I used to drink 2 bottles of wine & vodkas in a night – going sober changed my life, says Briony May Williams

ESCAPE To The Country host and GBBO star Briony May Williams, 40, on finding joy after becoming sober.

Growing up, alcohol wasn’t a thing at home. We never had it in our house in Bristol.

But when I reached my late teens, I started to go out binge-drinking, and then alcohol went on to be the main part of my social life.

I’d have a couple of glasses of wine midweek, and on a Friday night I could polish off two bottles plus vodkas, and would sometimes be sick before getting a kebab on the way home.

Then I’d do it all again the following night.

Probably 90% of my biggest life regrets stem from situations when I was drunk.

Before meeting my husband Steve [a software engineer, 45] 15 years ago, there were times I would sleep with people I shouldn’t have, because my inhibitions were down.

Once, I lost some really important papers during a night out after work.

The next morning, I was beside myself, calling the bars I’d visited and the taxi company I’d used to get home.

Luckily, I found them, but I felt foolish and humiliated.

Just after my alcohol-heavy 39th birthday in November 2023, I was taken to hospital suffering from chest pains, which turned out to be a stomach ulcer caused by the acid in alcohol.

I was told to stop drinking booze, fizzy drinks and caffeine, as well as vaping, which I’d started in lockdown.

I quit them all overnight, and about two weeks in, I started to feel better.

Satisfying and vibrant

Within a month, I thought: “This feels like a really positive step.”

Not long after that, I went to a friend’s 40th birthday party in Manchester and sipped water all night.

Realising it was possible to still have a good time when I wasn’t drinking was a game-changer.

Now that I’m sober, my social life feels more satisfying and vibrant.

Rather than meeting at a pub, I’ll join friends at a roller disco or a vintage fair, or I might do a pole-dancing class.

Naturally, I don’t see certain friends as often, because they still enjoy going out drinking, and I’ve noticed some don’t invite me so much, which feels sad

Briony

Last year, I went to the Royal Television Society Awards and sat next to TV presenters Melvin Odoom and Gaby Roslin, who I discovered also don’t drink.

We had the best afternoon without a drop of alcohol.

I also went to my first sober event recently for Breast Cancer UK and made some real connections with incredible women.

But the best bit? The next morning, I remembered it all!

Naturally, I don’t see certain friends as often, because they still enjoy going out drinking, and I’ve noticed some don’t invite me so much, which feels sad.

'I’ve lost 3st'

I will never judge people for having a drink, because a couple of years ago, that was me.

But if someone gives up alcohol or simply drinks less, perhaps because they’ve been inspired by me, that’s great.

It’s why I started my Gloriously Sober Instagram page in January to share the joy I’ve discovered since waving goodbye to alcohol, even my old-favourite rosé!

Since stopping drinking, I’ve lost 3st and gone from a size 16-18 to a 10-12.

I’m no longer a grotbag on a Sunday. I’ve got energy, I want to get up to do things and engage with them, rather than lying on the sofa and watching TV

Briony

Not only is that due to giving up alcohol, but also because I’m making better food choices – I’ve not had a McDonald’s since!

My mental health is so much better, too. I’ve had depression since my early 20s and have been prescribed antidepressants ever since, but used to experience profound lows after a night out.

Drinking numbed me a bit and took away the stress – until the next day, when my depression would feel 10 times worse.