Why life Is better without booze: A year of sobriety in Russia

The radical New Year’s resolution you didn’t know you needed

The start of a new year is the perfect time for new beginnings. We’ve all made New Year’s resolutions: cut out sugar, stop texting exes, find a better job, or finally call our parents. But let’s talk about a change that could be truly transformative: giving up alcohol.

In Russia, booze is deeply embedded in our culture. It’s expected at celebrations, a staple of socializing, and even seen as a symbol of vitality. Not drinking can make people think you’re sick, while knocking back two bottles of vodka earns admiration. But after 25 years of drinking, I decided to try a different approach: I spent this New Year’s Eve completely sober. For the first time in my adult life, I wasn’t nursing a hangover on January 1st.

A year ago, I realized I wanted to live long enough to see how the world’s unpredictable story unfolds. Alcohol, it seemed, was an obvious risk factor. It felt like it was doing more harm than good. And the data backs this up: according to the World Health Organization, the demon drink is linked to 2.4 million deaths annually, with two million of those being men. This doesn’t even include car crashes, domestic violence, and suicides triggered by alcohol.

Still, giving up booze felt like a radical idea. After all, drinking is often seen as essential for having fun and socializing. But here’s the truth I’ve discovered over the past year: life is better without it. The supposed benefits of liquor are just illusions.

Alcohol’s Place in Culture and Social Life

In Russia, alcohol is often the centerpiece of any gathering. If people are drinking, it’s a “good” event. If they’re not, it’s something to endure, like a children’s birthday party. Free time, especially during holidays, is seen as a void that must be filled with drink. Otherwise, it’s considered wasted.

But alcohol doesn’t actually create fun or social connection. It numbs the brain’s frontal lobes, lowering our inhibitions and making almost everything seem funny. This isn’t genuine enjoyment; it’s just an altered perception that comes with a price – hangovers, regret, and lost time.

The idea that alcohol helps with socializing is also a myth. If someone needs a drink to feel comfortable in a group, it’s not the booze creating connections – it’s masking a lack of social skills. And alcohol doesn’t help build those skills; it just creates an illusion of ease.

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Life Without Alcohol: What Changes?

When you quit drinking, you realize just how much of life has revolved around the sauce. At first, it can feel like a loss. But as you adjust, you see that alcohol is completely unnecessary. Social ties don’t weaken–they actually become stronger and more meaningful. Your health improves, and you stop waking up with hangovers or regret. There’s no more guilt about wasted weekends or broken promises to yourself.

Without alcohol, I’ve experienced a greater clarity and sense of control over my life. I’ve also realized that fun and joy aren’t tied to drinking. Celebrations, even New Year’s Eve, can be just as festive without booze. The difference is, the next day you feel refreshed instead of drained.

A Simple Experiment for the New Year

I’m not here to preach or judge. I spent years drinking and understand the appeal. But if you’re looking to try something truly new this year, I encourage you to experiment with sobriety. Even for a short time, it can give you a different perspective on life.

What I’ve learned is simple: alcohol doesn’t improve life. If anything, it holds us back. By letting it go, you might discover a world of possibilities that were always there, just waiting for you to see them clearly.

Why not give it a shot? At the very least, it’ll be something new.

This article was first published by the online newspaper Gazeta.ru and was translated and edited by the RT team