‘New year, new me’ and all of that is really at that crucial point now where people start to drop off or, people start to really hold on.
Often included in those resolutions is drink less alcohol, to have a crack at Dry January or to go fully sober for the long-run.
There’s various reasons why you might be ditching drink, with sobriety advocates recently revealing to LADbible how alcohol took away their ‘hopes and dreams’ and how sobriety had an impact on their ADHD.
And the impact of giving up alcohol is something plenty of major A-list celebrities are pretty open about too, with Tom Holland previously opening up about the ‘scary’ realisation he had after doing Dry January.
So, here’s a look at some of the other stars who explained how their lives improved after going sober.
The star has been sober since 2003. (Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Tom Hardy
The Venom actor has been sober since about 2003 when he followed a 12-step program at age 25 to help his struggles with addiction.
He often speaks openly about his struggles as he regards himself as lucky for not ending up in prison or dead.
Hardy says he was ‘reborn’ following a scare that led to rehab and previously told the Daily Mirror of his old self: “If I had four pints of lager and half a bottle of vodka I could turn this room into an absolute f**king nightmare in about three minutes. I could destroy everything in my life I have worked so hard for.”
Daniel Radcliffe
Nowadays, Radcliffe ‘barely thinks’ about alcohol after a long journey to get sober.
Having achieved global stardom early in life thanks to Harry Potter, the star has opened up about alcohol abuse in his teen years before quitting in his early 20s.
“In my case, the quickest way to forget about the fact that you’re being watched is to get very drunk,” he told Off Camera in 2019.
“And then as you get very drunk, you become aware that ‘Oh, people are watching more now because now I’m getting very drunk, so I should probably drink more to ignore that more.'”
Nowadays, he says going sober has made him more comfortable with himself and has given him the opportunity to live ‘without dread and fear and it is lovely’.
Delevingne had been struggling from a young age. (Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage)
Cara Delevingne
Like Hardy, Delevingne took on a 12-step program and became sober, leading to many realisations about herself.
She told Variety about what she’d tell someone struggling with getting sober: “You’re not alone. If I can do it, anyone can. You need to communicate and be honest about it as much as you can, especially with yourself.”
Delevingne added to Vogue of going sober over two years ago: “Before I was always into the quick fix of healing, going to a weeklong retreat or to a course for trauma, say, and that helped for a minute, but it didn’t ever really get to the nitty-gritty, the deeper stuff.
“This time I realised that 12-step treatment was the best thing, and it was about not being ashamed of that. The community made a huge difference. The opposite of addiction is connection, and I really found that in 12-step.”
His career took off after getting sober. (Taylor Hill/WireImage)
Samuel L Jackson
The Marvel star has been sober now since 1991 when his wife and eight-year-old daughter found him on the floor of the kitchen, after nearly 20 years of drug and alcohol abuse.
Jackson has openly discussed how he believes sobriety has made him a better actor as he added to I Am Sober: “So my success directly correlates to me getting straight and me getting in touch with who I am and understanding what my talents were and how to tap into them in a positive way and not that negative way that I used to.”
Bradley Cooper
Cooper told GQ in 2013 that if he continued with alcohol then he was ‘really going to sabotage my whole life’.
After struggles with addiction, the actor says he has ‘been very lucky’ to have been sober for two decades. During an appearance on Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes’ Smartless podcast in 2022, the star explained that during his addiction he had ‘zero self-esteem’ and felt ‘worthless’.
Zac Efron
The High School Musical actor went into rehab in 2013 for treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.
In 2014, he opened up about Alcoholics Anonymous having ‘changed his life’ and making him ‘much more comfortable’ in his own skin’.
He also told Elle how sobriety had helped change his life for better: “What I found is structure. That led me to a balance of opposites: You get out of life what you put in.”
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Hathaway had enough of hangovers. (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Anne Hathaway
The actor reached five years of sobriety last spring which she described as a ‘milestone’.
But Hathaway did previously reveal that giving up alcohol wasn’t down to a problem but because the hangovers were.
She said to Modern Luxury: “My last hangover lasted for five days. When I’m at a stage in my life where there is enough space for me to have a hangover, I’ll start drinking again, but that won’t be until my kid is out of the house.”
Bella Hadid
The model went sober in 2022 and previously told In Style that she loved alcohol to the point where she would ‘cancel nights out that I felt like I wouldn’t be able to control myself’ on.
With a doctor also giving her scans that found alcohol impacted her brain, she added: “There’s just this never-ending effect of, essentially, you know, pain and stress over those few drinks that didn’t really do much, you know?”
Dry January is a campaign developed by Alcohol Change UK, you can find support and resources for taking part here.
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Featured Image Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
How long it takes your liver to return to normal from drinking as people prepare for Dry January
Temporarily quitting booze can help the liver detox after over-indulging during the festive period
If you’re feeling a little bit gross about how much drinking you’ve done over Christmas, you might be considering Dry January.
