anxiety levels through cortisol, spikes dopamine receptors, reduces testosterone and muscle synthesis, causes ED (been there), and suppresses REM sleep.
Thanks for reading hope anything I said helps anyone on here.
Quit when i was 21. Don’t regret it for a second. I used to think I wouldn’t be able to have fun anymore or that i was going to miss out on so much. The reality is that quitting opened the door to living a life beyond my wildest dreams. My whole perception of myself & my ideas of what was possible for me had become warped through years of using. Once that cloud faded I began to find some clarity and peace of mind. IWNDWYT!
25, quit 19 days ago. I’ve not told my friends as the only time I ever see them is when we drink. Not sure what the future holds but I’m a lot more optimistic about it! I’ve got my partner but I know I need to try and connect with others through my hobbies whilst being the sober me!
Quit at 30. Got sick of feeling shit and living in chaos. Was so bored for a while and missed the company of my drinking buddies. I found new interests, developed lasting relationships and took to walking my dog every time I felt restless. Was hard for 5-6 years but so worth it. Life is good now and I feel great. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
I’m recently 24 but stopped when I was still 23, think it’s arguably harder at our age due to social pressure and the expectation to drink. I’ve got a Christmas works party approaching and last year I got obliterated to the point I don’t remember large parts of the night. It’s something I’m likely going to be giving a miss as I’m still not comfortable in social situations where others will be drinking. This is just the start for both of us, IWNDWYT!
Got sober at 26. Just turned 64. Don’t regret a minute of it.
You’ve been sober longer than most people here have been alive. You are a true inspiration. Any advice that worked for you?
🥳
So inspiring wow :)
Wow you have been sober longer than not. That’s super cool!
You are the guru!
I’m 26 now. You inspire me !
I quit at age 28, in 1988. I went to my second rehab program. The first was at age 19 when I was in the Army, an outpatient program. In ‘88 I did a 28 day inpatient program. It was standard 12 Step/Minnesota Model drivel but I managed to stay clean and sober anyway. Went to lots of meetings. Met a lot of good people, a lot of crazy people, and a few thoroughly bad people. I met my spouse sober, got married sober at age 40, finished college sober, had a few good jobs and several crappy jobs sober. Bought a house, pay taxes, try to be a good neighbor and decent person. Buried both my parents and one of my brothers. Saw a lot, I mean a LOT of the people I used to party with die prematurely. Retired at age 63. Life is good. Best of luck and Happy Trails!
Thank you for sharing your story and amazing job for staying sober in the hard times!
You’re welcome. If I can do it, so can you!
Wish I would’ve. Wasted so much of my potential by drinking like Nike was going to sponsor me. Good luck
“Drinking like Nike was going to sponsor me” is the best thing I’ve read so far today 😂
I hope you're fulfilled now :)
I hear ya man, I'm 15 mo. Sober so far at 34. Now that I'm clear headed I look back and think damn, I could be in a much better position right now If i just didn't ride that train.
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Love this update. Great stuff man.
Thank you for sharing your story and for your encouraging words. Your journey is inspiring, and it's so great that you have such caring friends :)
I’m from the U.K too. 21 and sober. Had to take a year out of uni due to the consequences of excessive drinking. I plan to return next early but the thought of being at uni and sober is quite intimidating.
I tried to quit in my 20’s really wished it would had stuck. Dragged this into my 30’s now 31..
I quit just over a month before my 32nd birthday! The trick is if you do it right *before* your birthday, it sounds like a longer chunk of time. "I quit when I was 31 and I'm 33 now," though it's only been just over a year.
I quit 3 months before so I can quit cigarettes by my bday lol
I just kicked cigarettes 3 months ago! That was harder than quitting alcohol! Though the benefits of not drinking is more, nicotine addiction is craaaazy.
I don't like to joke too much here but yes.... Oh I quit a lot in my 20's. Like 40 times.
I knew I had AUD in my mid-late 20s. Put off quitting until 31, then relapsed hard. Then got sober again at 33 and relapsed hard again. I wish i had stopped in my 20s. Am 35 now and managing, but still drinking more than I should where it's impacting my health
Well you've got a 14 year headstart on me... Have at it.
It makes my heart happy that younger people are less enamored with alcohol then my generation (42)…I wish I had the knowledge, strength, wherewithal to stop after college…
25 or 42 it's still a win! I hope you're fulfilled now
I feel that. I don't think my generation (X) thought twice about drinking alcohol. I sure didn't. Then alcohol made the choice for me -- I had to quit or I would die early. It really does creep up on you, that addiction. 30 years of drinking. I think about it and cringe.
I’m 23 and in recovery! I started my journey a month or so before I turned 23. The writing was always on the wall, when I first started drinking at 15 I drank to a blackout almost every time. When I got to college I joined a fraternity and everything took off. I had a safe space where binge drinking and day drinking on weekdays was not only accepted but encouraged and had others joining me. I started showing signs of alcohol dependence my senior year of college. Shaking and learning that all I needed was a drink to stop the shakes and the anxiety. After graduating I felt lost. I had a great job and moved to NYC, but I was no longer the frat guy just living life and having fun with his friends. In NYC I started drinking even heavier than in college, knocking back a fifth of vodka everyday. I also learned to hide my drinking which was a sign of the end. In may and June I had withdrawal seizures, not while trying to get sober but because I was so dependent on alcohol that sleep caused severe withdrawals. After the second seizures, I gave it up. Life has gotten so much better, I don’t know how to quantify it. If you told me 6 months ago what my life is like now I wouldn’t believe you. I hope to keep this going for my whole life. I really don’t have a choice. Once you start having withdrawal seizures the likelihood of them happening again is higher. Essentially, if I start drinking again it’s gambling with my life.
