Desistal - Cut or Quit Alcohol

01/05/2026

Although there’s a long history of drinking and watching footy, there’s no reason why the two must go hand in hand.

Desistal supplements have helped 1000's trying to cut down or quit drinking; however, it's not just cravings you need to think about, it’s your lifestyle.

If you are setting yourself a goal to go sober, here are our top tips for avoiding alcohol during matches.

We recommend starting small if you feel alcohol could be a big temptation.

Try watching the match with another person who won’t be drinking.

Once you look around, you’ll likely find there are lots of other people who don’t drink.

Try Hosting

Hosting your own event gives you more control over who you’ll see, whether they’ll be supportive and what kind of triggers you’ll have to contend with.

Hosting an event can also help you build bonds with your kids or older family members who are fans, which can lead to more enjoyable sober events in future.

Be Selective

If you do decide to go to another person’s house or sit in the pub, think hard about which events you can safely attend and which might be a negative experience.

If you’re not ready to explain to people why you’re not drinking, or you feel you could be persuaded by certain characters, it may be best to give certain events a miss until you feel ready.

Have a drink in your hand (non-alcoholic)

When dropping a physically addictive habit like drinking or smoking, the behavioural aspects are just as important as the chemical ones.

Going through the motions of the behaviour while switching alcohol for a soft drink can give your brain the fix it needs, and stop you from thinking about the real thing.

A 0.0% beer or other alcohol-free replica can make the switch easier, as you get to enjoy the same taste without the alcohol.

Have an Exit Plan

If you decide to watch the match at the pub or at another person’s house where the drinks are flowing, it’s okay to take a time-out.

Decide what your boundaries are and stick to them.

Going for a walk can help you to feel in a better headspace to make the right decision when you go back in.

Try to Find New Reasons to Enjoy Sober Football

After the match, consider if there were things you preferred. This could be:

Waking up without a hangover – a fresh head while everyone else is suffering the next day can feel like an extra win.

Remembering the whole match – alcohol dulls our senses and makes us forget, so being sober can mean you catch more of what’s going on and remember it the next day.

Not having to deal with drunken hooliganism – some football fans do have a reputation for getting inebriated and starting brawls, which is one piece of British culture we could all do without

Saving money – buying drinks out can be really expensive, and some people even end up forking out for a hotel so they can drink during a stadium match.

Having the wits about you to get home at the end of the night can give you a little extra in your bank account at the end of the month

Not missing the game while queueing for the bar or toilet – drinking and the effects of drinking can be a big distraction from the football, so when you go without alcohol, you can end up actually focusing on the match.

Enjoying post-game analysis – Once the whistle blows, instead of embarking on a night you might regret, discuss the highlights.

For more tips on reducing or cutting out alcohol, go to our website: www.desistal.com

Looking to stop drinking alcohol? Desistal's natural supplements help manage cravings and support your journey. Clinically recommended with discreet UK delivery

28/04/2026

𝟏𝟎 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫

1: Tom Holland

After drinking heavily over Christmas in 2022, he decided to try Dry January, and it was then that he realised his alcohol dependence. Holland was quoted as saying, “All I could think about was having a drink. … It really scared me.”

Holland decided to keep going with his sobriety, although he found socialising and hanging out with certain friend groups especially difficult, according to the Guardian. Still, he said the sleep benefits and mental clarity he is now experiencing after going sober are worth it, and he has been quoted as saying that quitting drinking was “the best thing I’ve ever done.”

2: Brad Pitt

“I was boozing too much. It’s just become a problem.” Ultimately, he decided to quit after his highly publicised divorce from Angelina Jolie in September 2016. Speaking to the New York Times in 2019, he reflected that “I had taken things as far as I could take [them], so I removed my drinking privileges.” He subsequently joined Alcoholics Anonymous, which he found to be a cathartic experience.

3: Chrissy Teigen

Alcohol is one vice that the model and television personality Chrissy Teigen doesn’t give in to anymore. In 2017, Teigen told Cosmopolitan that she was the type of person who “can’t just have one drink.”

In July 2022, Teigen took to Instagram to update her fans on her progress, explaining that she had been sober for 365 days: “I drank to end crazy anxiety that later mostly went away when I — get this — quit drinking! sigh. Anyhow, I feel really good.”

4: Miley Cyrus

Miley tweeted, “It is no secret that I was into partying in my teens and early 20s.” More recently, though, Cyrus decided to ditch the party lifestyle in favour of sober living.

Cyrus confirmed that she was four months sober as of October 2019 via an Instagram Live session, GMA reported. And though she briefly “fell off” her sobriety during the pandemic, according to a November 2020 YouTube interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, she’s since recommitted to the practice.