Dry Jan sees people quitting booze during the month of January, following an over-indulgence over the festive period.
The campaign was first started by Alcohol Change UK to encourage people to consider how much they’re drinking and whether their relationship with alcohol is a healthy one.
Many people over-indulge at Christmas (Getty Stock Image)
Many people take part in Dry Jan to have a New Year detox from the effects of drinking. As we know, excessive alcohol intake can lead to some unpleasant symptoms, as well as – in severe cases – something called alcohol-related liver disease (also referred to as ARLD).
If the liver has been severely damaged, you might experience symptoms including nausea; weight loss; loss of appetite; yellowing of the eyes and skin; swelling of the ankles and tummy; drowsiness and vomiting blood.
Even drinking a large amount over a few days can have an impact, leading to a build-up of fat in the liver.
The NHS explains that fatty liver disease rarely causes symptoms, and is actually reversible.
“If you stop drinking alcohol for 2 weeks, your liver should return to normal,” it says.
Essentially, if you’ve been overdoing it over Christmas, your liver could be back to ‘normal’ by mid-January.
Taking part in Dry January can help evaluate your relationship with alcohol (Getty Stock Image)
But there are some exceptions. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it could take a little longer.
“There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer,” said Dr Christina Lindenmeyer.
“It depends on how much damage has already been done and any possible complications.”
They explain that a two to four-week abstinence from alcohol helps reduce inflammation in the liver, however, if your liver has suffered from the long-term effects of alcohol, doctors may recommend you ditch the booze for good.
“For patients who are left with cirrhosis after severe injury to the liver from alcohol, even one drink of alcohol is toxic to the liver,” Dr Lindenmeyer added.
Cirrhosis is where the liver has become scarred. It’s not usually reversible but stopping alcohol can help prevent any further damage.
People often quit drinking in January (Getty Stock Image)
If you’re concerned about your alcohol intake, one doctor has revealed the main question you can ask yourself to help determine if your relationship with booze is unhealthy.
Speaking to LADbible, Dr Donald Grant, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy explained: “Typically, it takes a while before people notice their own dependence, but spotting it early can limit long-term health risks and help people take control of their lives.
“One of the main questions people should ask themselves is ‘Do I generally end up drinking more than I originally planned?’ As this can be a massive indicator of unhealthy dependence.
“Struggling to have only one drink can suggest a mental dependence on drinking and is a major symptom experienced by many alcoholics.”
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Woman explains ‘damp January’ that could be a far more achievable goal for next month
If you’re not a fan of ‘Dry January’ then ‘damp January’ may be for you
A woman has explained why ‘damp January’ could be a far more achievable goal, instead of giving up alcohol entirely for the next month.
As a non-drinker, I used to be sceptical of ‘Dry January’ because it didn’t make sense to stop drinking for one month, only to drink for 11 consecutive months of the year.
However, after learning of the benefits, it does make a lot of sense.
But if cutting out booze for 31 days is too much of a challenge, then ‘damp January’ may work for you and could actually be more sustainable.
What is ‘damp January’?
Hana went viral for taking part in the ‘damp lifestyle’ drinking trend on TikTok in 2022 (Instagram/@hana.elson)
New York-based Hana Elson went viral for taking part in the ‘damp lifestyle’ drinking trend on TikTok in 2022.
Essentially, the term relates to lessening your alcohol throughout the month, leading to a potentially ‘positive domino effect’.
In a recent video under the handle (@hana.elson), she revealed a list of rules she implemented in 2022 which have helped her tremendously with her relationship with alcohol.
Hana’s ‘damp January’ lifestyle habits
Hana has explained why ‘damp January’ may work for you (TikTok/@hana.elson)
Start small:
– Starting with a mocktail as your ‘getting ready’ drink
– Water between each drink
– Add lower ABV options
– Walk into environments sober first before drinking
Bigger changes:
– No shots
– No hard alcohol
– Always sticking to the same alcohol in a night (or try it once a weekend, etc)
– Not drinking during the weekday
– Counting drinks per night
– Cinderella nights (AKA nothing after midnight)
Hana explained: “So these types of habits really help with that. Yes, I want to bring back no shots. I used to call it my golden rule. Do you find that when you say no, no one cares?
“This one is huge and also so hard to do in New York City. So I’m going to try my best not drinking during the weekday. You just have to be careful that you’re not then living for the weekends.
“If you want to count, there’s great apps, Sunnyside’s a good one. Having ‘Cinderella’ nights. I used to always talk about this on their page.
“I pretty much made up the term, like nothing good happens after midnight. So doing the nice but safe Irish exit around 11:30pm, I promise it will make you feel better the next day.
“For me, I want to do a Dry January and then probably a damp February, just lean into reality again. Because for some people, this is all just normal tips of what they do drinking every day.