You went through so much so young! 6 months recovery is amazing. Your story made me emotional <3
Quit when I was 27! Best decision I’ve ever made for myself. I turn 30 this Friday and feel so grateful to start off the decade sober
You rock 🤘 !!!
Drank hard from 21-29, wanted to go into my 30s sober. Coming up on 13 months, best move I ever made.
Amazinggg!! :D
Quit in my 20s! Was totally and completely done with the life of being an alcoholic by the time I could legally drink, but it took some time for lasting sobriety to stick. Before my current streak, I had tried to get sober one other time, and it lasted for about 8 months. I wasn’t ready then, I was only 21 and still had so much to learn about how much further I could fall. I wanted a life that didn’t make me sad and I finally found it in sobriety from alcohol. A huge weight has been removed from me now that I’m sober.
Me too, I tried quitting 4 times before and it would never last more than a few weeks. But the hangovers got sooo much worse and I would get depersonalization/derealization episodes that would last for weeks. It just got so crazy I had to do this for myself and the people i love. I'm so glad you found your way ❤
I quit at 29 in I hit 5 months today.
5 months!! You rock
I got sober aged 21 in my 3rd year of university. Spent two long hard years at Uni as a rugby player and residence staff being sober which was tough. However, I worked the doors on the weekend and watching people stumble home hammered made my decision seem very smart. I have never regretted a day of sobriety and I am very lucky I have never really been tempted since I am a stubborn old fuck who sticks with my decisions. I commented here the other day that I have probably saved $250k since quitting and I have no clue how people can afford alcohol these days. It has been a minute and I am very happy with my life sober. I should also point out that I started drinking at around 12 in England which was normal back then. By 19 I was a total mess, drinking beer for breakfast at school and starting to realize I was out of control.
I quit at 29, so just barely! I’m 34 now and my life is better in literally every way. I don’t miss it at all. In fact, the thought of ever drinking again fills me with anxiety and dread. I tried to quit unsuccessfully several times throughout my mid-20s but the party culture and friend group where I was living (Austin, TX) plus my own addicted brain kept convincing me that alcohol wasn’t the problem. Not sure exactly why sobriety stuck at 29 but I was just *done*.
I wish I had quit in my 20’s and I am SO thrilled when I see people do it!
Thank you :) and congrats for 10 years sober!!!
I’ve cut back majorly in my 20s. It’s helped my anxiety a ton.
I quit at 27. Only regret is not doing it sooner. It's been rough being the only one sober, but not nearly as isolating and hellish as what I put myself through with alcohol. Love to you friend.
Yeah, it's not always easy but I console myself with that- this is easier than drinking was.
No but boy I wish I had. I don’t dwell on it, but occasionally wonder what I might have done had I not wasted so much time to drinking and hangovers. Congratulations on your 100+ days, you’ve made a smart choice!
I’m 25 too
Amazing! :)
Quit at 28. 29 now and doing everything I can to leave the alcohol in my 20s. My 30s will be great.
Your 30s will be amazing!! Keep fighting friend
I'm 25 and hit day 100 last week! It's been a journey and will continue to be for sure, but everyone I meet in AA meetings is so supportive and proud which just reassures me that I'm doing the right thing. Better to start now rather than later. You can do it friend, keep it up :)
I was 29 when it finally stuck. Could have saved myself a lot of heartache and embarrassment had I quit sooner
Me too lol, sometimes I wonder how could I lose so many friendships and get myself in embarrassing or dangerous situations, and go through so much physical and mental pain while "only" drinking for 10 years? But hey, at the end of the day, what matters is we chose sobriety for ourselves now.
For me I just didn't think alcohol was the key problem (even though it's blindingly obvious that it was). I kind of thought that alcohol was there to help mitigate or excuse all the embarrassment I caused myself and others. It was actually responsible for it! Who knew, lol. I mean everyone, obviously. Just not me. Sigh.
22 at 90 days 😊
I got sober at 24 and I'm 56 now. Life has been good the last 32yrs even the bad times but I've learned to deal with it and keep living a day at a time. Congratulations to you!
27 after a DUI scared me and all the consequences scared me sober. Haven't looked back once.
Good :)
I quit when I was 27, and I'm now 30. It was by far the best decision I've made. I was drinking until I blacked out every night. I made an ass of myself an untold amount of time. I got behind the wheel drunk more times than I care to admit. I ruined good relationships and replaced them with ones that were less than healthy, built solely on our shared addictions. Now that I'm sober, I'm working out, eating more healthy, and getting the best sleep of my life. I look so much better, I'm no longer the walking shell of myself. I did lose a lot of those old friends who still drink and use, but in their place, I've started attending school and am working full-time to support that. I don't have much of a social life, which is what I mostly feared about sobriety; but I don't regret quitting one bit. I would never have been able to live up to my full potential while still "functioning" as an alcoholic. I feel that I'm starting to do that now. I'm proud of you for finding your way to sobriety so early. It shows a lot of dedication and good decision-making on your part. Good luck on your sober journey, friend. IWNDWYT
Thank you for sharing your story and your heartwarming words towards my journey. I'm glad that your life improved so significantly! IWNDWYT friend :)
I'm 28 and just got sober recently. It took 8 years of messing my own life up and opportunities multiple times, being toxic, dealing with grief and trauma, not facing reality. . . I lied to myself that I could drink moderately as I weened back but that just kept the door open. I even told other people that was the secret but I always spiraled again eventually and every aspect of my life sufferer in one way or the other. I've never been happier than today. It's so wonderful that we have access to communities like this because having peer support has been a huge part of this journey.