Her healthy-living routine also includes a vegan and gluten-free diet.

5: Tom Hardy

The Venom star recalled in a 2015 GQ interview how awkward social interactions and trying to fit in when younger led him to start drinking. That eventually led to a higher level of tolerance and blackouts, until he realised he couldn’t continue that path anymore; he got help before he truly hit rock bottom.

“I've been sober longer than I'd been drinking now. It's a nice place to be. But I don't turn my back on it — it doesn't mean for one minute it can't bite me in the ass,” added Hardy.

6: Daniel Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe had a major wake-up call while drinking that led to him becoming fully sober.

"In my case, the quickest way to forget about the fact that you’re being watched is to get very drunk," he told Off Camera in 2019.

Radcliffe also admitted to becoming ‘dependent’ on alcohol to ‘enjoy anything’. In what was a ‘wake-up’ call for the star, he ended up in a verbal altercation with a club DJ and was asked to leave, causing a media frenzy. Following this, Radcliffe gave up drinking again and has been committed to sobriety since.

7: Millie Mackintosh

Millie Mackintosh, known from Made in Chelsea, has been sober for over three years (since August 2022) after realising her heavy, often blackout-inducing drinking was damaging her life and mental health.

She is now a vocal proponent of an alcohol-free lifestyle, citing improved mental health, reduced anxiety, and better parenting.

8: Susanna Reid

Susanna Reid, 53, has been "predominantly teetotal" since 2018 after a doctor advised her to stop drinking to improve her skin and lose weight.

She gave up alcohol to avoid "hangxiety" and feel sharper for her early morning TV role, resulting in losing a stone and a half. Reid, who rarely drinks now, feels healthier and more energetic.

9: Florence Welch

After feeling like she was going to burn out at the end of her 20s, Florence told Harper’s Bazaar in 2016 that she is now sober. "I'd been really self-destructive for a while, and I really didn't want to keep breaking things - whether it was relationships or physical stuff,” she explained. “Not drinking was such a healing process that I thought, ‘Let's just keep going with this’. And what I've learned is that I'm naturally a sensitive, open person who's just super-high on life without any drink or drugs.”

10: Gisele Bündchen

Gisele Bündchen, Brazilian model and activist, is quoted in an interview with People, in which she expressed the positive effects of her decision to quit drinking, saying she 'immediately' felt a change when she gave up. 'I became clearer.’ she noted. 'I felt a bit more foggy before. Now I'm very sharp and present, and I notice things that I didn't before. I'm sleeping much better.'
,
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠?

Try Desistal Craving Supplements:
https://desistal.com/how-desistal-works-and-its-impact-on-your-goals

Strategies To Cut Down Alcohol:
https://desistal.com/strategies-to-help-you-reduce-drinking-alcohol/

Try Alcohol Counselling:
https://desistal.com/alcohol-counselling-with-motivational-interviewing/

24/04/2026

How I Cut My Added-Sugar Intake by 90%

It's surprisingly easy to consume the maximum recommended daily intake of 30g (7 teaspoons) of added sugar daily.

Not only is added sugar of zero nutritional benefit, but consumption of added sugar contributes to sluggishness, obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

If your goal is to become healthier, it may be time to refine your diet and say goodbye to added sugar.

Here's how to do it.

Recording your sugar consumption for a few days can reveal two things:

1. You may be consuming much more sugar than you realise. For instance, one Mars bar has a whopping 31 grams of sugar, which is over the entire day’s recommended limit.

2. Sugar can sneak into your diet from unexpected sources, such as condiments, nut butters, granola bars, ready-made oatmeals, luxury coffees, sports drinks, smoothies and pasta sauces. Even Dolmio are warning consumers that some of their sauces have so much sugar they should only be eaten once a week.

'Remove cues'

Even the mere sight of food can trigger cravings, even when we don't have physiological hunger.

Removing unnecessary snacks like biscuits, sweets and drinks from your home can keep you away from temptation.

'Keep hunger at bay'

When hunger strikes, be prepared, because that is when we can reach for a sugar fix.

Eat satiating foods to remain full after meals and have healthy snacks pre-prepared.

'Delicious snacks'

Cravings for sugary snacks can be curbed by adding nutritious and satiating foods such as:

Plain yoghurt, nut butters, avocados, whole fruits, salted popcorn, hummus and cheese.

