The best Christmas present I could have ever wished for // Suzanne Shaw // OYNB

A year ago, the idea of an alcohol-free Christmas would have filled me with dread

A year ago, in the run-up to the festive holidays, the thought of spending Christmas completely alcohol-free felt unbearable.

No Gluhwein? No Prosecco? No Bucks Fizz? No Baileys or Snowballs?I remember thinking: “Well, what’s the point then?”

Back then, it genuinely felt like Christmas without alcohol wasn’t really Christmas at all.But here’s the thing: you can change direction at any moment in this wild ride called life.

Fast forward one year: 11 months alcohol-free

Now I’m 11 months alcohol-free, and I’m more excited about Christmas than I have ever been in my adult life.

The joy I feel knowing what won’t be part of my Christmas is huge:

• no “beer fear” the morning after parties

• no embarrassing photos circulating in WhatsApp groups

• no drunken phone calls to friends or relatives

• no alcohol-fuelled arguments

• and the ultimate gift: no hangovers

Honestly, that alone is the best Christmas present I could ever have given myself.

Knowledge is power (and it feels a bit like a superpower)

If I’d known how incredible I would feel alcohol-free, I would have done this years ago.

Now I feel:

• more confident

• more present and playful with my family (bike rides, walks, games, arts & crafts, movie nights)

• full of energy instead of running on empty

My mental health has significantly improved, my anxiety has dropped dramatically, my productivity has shot up, and my creativity is back. I even found the time and focus to take a diploma in nutrition.

My sleep is deeper, I’ve become an avid runner, I eat healthier, I work out more, and I meditate.And as a very nice bonus: I’ve lost around a stone in weight.

The hardest part: those first two weeks

Let’s be honest: the start wasn’t easy.

The first two weeks were the toughest:

• my mind was constantly trying to talk me out of my 365-day challenge

• cravings and old habits kept popping up

• it took effort and intention to break long-standing patterns

I knew I had to stay busy and redirect my energy, so I took up running.Having something active and positive to focus on helped a lot.

But of course, that alone wasn’t enough — I had to dig deeper.

Day 28: when everyone else “finishes” and you keep going

Day 28 was a big emotional moment.

My friends and family who had done “Dry January” went straight to the pub to celebrate the end of their challenge – including my partner. Meanwhile, I was committed to 365 days, and temptation was real.

That’s when I leaned hard on my OYNB toolbox:

• I wrote a list of all the reasons not to drink

• I called a friend who was already a year ahead of me AF

• I booked a 6:30am workout for the next morning

Those three tools together kept me focused and grounded.They became my go-to strategies whenever my willpower started to wobble.

Then the world turned upside down

Just as I was hitting my stride… the world changed.

“There’s a deadly virus… don’t go to work… stay at home… schools are closed… the entire country is in lockdown… 2020 is cancelled until further notice.”

If there was ever a ready-made excuse to quit a challenge and go back to drinking, that was it.

A global pandemic felt like the ultimate “get out” card. My mind absolutely tried to use it.

But I made a deal with myself:I would at least stay alcohol-free until I hit 90 days, and then decide.

Ninety days in: the turning point

By 90 days, I felt incredible.

• I was through the hardest part

• cravings had vastly reduced

• I wasn’t constantly thinking about alcohol anymore

At that point, it became very clear:Why on earth would I give all this up?

Instead of obsessing over what I was “missing”, I shifted my focus to:

• enjoying life differently

• getting to know the new version of me

• building a lifestyle that didn’t depend on alcohol at all

Exploring new ways to eat, drink and celebrate

I’d already been experimenting with plant-based recipes after going vegan the previous year, so I knew I enjoyed discovering new flavours and routines.

Naturally, the next step was to find great alcohol-free alternatives and:

• explore the best AF beverages on the market

• create new drink rituals that felt special but didn’t involve alcohol

• prove to myself (and others) that you can still be fun, social and festive — just at 0% and zero guilt

I realised I could still:

• be the cocktail-making party person

• enjoy the festive season fully

• wake up proud of myself, not full of regret

My top 5 tips to stay focused and feeling great this Christmas

1. Keep your mind busy

Your biggest weakness will be your mind.

Christmas is a perfect time for:

• card games

• puzzles

• board games

• baking

• crafts

• exercise challenges

Keep your brain and hands occupied and you’ll find urges pass much faster.

2. Use mindfulness when you’re triggered

When something triggers that familiar “I could really use a drink” feeling:

• pause

• take 5 deep breaths

• give yourself a 10-minute time-out

Sometimes that small space between urge and action is all you need to reset.

3. Write a “why I don’t want to drink” list

This is a game changer.

Write down in detail:

• how bad alcohol makes you feel

• the disappointment you know you’ll feel the next day

• the hangover you’ll have

• the impact on your sleep

• the anxiety and mood crash

• the weight gain and bloat

• the lost time and productivity

Read this list whenever your brain starts romanticising “just one”.

4. Be assertive and clear

People will offer you a drink. Some will push.

Your job is to:

• say no clearly, firmly and with meaning

• avoid apologising or sounding unsure

• not open the door to “Oh go on, just one…” conversations

If you’re anything like me, it won’t stop at one — so don’t let it start.

5. Lean on PLACEBO drinks

Find a few alcohol-free drinks you genuinely enjoy and stock up.

A nice glass, ice, garnish and a great AF drink can:

• ease social awkwardness

• satisfy the “I want to hold something special” feeling

• help your brain relax without poisoning your body

Start testing AF options now so you know exactly what works for you by Christmas.

My top 10 alcohol-free festive favourites

In no particular order:

1. Win TempranilloGreat for red wine lovers – not too sweet, nicely dry, with berry and oaky notes.

2. SinZeroMy favourite Prosecco alternative – fun and festive in a flute.

3. Implosion BeerCrisp, fresh and very satisfying.

4. STRYKK (Not Gin / Not Rum)Brilliant for alcohol-free cocktails and mixed drinks.

5. Sea Arch (AF “gin” style spirit)No artificial sweeteners, vegan, allergen-free and zero calories.

6. UNLTD BeerFull of flavour and very realistic if you love beer.

7. Highball AF CocktailsReady-to-drink alcohol-free cocktails. The Mojito is my favourite.

8. Eisberg White WineSmells very wine-like; a bit sweet on its own, but lovely with soda and ice.

9. OddbirdAnother solid alcohol-free Prosecco option.

10. Ghost Ship 0.5% IPA & BrewDog Nanny State IPAAbsolute winners if you’re into IPA and craft-style beers.

The best gift I ever gave myself

Going alcohol-free has been the single best present I could have gifted myself — and it truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

If you’re curious about what your life could feel like with alcohol taken out of the centre of everything, try this:

• commit to a few days or weeks

• get curious instead of judgemental

• notice how you sleep, feel, think and show up

And if you want structure and support while you do it, you can join the OYNB 5-day free challenge and see where it takes you.

You might be surprised how quickly your version of a “superhero Christmas” starts to appear.