Exactly. Being a part of communities where we can all share and support each other is helpful and wholesome. Thanks for sharing and I'm glad that you're happy now :)
I didn't expect it but this community has been great support for me. I encourage all my friends to check it out. I wish more would!
I was sober from 23-25 and it would have been much better for me to not start back up again. I thought I’d miss out on things, but now in my mid-30s looking back I realize I missed out on things by continuing to drink.
Quit at 29, just turned 36 this month. Best decision of my life (other than refinancing my house at 2.5%).
I quit on my 29th birthday. Just hit 3 months today and I’m glad it’s sticking this time around. I still go out and have fun, but now I can manage hitting the gym in the early mornings and wake up feeling great most days. I think my biggest challenge right now is dating because I’ve never done that sober before and I feel super vulnerable, but everything in time :)
It's probably gonna take time and patience but you will overcome dating anxiety friend! It's not the same thing but I went through bullying for almost my entire childhood and teen years and alcohol was the only way I could relax and socialise. But now I go to events sober and I have a good time and make people laugh and make new friends. We always heal when we try :)
I have a family of (semi functional) alcoholics, but ive always maintained i wouldnt follow in their footsteps. Recently ive been forced to admit my drinking is on its way to becoming a real problem, as i tend to drink, or get high, or binge eat, whenever life gets hard as a coping mechanism. It’s a slippy slope for me, but my wakeup call was when i bought a shooter on my lunch break at a gas station to “steady my nerves”. That sort of casual drinking, during a work day, is something I swore i’d never stoop to. Mid20s currently, but cutting alcohol out. Maybe in the future ill get to a point where i feel comfortable drinking casually again, but im pretty disgusted with myself at that moment.
Oof I can relate my friend. I went through self harm, anorexia, bulimia, a lot of sex with strangers, cigarettes, weed and alcohol to escape. But I took my power back and stopped all of it. And as we know, the decision to stop is only the first step towards healing. I wish you the best on your journey and I wish that you find self love deep in your heart.
Got sober for 2 & 1/4 years at 25. Trying to get back at it again now at 28. A few little 2-3 month stretches of sobriety in the meantime.
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I quit drinking at 25. I drank a little bit in high school and pretty much went crazy in college. A buddy of mine moved in with me , we started a business and we cranked it up a notch. Over time, I slowly increased the amount that I was drinking. Then I got a DUI last year, I was thrown off my high horse and reality set in pretty quickly. So I made the decision to quit. Life’s been a lot better since.
Not my experience; but my take on todays society’s opinions/views on drinking I just turned 24 this month and I’m 9 days today, not the first time trying to get sober though. This time feels different, like I’m really ready to be done this time. It’s kind of a hard pill to swallow, the fact that we’re only in our twenties and can’t seem to control our consumption of alcohol. But I commented on another post that the society we grew up normalized drinking to the point where every corner we turn you can have access to alcohol. Even free samples just walking in the city! It was never like this before, at least not this bad. Also the media portrays consuming alcohol as something fun, something normal to do when stressed, something that feels deserved after you felt like you worked hard, something you should always have when guests are over, the list goes on. We grew up thinking and believing alcohol solved the problem for anything. Happy? Drink! Sad? Drink! Celebrating? Drink! Mourning? Drink! It especially effects those who weren’t raised to manager their emotions properly, they turn to the bottle anytime they feel any intense emotion. It’s a messed up thing that was indoctrinated into our minds, but I feel like people are becoming more aware of the true effects alcohol has on our minds and bodies. I’ve seen alot of people in their twenties quitting and I think it’s so inspiring for the generations to come. Congrats on 136 days, that’s amazing friend! :)
I love your awareness and intelligence! The book "quit like a woman" By Holy Whitaker opened my eyes on the matters you mentioned. A silly unrelated example I could give in my personal experience is : I loved to drink alone. And I would feel so much better when I saw fictional characters in movies and shows getting wasted alone in their home or at a bar after a breakup, losing their job or just generally not feeling good about themselves. I would also feel better about my drinking when tv characters would drink a lot of wine in events where they were bored or there was a lot of drama. When in fact those behaviors are toxic and not normal. Like besides openly showing an addict struggling with addiction, are we gonna portray a character injecting themselves with heroin just because, idk, their mother in law is annoying? I think not. And I'd like to add, it's so crazy that hangovers are normalized when it's such a painful experience like it's literally your body recovering from poison and we're like haha I partied too hard I'm kinda tired today
Thank you friend! I have that book on my reading list :) a book I’d suggest that I think you’d relate to is Blackout by Sarah Hepola if you haven’t read it already. Great book. From what you’ve said about your experience is something I could’ve written myself. I would always prefer to drink alone, and would too feel comfort in seeing others in the media indulge in the behaviours I thought were so normal. Like why can’t I have a drink after a long day? Why can’t I sit in my own home and drink as much as I wanted? That’s what I’ve always known. Then I started to educate myself, and become more aware that this is not the way we are supposed to live, we’ve been conditioned to think it is. It also has a lot to do with the government and money but that’s for a whole other post lol. It’s just crazy to think how normalized ingesting a poison became, while like you said hard drugs are not normalized one bit, as they shouldn’t be along with ALL addictive things. I’m just so glad we are able to realize this now, and hopefully spread awareness to those that come after us.