Whether you’re just starting to cut down sugar or seeking additional support for your ongoing journey, Desistal’s High Strength Formula has 8 ingredients designed to stand with you every step of the way.

https://desistal.com/product/sugar-curb-crave/

04/04/2026

Desistal supplements have helped 1000's with cravings, and now you can keep up the momentum with a free sobriety tracking calendar! 🗓️

Get my free calendar: https://desistal.com/product/sobriety-calendar/

✅✅✅𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬: Going sober can feel abstract, but a calendar makes progress visible by showing days, hours, or seconds accumulated. Watching the number grow provides a sense of momentum and accomplishment, making it easier to stay committed to long-term goals.

✅✅✅𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬: Tracking days helps prevent impulsive decisions. Knowing that a slip means starting over (or resetting a counter) can be a powerful deterrent, prompting a pause before acting on a craving.

✅✅✅𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Reaching milestones (30, 60, 90 days) encourages you to continue your sobriety journey.
✅✅✅ 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫: https://desistal.com/product/sobriety-calendar/

Sobriety calendars are valuable tools for those going sober because they transform the abstract, often overwhelming process of staying sober into concrete, daily, and manageable steps. They offer psychological, motivational, and practical benefits that help individuals build momentum and hold themse...

16/01/2026

Hi, so when I first went sober, everyone kept asking why I didn't drink. I'd never been offered as many free drinks in my life. I was lucky to have a supportive boss who knew how I had struggled with drinking and how unhappy it made me.

This was his favourite thing to say when people asked. I always loved it because it isn't defensive, keeps things light, and the message is so positive! Go ahead and share your favourite answers to the never-ending question 'why don't you drink?'

Looking to stop drinking alcohol? Desistal's natural supplements help manage cravings and support your journey. Clinically recommended with discreet UK delivery

10/12/2025

Our team posting a meme about their drinking-sober life. One a day until Christmas, nice one Fifi!

Could a sober Christmas be the best gift you give yourself and your family this year? We look at all the reasons to make your festive season alcohol-free.

09/12/2025

Our team posting a meme about their drinking-sober life. One a day until Christmas, starting with a belter! We love you, Jamie :)

Could a sober Christmas be the best gift you give yourself and your family this year? We look at all the reasons to make your festive season alcohol-free.

05/12/2025

Comment below your best tips for staying alcohol-free
𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐁 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝟏𝟎% 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐂𝐎𝐃𝐄: 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐔𝐏
🧠🏃‍♀️💪 Don't wait any longer to better your health!

28/10/2025

Is Alcohol Messing With Your Memory?
Beyond the fuzzy, half-memories, what are the long-term risks to our brains from alcohol?

50% of drinkers experience alcohol induced memory loss in their lifetime. Raising the question: with our most vital organ at stake, why are we focusing

03/10/2025

https://youtu.be/IL7TeNXj11M?si=jIhExLdg6q2PGRWq

Want more time, energy & happiness? Put that drink down and listen up! Desistal is the way to kick cravings and start living more and drinking less. Our prod...

23/08/2025

I’m speaking of a moment. The moment you don't open the bottle or you don't meet up for 'just one'.

The moment I am referring to is 'the pause' before giving in to an urge. This pause is just enough time to re-route the signals in your brain so you don't give in to your urges.

Sobriety isn't just about quitting alcohol; it’s about your brain’s response to wanting it.

When you feel an urge to drink but choose not to, your brain enters a "chemical pause" where it experiences a temporary dopamine surge, anticipating the reward of alcohol, but this spike then begins to flatten if the expected action doesn't occur.

“This process is a form of neuroplasticity, allowing your brain to learn that the trigger no longer leads to the reward.“

Over time and with repeated instances of not drinking, your brain's reward system is rewired, helping to weaken the association between the cue and the alcohol.

What Happens During the "Chemical Pause"

1: Dopamine Surge: An urge to drink triggers your brain's reward system, particularly the mesolimbic pathway. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with reward, to the nucleus accumbens, creating a feeling of anticipation.

2. Anticipation Without Action: The dopamine spike occurs in anticipation of drinking, not after. When you don't act on the urge, this dopamine doesn't immediately disappear.

3. The Pause: The unspent dopamine sits there, creating a sense of tension or impatience as your brain waits for the expected reward to follow.

4. Dopamine Flattening: If you can hold out for a short time, the dopamine levels begin to decrease.

5. Rewiring: With repeated "pauses," your brain learns that the cue for drinking no longer leads to the reward, effectively unlearning the connection.

Why This Process is Important In Breaking the Cycle

This is how you actively break the habit and weaken the power of alcohol-related cues.

Neuroplasticity in Action: You're leveraging your brain's ability to change and adapt, also known as neuroplasticity.

Rebuilding the Brain: Each time you resist the urge, you're helping to build new, healthier neural pathways and strengthen your brain's ability to recover.

Read more: https://mailchi.mp/detoxplusuk.info/this-is-how-to-change-your-brain-to-stop-drinking-alcohol