I HAVE A BETTER TIME NOW THAT I DRINK LESS

Laura Neuveglise, 45, is a head teacher and also runs embroidery business sevenshades.co.uk. She lives in Lewisham, South East London, with husband Ben, 48, a creative director, and their children Oscar, 11, and Daphne, eight

I’ve been sober-curious since January this year, and now I only drink a few times a year. It started last Christmas, when my kids made a passing comment that my “favourite drink” was wine.

It made me wonder whether I was drinking too much. After all, my husband and I tended to have a glass of wine with dinner most days.

But in January I decided I wanted to be healthier, and to set a good example for my kids and show them that you don’t need to drink to have a good time. At first, I decided to stop drinking for a month. But the less I drank, the less I wanted alcohol. I realised I had been drinking out of habit.

Now, I have the occasional glass of wine, such as during a meal out for my wedding anniversary, but otherwise I don’t drink. Instead, I have a non-alcoholic G&T or a mocktail. Meanwhile, my husband still enjoys drinking wine, but drinks less frequently.

Since I reduced my drinking, I have fewer headaches and I feel much less lethargic.

What’s more, I have a better time when out with friends, as I don’t have to worry about a hangover. The hardest part is dealing with other people’s reactions.

People think that I must be an alcoholic because they don’t understand that I’m simply being more mindful of my drinking.

But now everyone is getting used to it, and they can see how much happier

I am as a result.