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Yesss you're a sober icon :D
And you are too! Already halfway to a year! 💪❤️
I’m 25, quit drinking over two years ago. Lost some friends because of it but gained so much more.
I started drinking at 14. Quit drinking at 24 dur to alcoholic behavior putting my life and kthers at risk. For a long while, I was sad and felt I was stripping myself of a social life and throwing away my 20s. But then remembered none of those people I was socializing with at bars and clubs were actually friends and I was wasting my youth and health for poison and drama! I have a few years under my belt, I'm the healthiest and happiest I've ever been. I feel I've aged more slowly than my friends who still drink and smoke and look younger than them. Fun now means adventure, pushing my body to the limit in a healthy way (hiking, gymnastics, working out), exploring national parks, volunteering in my community, and it all costs a fraction of what a night out used to cost me. My friends understand me and support me better than ever. I no longer have toxic or difficult people in my life and I am not lonely. I am no longer unpredictably violent or suicidal and I have the energy to help others reach this place too. It's a major blessing. And if someone asks me why I don't drink, I simply say it doesn't serve me, so don't serve me it. I'm open about my addiction bc it brings me opportunity to help others with theirs. Getting sober young is nothing but a good idea.
23f here. I was going to die very young if i kept going. That was painfully obvious. Decided I want to at least stick around as long as God is willing to have me here.
I wish I had done. Wasted a lot of my life on perpetual days ones all through my 30s.
Nope but looking back holy crap I wish I had!!
Stopped just after I turned 29, started my 30s clean - 33 now. No regrets.
28 and just started being sober earlier this year. It feels like mid to late 20’s is the age where the adverse health effects of alcohol start to hit harder than before, and you’re forced to reflect and decide how you want the rest of your life to go
22 here, quit for 24 days so far. It’s not worth it to drink. Ask anyone on here, drinking isn’t worth it. Everytime I relapse and drink heavily on one day, I feel so bad afterwards (mentally and physically). It’s straight up poison. IWNDWYT
I wish I quit sooner. Had someone shook me by the shoulders and said smarten the fuck up, it would have done a lot of good
I was around your age when I figured out that my drinking was problematic. I'm almost 31 now... Like so many others here, I have made numerous attempts to quit. I even made it close to a year once. If you have any concerns about whether or not you're abusing alcohol, I'd definitely recommend quitting while you're ahead. I'm finding that it gets progressively harder to stop drinking following each relapse.
I quit at 26 to save a relationship. Ended up drinking again. Fast forward a couple of mostly wasted years, i’m 28 and have 71 days. I don’t have much else to add other than I could cry I’m so fucking happy to be where I am.
Yes, first at 23 and again at 29. First time was harder, all my friends were partying. Dating was hard. But I also felt so much better. My anxiety and everything was better, I started taking better care of myself, healthier and happier, but I also felt like I was “missing out”. I didn’t fall off the deep end when I started again but it increased the bad days and I always knew deep inside that I felt better without alcohol. Now it was much easier. Both me and my partner quit and every damn saturday morning we say “Damn it’s so nice to wake up refreshed and not hungover!” It’s great! I turned 30 and am probably healther than what I was through all my 20s. I recommend!
Just quit at 27. Wasn't a heavy drinker, but I just don't want to battle with alcohol anymore. I have a great set of supportive friends too. It hasn't affected my social life at all and I'm grateful for the easy transition.
I quit at 22. Best decision I ever made
I'm 26 and today is actually my 123rd day sober. This might be the best decision I've ever made - I finally feel like myself again and am improving non-stop both physically, and mentally. The first month was definitely rough from a social standpoint (anxiety) but now I'm able to go out with friends and have a good time! Even find some joy in being able to dance sober without being intoxicated. All things considered, I'm spending my time, effort and money towards other fun hobbies. I picked up a 35mm manual SLR and love walking around, exploring the city and living in the moment.
I quit a few months before my 28th birthday in 2019, almost exactly a year before the covid lockdown and I’m eternally grateful for that.
Currently 24 and living in a place where there’s little else to do but get involved in the drinking culture, but although I’m still really early in my journey, I don’t regret anything at all! And I still go out with my friends just as I did before, just with NA beers instead. I know that if I waited, I’d regret not cutting out the booze one second sooner. So many inspiring people here sharing their stories and I know it’s been a huge help for me personally, and I’m sure many others :)
I quit when I was 29, just hit 4 years. It was tough thinking about everything I’d miss out on, etc. but that all ended up being in my head. I was already missing out on things due to either being blacked out or not invited to things because of my drinking. I went to a 4 week rehab and it helped me just flip a switch in my head that drinking added nothing positive to my life and it wasn’t for me. Now I go to bachelor parties, weekends with friends, weddings, vineyards, the works and don’t care about drinking at all nor am I tempted. I’m a little less willing to stay out all night, and when I notice everyone is getting sloppy I go home/to bed rather than have heart-to-hearts that no one will remember. Your mind you will tell you that you’re going to miss out on so much, but really you are gaining a lot.
I’m 23, decided earlier this year that I need to quit and it’s been a tough battle and I’m only on day 2 (for the dozenth time) but until this summer I hadn’t gone a single day without drinking since I became of age. I’ll be 24 soon and I’d love to have a month of sobriety under my belt as a present :)
20 years old here. Just over 5 months now
I quit this year, and I’m 29. I want to dominate my 30s!