“If you’ve ever struggled with your mental health, you just want to feel better in general, it’s not just about your relationship with alcohol. This is such a positive domino effect.”
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Tom Holland makes sad admission about nearly breaking sobriety due to ‘animosity’ he experienced on a TV set
“There was quite a lot of animosity on that set. It was not a very harmonious place.”
Tom Holland has revealed that on-set ‘animosity’ on a TV show he worked on led him to consider breaking his sobriety.
Spider-Man star Holland, 28, has become a well-known advocate over the past couple of years for the sober movement, even going as far as to launch his own non-alcoholic beer brand BERO last year.
To mark three years since he made the decision to cut out alcohol while doing Dry January, Holland has opened up on how his relationship with booze has changed in a new interview and revealed the one project with made him consider drinking again.
Tom Holland has made a sad admission about his sobriety journey (Euan Cherry/Getty Images)
Speaking about the topic to Men’s Health, the actor explained that it was while filming for AppleTV+ series The Crowded Room back in March 2022.
Adapted from non-fiction novel The Minds of Billy Milligan, Holland starred alongside alongside Amanda Seyfried, Lior Raz and Emmy Rossum, in the role of Danny Sullivan.
The series received largely mixed and negative reviews upon release, with Holland subsequently deciding to take an extended break from acting due to the difficulty of his character.
Reflecting on the show nearly three years on from filming, Holland revealed The Crowded Room had suffered from disagreements on set.
“There was quite a lot of animosity on that set. It was not a very harmonious place, and there was a lot of arguing and butting heads,” he said, adding that the disagreements were not creative debates, which is something he typically welcomes.
Just two months into his sobriety, Holland admitted it was a tough one for him. “I thought, ‘If I start drinking again now, with all this going on, it’s gonna get worse, right?’”
The actor has previously opened up about how he’d initially had no intention of staying sober after Dry January, as alcohol had been his ‘go-to’ when it came to either celebrating or commiserating over something.
“In doing Dry January, it really scared me because I had a really tough time,” he explained on an episode of the Rich Roll podcast.
“I couldn’t quite wrap my head around how much I was struggling without booze in that first month. And it really scared me.”
Tom Holland in The Crowded Room (Apple TV+)
Holland then added that he’d decided to continue his alcohol-free lifestyle into the following months in order to prove to himself that he didn’t have a problem.
“So I said to myself, if I can make it to June 1st, which is my birthday, and I can do six months without booze,” he said.
“I will have then proved to myself that I don’t have a problem. I’m just young and enjoying a drink. And then by the time I’d done six months sober, I really started feeling the benefits.”
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Featured Image Credit: (Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images / Apple TV)
Woman who’s nine years sober reveals common way she used to hide being an alcoholic
Many people said they found what she was saying very relatable
Warning: This article contains discussion of alcoholism which some readers may find distressing.
A woman who has been sober for nine years has told people about a common way people who suffer from alcoholism try to hide it from people.
TikToking actor Issy Hawkins has made plenty of videos about her battle with alcoholism and some of the ways it can affect your life.
In one of her most popular videos she described a ‘commonplace habit with alcoholics and addicts’ which many of her followers said was spot on.
“I don’t know if anyone else can relate to this, but I was talking to somebody on the other app and we were discussing how if you opened our wardrobe doors and if you looked at the back of the wardrobe there’d just be loads of empty cans or bottles that we’d forgotten we’d stashed there,” she explained to her followers.
She said it made her think of a time when her mum had been cleaning her room and found a ‘massive bin bag of empties’, and wondered whether others had hidden bottles and cans in their own wardrobes.
Many people said they found the woman’s comments about hiding bottles and cans very relatable. (Getty Stock Photo)
A lot of the people in the comments could relate to what Issy was saying, as they wrote: “I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME HIDING BOTTLES IN THE WARDROBE.”
They commented that Issy’s video ‘makes me feel so seen and gives me hope for recovery’, and another said she was ‘the only sober creator I’ve ever related to’.
That person commented that they’d felt a ‘gut wrenching’ fear when they were away from home and thought about where they’d stashed their cans and bottles.
Another said they’d stashed their bottles into jacket pockets in their wardrobe, as well as in shoeboxes and backpacks.
The comments were full of people saying they’d done exactly what Issy was describing and had stashed drinks around their home where people wouldn’t see them.
“There’s some sort of weird, almost ritual that comes with all of it,” Issy continued.
“With hiding bottles and hiding empties and being secretive that I don’t miss at all because you’re just weaving this web of lies and nonsense.
“You can’t remember what you’ve done and you can’t remember where you’ve put things, and you’re just constantly living in dread that someone’s gonna open a door and a load of beer cans are gonna come flying out on top of their head and you’re then gonna have to explain why that is.”
The NHS has a number of signs they say to look out for which may indicate that someone is an alcoholic, and a woman who was many years sober came up with a quiz for people and being secretive about it was one of the aspects to look at.
