Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 - How being near-teetotal has recharged me
0% and beyond
I've been teetotal since December 31, 2025, but out of choice, not from necessity. You see, there was a time, a few years ago, when I felt I was writing at my best when I was three Gins in. It's easier than ever to order alcohol - from the Wetherspoons mobile app to having it be delivered to your home via Amazon.
It was these easy methods that meant I'd be slightly numb, mentally. It never got bad, but I realised a couple of years ago that it could become a problem if I didn't deal with it. When certain events had occurred, I thought I was fine. But looking back at the half-filled goblets of Gin and Irn-Bru on my desk from the night before, ready to drink again at lunch, made me think otherwise. As this week is Mental Health Awareness Week, I wanted to explain why I barely drink these days.
The Goblet of 8% Beer
First off, this isn't a 'look at me, I don't drink and you shouldn't either' post - far from it. It's merely sharing an experience as to why I've stepped way back in how I approach alcohol for my mental health. The above photo used to be the norm - I'd go for a coffee, do some work, take the dog uphill in Lincoln, go to a pub, and order something like this, usually off the bat.
For a while, it was mostly for curiosity, to see how it tasted, and I'd try others. But eventually, once certain events occurred, I thought it'd help to quell some thoughts, as well as the doubt in my writing that had been planted by others around that time. Eventually, I'd go and do some work with at least two of these high percentage beers down, and I'd feel pleased with it.
This went on for a long while, up until the end of 2024, when I realised, albeit very obviously looking back, that it wasn't helping at all. I'd get sidetracked, I'd procrastinate, I'd have a few paragraphs written, but they'd repeat a couple of points.
I suppose one other danger of these beers is how 'fun' the packaging looks. It can unearth nostalgic feelings of picking out sweets in a shop. Take this from Vault City - Jumbo Jungle Juice 8% Beer, which reminds me of Um Bongo juice from my childhood. That nostalgic feeling may be a fleeting one when you're three cans in. To be clear, no one's forcing anyone to buy and drink these, but it's the messaging that bothers me.
But another aspect was the ability to buy Gin on subscription from Amazon.
The Moment
From mid-2022 to around early 2024, I'd have two bottles of Navy Gin on an Amazon subscription, which hover around 60% strength. They'd be delivered every five weeks, but soon I changed it to three. I'd have my Irn-Bru and Gin concoctions half-drunk and left for up to a day - and I'd be annoyed if I realised one had been tipped into the sink.
I drank these as a crutch to get through some days, looking back. My mental health was at a low point by then, but I didn't know it was - I thought everything was fine. This was just for fun. But in February 2024, there was a moment when I simply snapped and realised that it wasn't the way. That whole year was mostly spent on getting better in every way - hence this post from April 2024, but it took another year until I felt how I did pre-2022.
For the first half of 2025, I'd drink but not as much - I knew what my limits were. But there was a time in June that year when I had a pint, and my stomach just said no, so I started easing off from alcohol. It sounds like a cliché, but I feel better - I have far fewer low moments and, combined with the Gym and the odd running, I look better too - especially in my eyes. I look at some photos from January 2024, and I just look miserable, hiding so much. Here's a comparison - guess which one is a few weeks ago, and which one is from almost three years ago.
Right now, it's just 0% beer once a week, sometimes twice. Even at gigs, having a 0% Guinness whilst enjoying the music, like I did this month, is a great combination. It tastes the same to me - but I've not had spirits for over a year, and I've got no desire to have it for the foreseeable. Alcohol can be a way of washing the day or an event off you, but it can give you false hope that things are fine. They're not.
I wanted to write this as I felt ready to talk about it - things are good now, and I know that if I have an alcoholic drink these days, it won't be for a crutch to make me feel good, just to enjoy the moment with others who were there for me at the time. However, if you're struggling in any way, the MIND Charity has some great links for you to reach out to. There's always a way.
Thanks for reading.