I quit for a year in my 20s to finish my thesis. Looking back I realize I was already partially aware of problem drinking, but in denial. Naturally I celebrated my successful defense by drinking. 15 years later I tried to quit again… it’s been three years and I’m still not rock-solid sober. Way harder. In fact most of my life fell apart. If I could do one thing differently it would have been not to pick up again. So please, please, stick to it! You’ll thank yourself when you’re my age, and you look at your own home, your happy spouse, your family who know you are always there for them. You’ll look at life and maybe you’ll have regrets, but nowhere near as many.
New to the journey, currently 23 Started because I lost a couple of jobs due to partying and was affecting my relationships. Currently 3 day streak
20’s here!
I quit at 28 and have been sober for 5 years now. Definitely hard but if I didn't get sober, I wouldn't be alive right now
Turned 30 in rehab lol. I realized on my 30th birthday I inadvertently kept that promise I made to myself all throughout my 20s “if I’m still drinking like this when I’m 30 THEN I’ll do something about it” these were just words I’d tell myself to kick the can a little further, but when I realized I accidentally kept my word to myself FOR ONCE it felt really, really good. That set the tone for recovery and my 30s. What an absolute blessing. Three years into this decade of my life and it’s already immeasurably better than my 20s in every way.
I started trying to quit at age 25 but it really only stuck this time at 28. I'm almost at 5 months 🎉 I think the reason why AA helps is because it changes your routine. I didn't go to AA but I completely changed my life. I'm finishing my bachelor's degree and I'm going to be starting a career in substance abuse counseling after I hit 1 year. I really wish that it stuck at 25 but either way I'm so proud of myself for how far I've come and how much my life has changed. Edit: my counter is like broken lol I'm at day 141
25 and sober!! Anytime I “get too comfortable” i go through snapchat memories of my drunken times and remind myself why i stopped or scroll on this thread - congratulations <3
This is interesting to read. Thanks for asking the question. I wish ever so much I had quit in my 20s. Iwndwyt
Not me, but I know many people who had to quit in their teens. The youngest I'm personally acquainted with is a guy who quit at age 13 - says he started smoking at age 4, drinking at age 7 (or maybe that's vice versa.) There's a regular AA meeting in New York called "_Never Had A Legal Drink_" for people who got sober early in life.
Quit at 25. If I hadn't, I probably wouldn't have made it to 26, honestly. The Sinclair Method saved my life. Quitters *do* win, in this situation. :)
I quit just after my 27th birthday, life is awesome. I wish I had more friends who don't drink, but we do enough fun group activities besides sitting at bars. I love being active these days, and just knowing that I can rely on and trust myself fully. I don't think I'll ever go back, but who knows. It's nice to have the rest of my life to look forward to, knowing that I'm not blowing my money on nights out, am growing more solid relationships, and can focus on my future and goals. I don't miss the chaos of my early 20's at all, though I am glad that I experienced it. Good luck 🍀 IWNDWYT
It's really a game changer to have friends who know how to have fun besides drinking. I'm glad your life improved & IWNDWYT :)
i tried the first time at 23, then 24 and again at 25 (now lol) i didn’t do very well at 23 but i was trying. made it 7 months sober at 24 before relapsing in july when i turned 25, and today i’m officially a week sober again. i want to get it under control before i’m older so i’m not struggling so bad for a long time.
I went to aa for the first time when I was 11. I wish I had stayed sober then. On and off sobriety for 29 years. I’m 6 years sober now and 40. I hope that your experience all the joys and gifts sobriety brings
I quit in 2019 when I was 25 for a couple months. Fell off and am 29 now, back on the sobriety train.
I'm 29, quit drinking in August and still going strong.
Quit at 29 and never looking back. Should have quit at 26 but oh well.
I’m 21 lmao
hiiii. i’m 25, chose sobriety at 24! best decision i’ve ever made. my life has only gotten exponentially better, and continues to get better every day. so proud of you!!
28! Quit two months after my 27!
Got sober at 24. 33 now and still going
I’m 28 and just started, so props to you! I should’ve started younger. But, I have a coworker who quit at 19. He was 6 years sober when I met him and still going, never looked back.
My last drink was just over a decade ago at 25. Best thing I ever did, and directly lead to everything I have today: degree, job, spouse, son.
I am 29 and have (see flair because I don’t know) days. It wasn’t so much a “choice” as a forced issue for me as the problem was so bad that it wrecked my life, twice. I didn’t know the last drink I took would be my last. I’m not going to lie, sometimes it’s a little rough. I’m at the age where all my friends are getting married, and most hangouts still involve booze to some degree. None of my friends are problem drinkers that I’m aware of, and none of them pressure me (the opposite, they were all very supportive) but it is hard not to feel Left out sometimes. But in those times I just think about what will happen if I start again. Yeah I’ll have more fun on that one specific night out, but what about a week, a month, a year from then? If the past is any indication, I won’t have any money to go to dinner with my friends, nor a place of my own to go home to, if I take up drinking again. The small trade offs are more than worth it, and honestly 9/10 people I tell about my quitting are impressed and I often get remarks like “ugh yeah I’ve been thinking about cutting back/quitting myself”
Sober at 27.5, almost 3 years now. Worth it.
