“The challenge thing really resonated” – Owen Pettiford

Looking back, I was always someone who would have too many

I thought I was just doing the same as everyone else, but really I was always pushing that bit further and having more to drink than others. I was the one who wanted to stay later and have that 2nd, 3rd, 4th bottle. Over time, a pattern emerged: for 2–3 months nothing “terrible” would happen, then I’d say or do something that made me cringe the next morning and damaged relationships with the people I loved.

I would try to moderate – set limits, pick “no-drink” days, make rules – but it always ended the same way, with more regret and the same old behaviour.

As I got into my late 40s, I found myself worrying about “stuff” and often feeling a constant sense of impending doom. Alcohol could blunt that feeling, so I started having a quick pint at lunchtime, on the way home, at home, down the pub… pretty much anywhere.

I even got apps to calculate my blood alcohol content so I’d know when I could drive. Grabbing a beer to stop the anxiety became a new pattern. I kept thinking I should quit booze, but I genuinely couldn’t imagine how my life could exist without it.

“Enough is enough”

After yet another regretful moment, I decided enough was enough. I set out to quit for a month. I’d done a month many times in the past, so I knew I could muscle my way through it on willpower.

About five days in, I heard about OYNB when Andy and Ruari were on the BBC. I visited the website, watched the free videos and something just clicked. It was a huge relief to realise:

• I wasn’t the only one feeling this way

• People do manage to build a life after alcohol

I signed up for the 90-Day Challenge with a completely different mindset from previous attempts. The idea of a challenge really resonated with me. The daily videos helped enormously – I watched them most days, and if I missed one, I always went back and caught up.

After 90 days

By the end of the 90 days, the change was huge.

• The anxiety had lifted – I realised I really didn’t have anything to worry about in the way my mind had convinced me.

• My weight went from 14st to 12st 7lb.

• I was running almost every day. Exercise became my way to de-stress instead of booze.

After 6 months

Six months in, I was down to 10st 7lb and completed my first sprint triathlon.Inspired by this new level of fitness, I decided to get my Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification “just for fun”.

At the end of that, I signed up for the Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification and realised a career change actually made sense. After 25 years in IT, in August 2019 I started a fitness and wellbeing business, STRIVE4, aiming to help businesses keep employees healthy and happy.

If people can’t get to the gym, I plan to take the gym to them.

A calm, alcohol-free life

If I could describe my AF life in one word, it would be calm.

Things still go wrong, and problems still need sorting, but now everything feels manageable. Around 180 days alcohol-free, a friend said to me:

“Alcohol never really suited you.”

If only I’d heard – and believed – that in my 20s. I could have avoided so many embarrassing situations.

Since quitting alcohol I’ve:

• Run a marathon in 3:25

• Run a half marathon in 1:31

• Completed a 100-mile bike ride in 6:15

• Brought my 10k time down to 41:20 (before giving up booze I couldn’t break 50 minutes)

And I still go to the local pub a few times a week, enjoy an alcohol-free beer and spend time with my drinking friends – who have all been 100% supportive.

OYNB has been open, clear, safe and encouraging every step of the way. I genuinely wouldn’t be where I am now without them.