Getting drunk just to fit in?

“WHY don’t you drink?” “Are you an alcoholic?” “What will you do at Christmas?”

These are some of the questions I have been asked since I stopped drinking nine months ago. We live in a society where alcohol is used to celebrate, commiserate, relax and cope with life’s difficulties, yet it is probably the most dangerous drug there is and it’s legal. Our view seems to be that if a person doesn’t drink there must be something wrong with them.

I will be the first to admit that in my twenties and early thirties I carried this view. Now I’m 39 and I have never felt stronger, happier or healthier without alcohol.

I’d endured a really stressful time with my career and I’d been in a sad place. All of sudden as things started to change and I was coming out of it I started to dislike alcohol. I remember having a glass of wine while out having lunch with my husband last February and feeling really poorly afterwards. A few weeks later I was out with friends and we had drinks. Afterwards I felt so bad physically and mentally I lay awake all night battling feelings of guilt and worry and I knew I was experiencing an epiphany of sorts.

I was chatting to Apprentice star Jessica Cunningham about it and she recommended the audiobook This Naked Mind by Annie Grace and it changed how I felt about alcohol forever.

What I love about being alcoholfree the most is not being controlled by it. When I feel down I use healthy strategies like going for a big walk or doing some yoga, but I’m not numbing or suppressing any bad feelings.

Alcohol had been in my life for a long time. My mum was an alcoholic so from a very young age I knew all about the effects drinking had on a person and their family and yet it never put me off drinking until recently.

My mum died from alcoholism when I was just 19 so not only do I understand excessive and unhealthy drinking but I have first-hand experience of the heartache it causes loved ones.

During lockdown one, high-risk drinking doubled and I imagine this lockdown won’t be too different especially as we are approaching Christmas.

Right now we need to be kind to ourselves, and create healthy habits.

I recently connected with the amazing charity Nacoa, which helps young people and children affected by a parent’s drinking. If you or anyone you know could benefit from their help & support got to www.nacoa.org.uk.

■ Kelly Pegg is a journalist and broadcaster. She hosts the podcast The Hot Mess Mums’ club with TV presenter Jenny Powell. You can find it on Instagram: @thehotmessmums