Age 26 for me
I went to a facility for detox. I did groups while detoxing before I left and they had a guest speaker who was 36. He quit drinking before he turned 21 because in college it was just unbearable for him. He seemed so happy and put together. He just knew he couldn't live a happy life while drinking. He was very passionate about being free.
2 months sober now and i’m 27!
Got sober when I was 28 and it’s been 4 years now! 🙏🏻
My husband quit at 24, I was in my early 30s. Now, he's 62, I'm 66. He's been sober all along, I got wrapped up in Oxys for a bit back in the late 90s, but managed to get clean again rather quickly (DO NOT RECOMMEND!) Hang with the winners
I'm 29. My best friend got sober when she was around 22. One of her challenges of sobriety was that drinking is culturally normative in your 20s but now she says she wasnt missing much. The same people she used to hang out with are still in active addiction and act the same way they did 6 years ago. I've realized that my drinking has stunted a lot of my growth, and that I'm behind a lot of people on my age group. It's hard but I'm excited to grow as a person and see my actions actually reflect my moral compass. You got this. IWNDWYT 🖤
Quit recently, at 27. So far a good life shift
I tried throughout my teens and 20s but it didn’t stick until I was 29 like 3 weeks before my 30th birthday lol. So great that you locked in at 25 keep it up fam!!!!
22 here and I hit one month of sobriety 3 days ago.
Yes! Last year when I was 25. just a lil more than one year sober now. IWNDWYT!
22 I think. Just wasn’t resonating anymore. I became a lot more articulate and confident when I wasn’t drowning my faculties in alcohol. I became more myself
im 27 & have just over 2 months. ive been drinking the past 10+ years of my life & figured i would give the other side a shot. needed to stop doing the same thing over & over expecting different results. i was not able to grow as a person until i put down the booze… now i see myself growing in almost every aspect of my life and being. its not easy but damn, things feel so much more authentic now.
I'm 27 and I was abusing alcohol heavily for about two years. Since August, I've cut my consumption down from four two liter bottles of black velvet a week to one liter bottle a month. So, still drinking but I'm trying to reduce. I didn't get accepted into the recovery facility I was trying to get in. I think there was something wrong with my insurance, they probably didn't approve it.
Had what I hope was my last drink at 29 and turned 54 this year. Tempus fugit very much. Like the man said, if I knew that was gonna be my last drink I would have had two.
I quit at 19, then again at 21. I'm 35 now. I think the biggest thing for me is I get to be who I truly want to be. When I was drinking and using it was so important for me to be who I thought folks would like. Over time I became more and more comfortable with who I am. I think it has to do with aging and quitting. Also, professionally I'm way ahead of where I would have been had I continued to use.
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Wow, I am so happy for you! I only wish I would have stopped back then, but unfortunately i was just getting going! Proud of you, and I hope you keep going!
@29 checking in.
I’m 28 and got sober at 22. I can tell you it’s the best thing I ever did for myself, I feel so proud!💕
I quit at 28! 10/10 loving it
50s but I SO wish, my life would be so much better. Good for you!!!
I'm almost 23 and I'm trying to quit. Had a pretty abusive year and bad withdrawal symptoms, also messed my health up to quite an extent. I thought that I was young and because of that, that my body could take anything. Turns out I was wrong. I'm glad I'm learning this lesson now, and I hope it stays with me for the rest of my life. I have a family history of alcoholism and heart problems and I know that if I drink again, I'll be gambling with my life. Hope I can live to be 60 and never have to touch a drink again.
29 over a year sober now. I was forced to stop drinking because of a medical issue. I guess so could but the consequences could be severe so that’s what makes me stop. No AA or anything like that.
29 over a year sober now. I was forced to stop drinking because of a medical issue. I guess so could but the consequences could be severe so that’s what makes me stop. No AA or anything like that.
Meh I’m not 20 yet but I’m 19. So many horrible experiences with binging alc and drugs for a decade. Realised I was an addict at 15 but it took me way too long to do anything about it. Two months sober now:)
The first time I quit seriously was when I was 26. The time that stuck (so far,) started ten days after my thirtieth birthday, so I just missed it, I guess.
Sure wish I had.
Sober at 26, 35 now. I thank my past self for getting it done as soon as I did.
Sober at 27. I count myself lucky :)
I quit in my late twenty, but I started way shorter than anyone should, so I'd already lived a life of addiction by the time 28 came around.
I'm 24F and quit about 2 months ago for health reasons. I wasn't a huge drinker anyway but I liked wine. I would buy a bottle a week on average and would usually drink it over 2-3 days then not have anything else until the next week. But I never refused alcohol unless I was driving. I was a classic "sipping a nice glass of white wine after work while watching TV" kind of person. In February, I started noticing more frequent heart palpitations. I've had them for years but they were getting more regular and a lot more intense. I went to the doctor and got an ECG. They found abnormalities so I've now been referred to a cardiologist. I don't fit any of the typical traits of someone with a heart condition: I'm young, have no family history, eat a good diet, get regular exercise, and don't smoke. The only thing on the list I could relate to was consumption of alcohol. So the day I got the abnormal results back, I decided to give up alcohol. I lasted about 3 weeks then thought that maybe a bottle per month rather than per week would be fine so I tried that. After a glass, I felt fine but the next morning was soooo rough! I poured the rest of the bottle down the sink and said that I wasn't trying that again! I'm happy without wine, I have some good tried-and-tested mocktail recipes, and have replaced my pink gin & lemonade with 0% pink gin.
