One Year No Beer: In Support Of Rotary Club Wolverhampton

On March 26th, 2025, I decided to do something I’ve never done before: give up alcohol for an entire year.

Not because of any rock bottom moment or medical necessity, but because I wanted to challenge myself. Drinking had become the go-to for everything: a way to wind down, catch up with friends, toast a win, or numb a tough day. It was so embedded in the rhythm of life that I started to wonder what life would look like without it.

Spoiler: it’s weird, occasionally miserable, and surprisingly brilliant.

Why I Made It Public

I knew I wouldn’t stick to it if I didn’t say it out loud. So, I made it public. Not just to hold myself accountable, but to turn the challenge into something positive. I decided to raise money for the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton, a local charity that does a lot of good in the community. They hold the charity seat in my business networking group, so it made sense to align my effort with their mission.

The Early Days (aka The Groggy Phase)

The first few days were rough. I felt groggy, foggy, and weirdly emotional. I wasn’t expecting that. My sleep went from pass-out mode to something far more restless. Turns out, your body needs time to recalibrate – even if you don’t drink heavily.

The Cravings

It’s the habit… evenings are the hardest. That restless, pacing-around-the-house kind of craving. It wasn’t just about wanting a drink; it was about missing the routine, the ritual. That first cold sip of beer had been a signal to relax. Now I had to find new ways to decompress that didn’t involve hops and bubbles.

So far, the alternatives are: Tea, Diet Coke and Water. I’m sure at some point I will get on to Mocktails. All have their place.

The Wins So Far

• As of now, I’m ten days in and already feeling the mental shift
• My sleep is slowly improving (even if it’s weird)
• I’ve raised awareness for a local charity and had some great conversations as a result

The Plan

Each month that passes, I’ll hit a milestone. 30 days, 60, 90… all the way to 365. I’ve even put together a tracker that counts down how many days I’ve got left and how many I’ve done.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t about demonising alcohol. It’s about asking questions. What do we reach for when we want to relax? Celebrate? Escape? And what happens if we choose something else?

I’m learning as I go. And if my story helps someone else think about their own habits, or inspires a donation to a good cause, then it’s already worth it.

Here’s to doing hard things. Sober.

If you want to support the challenge or donate to the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton, you can do that here: https://edge.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/nick-watts