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HEALTH
CharlotteDormon,40,isa PR
in thehealthandwellnessindustry
(@healthyeatslondon).
Beingsoberin 2020 feelslikebeing
veganfelta fewyearsago.OK,youstand
outa bit,theoptionsaresometimes
limited– butit’sallchanging.Thealcohol-
freemovementis reallytakingoff.We’re
thetrendsetters!Workinginwellness,
I dobelievewe’regoingthrougha key
transitionalperiod,andnotdrinking
(or notdrinkingverymuch)is goingto
becomethenorm.We’realreadyseeingit
withyoungergenerations.Andmore
peoplemyageandolderarerealising
howmuchbettertheyfeelwithoutalcohol.
I’vehadvariousperiodsofabstinenceoverthepastfew
years.ThenI’dfallbackintothehabitofsocialisingwitha
lager,margaritaorvodkainhand.AndI findit hardtohave
justtheone.Fivemonthsago,I realisedI wasboredof
needingthatsocialcrutch,boredofhangovers.I decidedto
giveupfora monthbutfoundI feltsogoodI’vemostlystuck
withit.I havetheoccasionalalcoholicdrinkbutI haven’tfelt
theneedtooverdoit.
Therearesomanybenefits,butit’snotalwayseasy.I still
havetobattlethatinnerchildtellingmeI’mmorefunwith
a drink.ButI pushthroughbecauseI liketheclaritynotCASESTUDY
^The alcohol-free movement is really taking off_
drinking gives me. Negative emotions
don’t cling so much, I’m better able to
process stress and pain. It’s easy to
forget that alcohol is a depressant – it
numbs you.
Because it can be a struggle, early on I
wrote a list of affirmations for myself. I
have it saved on my phone, my desktop,
pinned to my fridge. I call it ‘10 Reasons
I’m Alcohol-free and Fabulous’. I say it
out loud every morning and before an
evening out. And there are so many
reasons: when I don’t drink I have better
skin, more money, I make healthier food
choices, I don’t gain weight, I’m more
focused, I achieve more at work, I’m kinder to myself, I sleep
better, I like the mornings and I make more time for exercise,
self-care, friends and new hobbies.
I seek out social occasions where I know I’ll get a high from
just being there. I love going to gigs and singing and
dancing the night away. And on other occasions I feel
empowered knowing I can leave when I get bored and I’ll
feel good the next morning. I never apologise for not
drinking or pretend that I am. The odd person will say,
‘Really? Won’t you have just the one?’ but I tell them that
I feel great as I am. By the end of the night, they’re often
asking me for advice on how they can do the same.ONCHARLOTTE’SDRINKSTRAY CHARLOTTE’S
GO-SOBER TIPS
OKeep a supply of
alcohol-free drinks at
home, plus ice, garnishes
and beautiful glasses to
enjoy them in.
OUse an app or your
calendar to tick off (and
celebrate) every day
you don’t drink. Work
out how much you’d
have spent on alcohol
and treat yourself to
something else as you
reach milestones.
OBuddy up with others
on the same journey.
Surround yourself with
those who’ll support and
champion you and avoid
anyone who doesn’t.ONCHARLOTTE SDRINKSTRAY
Three SpiritLivener,£24.99/50cl,
threespiritdrinks.com
Thisis a bitspicyandreallygood
ina ‘margarita’.It’smadefrom
botanicals includingaplantfromthe
Ecuadorian rainforest.KolibriCardamom&Chilli
Infusion,£3.99/30cl,
Holland&Barrett
Oneofthreesingle-
servesparklingdrinks
thatcomewitha novelty
capsoyoucandispense
drops ofanagaveblend
and sweeten to taste.Ceder’sCrisp,£20/50cl,
Sainsbury’s
Myfavouritefornon-alcoholic
G&T.I likethiswithlotsofice,
cucumberandfresh mint.86 HEALTHY FOOD GUIDE JANUARY 2020