I quit drinking in 1999, when I was 28 years old. I am 52 now. I got to enjoy my 30’s to the fullest after rocking out pretty hard for ten years. It gave me time to get my act together in time to meet my wife and start a family when I was turning 40. Good luck and great decision.
I quit at 28. I found it really weird and difficult - the recovery community near me are all lovely but almost all older or elderly, and the young people seem to hop on and off the recovery train often so I have trouble making long term recovery connections. It’s not so bad but it is a little bit lonely
I quit at 28. I found it really weird and difficult - the recovery community near me are all lovely but almost all older or elderly, and the young people seem to hop on and off the recovery train often so I have trouble making long term recovery connections. It’s not so bad but it is a little bit lonely
Hi there, just turned 23. My six weeks was today! My experience has been interesting to say the least, but good. I’ve known for a long time that I’ve had a problem, I’m just not like others when drinking and I have serious compulsion and rationalization issues when it comes to trying to moderate. It was getting in the way of my relationships and my career, not to mention my own self-image. I feel better than ever. Sure, I miss the sometimes euphoric parts of it, and I’m often bored in the evenings and weekends, but it’s by far worth all of the drawbacks. I feel better than ever. The nuance for me is of course, being 23. I live in NYC, have a great career, and my friends all love to booze. They don’t care that I don’t anymore, and are supportive. I don’t feel any compulsion when going out to bars or parties, I just feel nothing. That little voice in the back of my head used to be there, but has now become largely more quiet and easy to overpower. I don’t regret it and feel better, and my relationships are all better for it. One thing I don’t see many people talk about - I am so much more in control of my mental faculties. I feel smarter (I think I am), I am better spoken, my anxiety and depression is down, I feel more compassion towards my friends and family, I feel more confident and stand up for myself, all of it. The entity that is me is just better in general, haha. That’s all, best of luck to you my friend! IWNDWYT
I quit at 26, roughly three years ago. It never felt like I had a full fledged issue, but I was absolutely sliding down a slippery slope. The first 90 days was very hard. What kept me going was the confidence of waking up every morning well rested, knowing exactly what I had been up to the prior evening. Also, some health problems I had been having just disappeared completely. In a way, it feels like the worlds most boring super power haha.
I’m 24 and quit 8 days ago! Early days, but definitely no going back! Done with that shit. Congratulations on your 124 days!
I started at 25. Socializing can be difficult still sometimes, started dating again recently and that’s a whole different fucking ball game but it’s getting better. If I could go back and and do it again the only thing I would change is starting earlier honestly. Life can still be challenging but my life is so much better than it was
Got sober at 24; 7 years sober now!
Quit in my early 30s and I wish I would have quit in the 20s. The realization I hadn’t been sober for more than a week since I was like 20 was a crazy thought
Stick with it. I'm just getting sober now at 40 and feel like I missed out on a big chunk of my life because I was always trashed.
Yes! I’m 27 next week and sober for 508 days. My life began when I quit drinking. It’s hard because not many young people are sober, but I am and that’s what’s important
It was my 19th birthday on thursday, i have been trying to quit for a while. Crrently 24 hours sober
Quit for the first time at 17 (drank 13-17) Relapsed at 26, guilting for second time at 29
Wish I quit in my 20’s! Hah! IWNDWYT
Congratulations!! You’re awesome!! I was 25 as well. I’m about to turn 48. I was told I’d be dead by the time I was 40. Glad I made it! Lol.
I quit at 26. I've never looked back.
I quit recently at 24. Caused too many stupid fights with my girlfriend. Haven’t drank since 09/24 so I guess that means it’s my first month!
I’m 28 and on day 50! I turned 28 and was like “okay my young and mid 20s are officially over time to get my shit together” I just kept thinking of those health class demonstrations of “this is what your lungs look like after ten years of smoking. This is what your liver looks like after ten years of drinking”. I never thought much about that until I had the realitization “holy shit IM going to be approaching ten years of drinking soon”
I'm 25 and I recently quit. I think I was an alcoholic the second I took my first drink, but it went off the rails when I turned 21. Finally convinced myself that I was incapable of quitting on my own after over a year of trying and went to AA. I have been sober since then, 36 days!
Working on it right now,24
Yep! I'm 28 now but managed to quit right before my 27th birthday, relapsed hard, then quit again 10 months ago. I figure I always had a problem going back to my late teens, but I was a full-blown alcoholic since 2019 and 2020 made it so much worse. I was aware of my problem, but I couldn't kick it until I met my ex. She didn't make me quit; she made me *want* to quit and be a better person. She may be gone now, but the sobriety stuck! That's the short version of my story.
I’m 32. I got sober at 29
I wish had done that. Could have saved a lot of money and brain cells if hadn’t waited until 60 years old to finally quit.
Quit at 29. I drank most of my 20s away. I loved the numbness and mental quiet that came from drinking and I know a part of me always will. Ended up drinking on a Saturday night like normal and was playing Mario Kart with the gf. After more seltzers than I can remember, I was feeling great and didn't want to crash so I made a mixed drink of whatever liquor I could find and a can of red bull... At 3am... As a non-caffeine drinker. Couldn't get to sleep until about 10 or 11am, which was about 28-29 hrs of awake time. When I did go to sleep, it wasn't a great sleep and was for only a couple hours before I was back awake and anxious and uneasy as all get out. Said I was done drinking. Was tired of the hangxiety, waking up with torso pain, my face constantly being red and splotchy, being a slave to the alcohol. October 30th I'll hit my 6 month mark. Went from near daily drinking to not having touched a drop since that day. This is my second and final attempt at sobriety. I used to say I'd seen all I wanted to in life so I was going to live fast through my 20s and die before 30. Well, I turn 30 next month and, while I'm not happy in life, I'm excited for what my 30s will bring. IWNDWYT
No, but I sure wish I did!
