It’s Sober Spring! ELLY BLAKE is going boozeless for the next 90 days, but is it easier to give up alcohol at this time of year?

I’ve joined the tens of thousands of Brits signing up to Sober Spring this year.

Excited, I ring my supportive friend to let them know the good news, but I’m not exactly met with the fanfare I was expecting.

‘Sober Spring?’ he practically spits. ‘I swear you’re just making that up to get out of coming to the pub with us, Elly.’

No, I protest, it’s a real thing… Run by Alcohol Change UK, it’s a three-month challenge to ditch the booze and focus on your health, mindset and wellbeing.

While Sober Spring is the lesser-known counterpart of Dry January and Sober October, it is a well-established campaign offering the sober curious a chance to reset and explore an alcohol-free lifestyle over three months.

When it comes to these challenges, I’m not a complete novice. Like nine million others every year, I’ve also drudged through January without a bev, giving myself a month off after a rather heavy Christmas period.

But, rather predictably, I’ve gone back to old ways and quickly undone all the health benefits that come with a month off alcohol.

So, feeling like a longer stint wouldn’t go amiss, I take the plunge -and what’s more, spring feels like the perfect time to do it.

The weather is improving, the days are getting longer, and after the depths of winter, finally it feels like there’s hope in the air.

The challenge starts on March 20, right after my birthday, and ends on June 20, which if I do things right, will be when my brat summer begins.

It got me thinking, could your success in quitting alcohol be determined by the time of year you’re doing it?

I do a quick Google but surprisingly there’s not much information in this space, so I decide to speak to some experts to find out whether there is any science behind it.

Harry Sumnall, Professor in Substance Use at Liverpool John Moores University, tells me that while there’s no direct scientific research, spring being a great time to quit sounds about right.

‘There are seasonal effects on alcohol consumption. People tend to drink more in summer, there’s increased opportunity to socialise, like going on holiday or to festivals,’ he says.

‘On the whole, people tend to drink less in the winter months due to decreased social outings and a preference for staying indoors.

‘While there’s no research to support it being easier in spring, the weather’s getting better, you can be outdoors more so there’s opportunity to do other activities than just drinking.

‘People are looking forward to summer and have different goals, so it feels like an ideal opportunity for people to assess their relationship with alcohol.’

The possibility of it being easier to forgo alcohol in spring is also echoed by Millie Gooch, founder of Sober Girl Society, leading voice in Britain’s sobriety movement and just an all-round icon.

She gave up alcohol in 2018, aged 26, and never looked back.

Now an ambassador for the sober movement, she supports other women on their journey to sobriety and mindful drinking whilst challenging outdated drinking norms and creating spaces where women can feel empowered in their choices.

‘I think it’s a great time to stop. People are ready to emerge, they’re coming out of winter hibernation,’ she says.

‘Spring is associated with new beginnings, so people are feeling happier and looking forward to making a change, compared to January or October.

‘There’s way more socialising at this time of year that doesn’t necessarily revolve around alcohol – you can go on a walk, or head to the beach. Plus the no or low-alcohol alternatives are way better at this time of year.’

Dr Richard Piper, chief executive of Alcohol Change UK, agrees. ‘Spring sees us enjoy lighter evenings, birds chirping and nature blooming,’ he says.

‘It’s a season that embodies new beginnings and transformation and can be a time when many of us look to make changes in our lives – be that pursuing health and fitness goals, eating healthier or taking on new hobbies.

‘Increasingly for many, this includes making changes to our relationship with alcohol, which can supercharge our other goals.

‘Also, summer can be a time when alcohol seems to surround us, and many of us can find our drinking creeping up.

‘So, taking a three-month break from alcohol heading into the summer months gives us the tools we need to avoid slipping into drinking more than we want to.’

And what can I hope to gain from it? Dr Piper says I can expect to feel a whole range of health benefits over the 90-day period – and it starts from day one.

‘Benefits we might experience from a month off alcohol include better sleep, lifted mood, lower anxiety, more energy, brighter skin, saving money, reduced cancer proteins, some recovery of the liver, and reduced blood pressure and resting heart rate.’

But while forgoing alcohol for 30 days gives short-term results, it’s month two and three where you start to really feel the difference.

‘The longer break offered by Sober Spring can kick things up a notch and increase chances of seeing and feeling as many of these benefits as possible.’

Great, sign me up. But am I just going to be drinking boring old water for the next three months? My supportive friend seems to think so.

But Luke Boase, founder of the hugely popular non-alcoholic beer brand Lucky Saint, informs me otherwise.

‘There’s plenty of no-alc alternatives out there which can provide refreshment as the weather warms up. The biggest driver of decision making for alcohol-free products is taste.

‘High-quality alcohol-free options like Lucky Saint have transformed the experience for people consciously choosing to drink less alcohol.’

He continues: ‘There’s this misconception that alcohol-free drinks don’t taste good, but that’s just not true anymore. We’ve moved on from the options being water or a soft drink.

‘We’ve seen people embracing Lucky Saint in different ways that fit into how they want to drink, which might be not drinking for a period of time or on that specific occasion, or choosing to adopt methods like zebra striping to drink a bit less when out.’

But what if you’ve missed the boat? It is March 29 now, after all…

‘Just sign up,’ is Millie’s rallying cry. ‘It’s never not a good time to give up alcohol or try something different. If you’re late, you can always add a couple of days on at the end.’

So while there may not be any scientific research boosting your odds of a sober spring, there’s a lot to suggest the transitional season will kickstart your chances of success.

Week one done and I’m already seeing a marked difference. I’ve got more energy, I’m sleeping better and feeling clearer-headed.

I wake up at 6am on Saturday and head out to parkrun – quite the contrast from the raging, anxiety-inducing hangover I woke up with just seven days earlier.

I look in the mirror and my skin looks brighter, my eyes are less puffy and, although I might be imagining it, I have more of a glow. This new sober look suits me, I think.