I’ve been 5 years alcohol free. Wow. That's half a decade of living life without alcohol. For the champagne-loving, cigarette-smoking version of me from the past, this is so hard to believe. And not just that, I don’t miss it one bit!

Perimenopause and strong cravings for alcohol – yes, it’s a Thing. Alongside all the well-known symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings, cravings for alcohol are more prominent in so many of us at this time. If you've found yourself craving alcohol more during perimenopause, you're not alone. Here’s what’s going on, and how you can navigate increased alcohol cravings during perimenopause.

I used to think alcohol-free holidays would be BORING. In fact, I rarely even imagined a holiday without late afternoon boozing in the sun, and nights drinking copious amounts of wine. Did I want to go on alcohol-free holidays? No. Did I end up LOVING alcohol-free holidays when I finally quit drinking for good? Yes.

When we take alcohol out of our lives, we need to add more fun in. If alcohol has been our main source of fun for years, then we need to replace it with activities, events, and people that light us up and make life more enjoyable. Otherwise, we start thinking an alcohol-free life is boring, flat, and uninspiring – and that’s just not the case.

From hot flashes and mood swings to interrupted sleep, menopause symptoms are exacerbated by drinking alcohol. In perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause, hormone levels change dramatically and so do the enzymes that process everything we eat and drink. As we age, women have smaller amounts of alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that metabolises alcohol in the stomach.

That means women absorb more alcohol (than men) into their bloodstream. Symptoms of menopause are then exacerbated like hot flashes, mood swings and insomnia. Even bone density.

When you quit drinking, it feels like people will go out of their way to question you. But why? For how long? Why would you? Some will even try to derail your efforts. They’re used to you showing up for them in a certain way (often as a drinking buddy) and it doesn’t suit them when you change. It can be confronting to them that you are changing your relationship with alcohol - when they can’t.

So, why do partners, loved ones, friends, colleagues or even neighbours try to derail your sobriety?

If you’re going alcohol-free in January, there’s a lot you can do to set yourself up for success. You can write down your Why, tell your friends and family, and stock the fridge full of delicious AF drinks. You can clear your calendar of boozy events and start thinking of ways to treat yourself – without alcohol. Then there are the things I would encourage you NOT to do…

Are you wondering how the hell you’re going to manage your first Christmas without booze? And with that comes all the questioning from friends and family. ‘Why aren’t you drinking?’ or ‘Just have one’ or ‘Don’t be so boring – it’s Christmas’. Well - read on for all my top tips around socialising without booze this Christmas and still having a GREAT time!

It’s my fifth sober Christmas and the way I feel surprises me. I feel overwhelmingly grateful for the decision I made in April 2019, to remove alcohol from my life altogether.

My last boozy Christmas was in 2018 when my drinking was at its highest. I was looking for giddy oblivion, but it didn't come. I was drinking more and more to get the high I craved but I just didn't get there. In hindsight my body was tired and tolerant after an alcohol-fueled lead-up to Christmas Day.

When it comes to parenting and drinking: The kids are watching. We may think a glass of wine in the afternoon or a rush to get them to bed so we can ‘relax’ is going unnoticed by the kids - but it isn’t. So, how does our drinking impact our kids? And why is it helpful to change how we role model alcohol to young teens?

Christmas often arrives with a whirlwind of festivities, expectations, and an overwhelming To Do list. The pressure to create the ‘perfect’ celebration can leave us feeling stressed and drained. Let's embrace a different approach — one that prioritises sobriety, and self-care. It's time to take a few things off our plates, forget about unrealistic expectations, and make space for a Christmas that nourishes our wellbeing.

Connection is a fundamental human need, and women have a unique relationship with it. The hormone oxytocin, often referred to as the "love hormone" or "bonding hormone," is profoundly boosted when women connect with each other. Understanding the link between emotional and physical connection, women, and oxytocin, is incredibly important for our wellbeing.

In a recent poll of my online community, I asked what the obstacles were to them living their best lives. Three things became clear: they lack self-belief, and they are drained of energy and motivation. They are feeling fed up and exhausted. Being a modern working woman puts a slow and steady drip on our energy and confidence. We sometimes don't even realise we've become a shell of ourselves until it becomes our new 'normal'. So, how can women fight this fed up feeling and reinvigorate our confidence and our lives?

Sugar cravings and sobriety- what’s going on? You may have given up drinking successfully but now your sugar cravings feel intense and overwhelming. Don’t panic. This is common. Alcohol and sugar light up the same reward centre in the brain. Sugar can also be an emotional crutch through stress and let’s face it – early sobriety can be stressful So, here’s what’s going on with those sugar cravings in sobriety and what to do about them.

As a Grey Area Drinking Coach, I find myself in an uncomfortable position when it comes to talking about alcohol with my soon-to-be 14-year-old son. I started drinking alcohol at the very same age. I want to protect him from the pitfalls and risks I experienced while also giving him self-agency and trust he will make responsible choices. This is not an easy balance, but here's how I talk to my son about alcohol…

Sobriety often comes with an unexpected challenge – sugar cravings. These cravings, fueled by the body's physiological and psychological response to alcohol withdrawal, can feel overwhelming, and out of control. While it’s okay to give in to sugar cravings in the very early days of sobriety, if you’re ready to take on your sugar addiction and manage cravings, it can be done.

Approaching sex when you’re newly sober can feel awkward. It can make you feel vulnerable and self-conscious – even with a long-term partner. That’s because so many of us have only ever had sex with a few drinks under our belt. So, how do you approach sex when you’re newly sober?

With self-exploration and compassion, staying in the moment, and feeling all the feels.

If you’ve never been a sweet tooth before, intense sugar cravings after quitting alcohol can feel overwhelming. While a little sugar in the early days of sobriety is normal and can be part of the process of going alcohol-free, too much of the sweet stuff just isn’t good for you. Here’s why sugar cravings feel out of control – and what you can do about them.

As we get older, our friendships change. Our circle gets smaller and tighter, and because time is more precious, we often spend time together enjoying a shared pursuit. That might include walking or going to yoga together. For many, it means unwinding with a few glasses of wine. ‘Catching up for a drink’ or ‘Popping by for a drink’ is often how friendships are maintained in our 40s and beyond. Sometimes friendships that have been built on drinking, mean we only know each other in this setting. It feels familiar, comfortable, and habitual.

Until one of you goes alcohol-free

Australia’s leading Grey Area Drinking Coach, Sarah Rusbatch, is championing the need for a transformative shift in Australian workplace drinking culture.

With workplace celebrations, networking events, and knock-off gatherings predominantly revolving around alcohol, there exists a prevalent phenomenon of ‘sober shaming’, placing pressure on individuals who choose not to drink.