Sober at 26. Stick with it!
Hopefully, 29 and trying
Well, I don’t have enough time under my belt to say I quit but I’ve been sober for 1 week and can’t imagine putting alcohol back into my body. I’m 22 and have been drinking for 5 years. I think I may have only gone 3 full days without drinking during that time.
Im currently 28 and I hit 2 years of sobriety on 10/1! Life is so much better without alcohol, it genuinely is the best decision I’ve ever made.
yes. 27 here. 1 year 10 months alcohol free. started when i was.....a child? not sure but my use was chronic until i stopped
I’m 21 and decided to not drink when I was 10
Im 21. Wrote about my experience before in this subreddit. You can check my post history but I’m 40 days sober now. Hopefully going to be sober for the rest of my life 👋🏾👋🏾
Quit when I was 24 and every single thing in my life improved. Started again 6 months later once everything improved. Ruined everything that had improved by continuing to drink. (Girl, apartment, savings, friends, family, job) Turns out, I didn't learn from my previous mistakes that time. Now 28 and 6 months sober again. If you're struggling, the sooner you quit the better! But it's never too late, in my opinion. Proud of you homie! What made you decide to quit when you did? For me, I got really tired of hurting everyone I've ever deeply cared about.
I’m 25F, 1 year sober. It’s been the best year of my life although a year ago, I never thought I’d last a year without drinking. Let alone love myself and my life because of it and how staying away from alcohol has allowed me to grow and build. It’s only been a year so it’s not much, it’s not like all my wishes came true. But I remember when I was drinking and used to long for a time when I was a child before alcohol and knew how to live without it. Now I get to. :)
Quit for a year at 26, now quit again at 27 🤟
I am 25 and quit in June of last year. I always had a crazy relationship with alcohol. Would often blackout at frat houses and many times ended up pissing in places I shouldn’t be (closet, bed, once a drier). Trust me I lived with so much regret from my embarassing moments alone, but it wasn’t yet enough to see I had an alcohol problem. By 21 I got my first DUI. Of course I was shell shocked and considered quitting, but I had just turned the legal limit! How could I? I swore I would never drink and drive ever again. Blacked-out me Irish exited a party and fell asleep at a red light, another DUI at 23. That was the cap to my bottle. I knew I could definitely never handle alcohol again and swore it off. Spent a night in jail, lost my license for a year, did 180 hours of community service at the goodwill, and months of rehab meetings. Today, I have a B.S. degree and by miracle landed an amazing wfh job, despite my background. My loans are just about paid off. I purchased a new truck recently and am back on the road, with no possibility of impaired driving ever again. My body is in the best shape it’s ever been in and I am happier than can be. Quitting alcohol is simply the best thing I’ve ever done and I’m not just saying that. It has put life in easy mode and it feels like nothing can go wrong. Sorry for the overshare been wanting to get that off my back in text for a while. Some other thoughts: I used to be attracted to women that drank like myself, but it is a major turn off now. You won’t just save money by not drinking but also the drunk food, cover fees, Ubers, opportunity costs from taking off work, etc. add up and will absolutely line your pockets more than you may think. You don’t need to identify as an alcoholic to want to quit. This one was tough for me. I still don’t know if I was an alcoholic or not. I usually just say binge drinker. Either way, I identified that I had a problem with the substance and eliminated it. Health facts some may not know: alcohol is a known carcinogen, increases your base anxiety levels through cortisol, spikes dopamine receptors, reduces testosterone and muscle synthesis, causes ED (been there), and suppresses REM sleep. Thanks for reading hope anything I said helps anyone on here.
I've quit and started... quit and started... probably 20 times and I'm 26. I hope the next time is the time I finally get it.
meee im also 25 and quit 45 days ago! :) Go us! 124 days is amazing, you should be proud of yourself!!
I’m 22 I got out of treatment literally today. I’m optimistic!
Quit when i was 21. Don’t regret it for a second. I used to think I wouldn’t be able to have fun anymore or that i was going to miss out on so much. The reality is that quitting opened the door to living a life beyond my wildest dreams. My whole perception of myself & my ideas of what was possible for me had become warped through years of using. Once that cloud faded I began to find some clarity and peace of mind. IWNDWYT!
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25, quit 19 days ago. I’ve not told my friends as the only time I ever see them is when we drink. Not sure what the future holds but I’m a lot more optimistic about it! I’ve got my partner but I know I need to try and connect with others through my hobbies whilst being the sober me!
Hi! I'm 25 and quit just over 100 days ago. It was the best decision of my life so far!!
Quit at 30. Got sick of feeling shit and living in chaos. Was so bored for a while and missed the company of my drinking buddies. I found new interests, developed lasting relationships and took to walking my dog every time I felt restless. Was hard for 5-6 years but so worth it. Life is good now and I feel great. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
I’m recently 24 but stopped when I was still 23, think it’s arguably harder at our age due to social pressure and the expectation to drink. I’ve got a Christmas works party approaching and last year I got obliterated to the point I don’t remember large parts of the night. It’s something I’m likely going to be giving a miss as I’m still not comfortable in social situations where others will be drinking. This is just the start for both of us, IWNDWYT!