‘once i opened a bottle, i’d finish the lot’

Kaye, 55, reveals why she needed to take a break from boozing.

‘I drank socially through my 20s, 30s and 40s, but a few years ago this gradually increased to three or four bottles of wine a week. I’d often open a bottle to relax at the end of a stressful day and, once opened, I’d finish the lot.

Incredibly, I hadn’t had any health-related problems, but having both parents die in their 30s and 50s from alcohol-related illnesses, I knew the potentially devastating effects.

after alcohol over-indulgence at Christmas, I decided I needed a break. on 1 January I started Dry January. It was a personal test to see if I could survive without it. I removed all alcohol from my house to avoid temptation and drank kombucha – an alcohol-free fermented tea. It was easier than I thought. although I missed the occasional ‘unwind’ drink, I felt much better. my anxiety levels reduced and I felt more energised.

although I haven’t given up drinking for good, I’ve cut down to under the recommended limit. I use the Dry January app to keep track of how many glasses I have in a week and I’m thinking about doing Dry September.

‘it was easier than i thought’