Why My (Nearly) Three-Year No-Drinking Streak Is Coming to an End

The cost/benefit analysis of living alcohol-free

Photo by Wil Stewart on Unsplash

👋Hello, my friend. Some (kind of?) big news today… at least if you’ve been following me for a while: I’m very strongly considering ending my (nearly) three-year no-drinking streak. Let me explain why…

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Nearly three years ago, I made a decision to stop drinking alcohol. It wasn’t the first time I’d done it — I actually gave it up for a full year back in 2018 as a kind of personal challenge. But this time around felt different. It wasn’t about testing myself or checking a box. It was more of a lifestyle shift, a deeper commitment to health, clarity, and trying to actually be the best version of myself — as a father, as a professional, as a human being.

And while the title of this piece includes the word streak, I didn’t really think of it that way. Not this time. This time, there was no countdown, no day-by-day scoreboard. It was just a new rule I set for myself — and stuck with.

But now, as I approach my 47th birthday, I’ve pretty much made up my mind that I’m going to end this streak. I’ll explain why in a bit. First, I want to acknowledge what the decision NOT to drink has meant to me — and all the good that’s come from it.

What I’ve Loved About Not Drinking 🚫🍷

Honestly, not drinking has been easier than I expected it to be.

I’ve talked about this before — both in writing and on the podcast — but there’s something powerful about making a clear, hard rule for yourself. Once the rule is in place, the world starts to adapt. Friends stop offering you drinks. People stock their fridges with non-alcoholic options before you show up. You stop getting asked why you’re not drinking — because people already know. That clarity made life simpler.

I haven’t had a hangover in three years — and that alone has felt like a gift. I’m someone who places a high value on feeling physically sharp and mentally clear, and I absolutely hate the feeling of being even slightly off my game. Life is hard and stressful enough without voluntarily compromising how I feel.

Not once in these past three years have I skipped a workout because of a hangover. Not once have I started a Monday feeling sluggish because of what I drank over the weekend. That has real value to me.

Another unexpected upside: connection. Ironically, giving up something as social as alcohol has led to a lot of meaningful interactions. I’ve met and interviewed some incredible people in the “no alcohol” community — folks like Brook LeBlanc, Louie Ruvolo, and Bill Shufelt from Athletic Brewing. Without this lifestyle shift, I may never have crossed paths with them.

Even more personally, I’ve had so many people — friends, colleagues, readers of this newsletter — tell me that something I said or wrote nudged them to rethink their own relationship with alcohol. That’s incredibly rewarding.

And yes, I’ve enjoyed discovering the surprisingly broad world of non-alcoholic drinks — from the wide range of Athletic Brewing beers to some actually-decent NA wines.

But maybe one of the most important things I’ve learned is this: you can have fun without drinking. That might sound obvious, but I think many of us still carry the assumption — even well into adulthood — that drinking is essential to adult fun. Over the last few years, I’ve been to parties, concerts, and all kinds of social gatherings where I didn’t drink, and I still had a good time. No buzz necessary.

The discipline I’ve built through this decision has mattered too. I’ve faced some awkward moments — like the time a client of my company went out of their way to set up a full bar just for me, only to learn I don’t drink. But I stayed strong in those moments, and that’s something I’m proud of.

It’s also been affirming to know I can go to any doctor’s appointment, tick the “zero alcohol” box, and feel like I’m taking one more small step toward long-term wellness. We know alcohol negatively impacts almost every health condition — so it’s been nice to remove that risk entirely.

And one more unexpected benefit: I think I’ve become more in tune with my own body. When something feels off — a headache, low energy, whatever — I can usually identify the cause. I’m not fogged or dulled by the aftereffects of alcohol. That clarity has been huge.

And there’s this: I’ve liked being an example for my kids (and even for some of their friends). I like that they’ve seen an adult — maybe one of the few in their world — who chooses not to drink and still has fun, still enjoys life.

So… with all those benefits, why change? (Honestly, after writing all of that, I’m now second-guessing this decision!)

Why (I think) I’m going to Re-introduce Alcohol 🍻

Let me be clear up front: my experience with not drinking was never about addiction. I’ve been fortunate that I haven’t struggled with that personally, and I have the utmost respect for those who do. Addiction is real and serious, and I would never want anyone to misinterpret this post as a suggestion that moderation is safe for everyone.

That said, my decision to stop drinking was always rooted in self-optimization: health, wellness, clarity, discipline. And in those areas, it worked.

But lately, I’ve started to feel like the streak — this clean narrative of “three years alcohol-free” — has taken on a life of its own. I didn’t intend for it to become an identity, but maybe it has. And that, in itself, has started to feel a bit restrictive. Almost performative.

As I approach my 47th birthday, I’ve decided I’m going to have a drink. Maybe a glass or two of wine. Maybe more this summer — at my brother’s 50th birthday dinner, on a getaway with my wife, during some upcoming travels. And I want to do that without guilt, without feeling like I’ve broken something sacred.

Because here’s the thing: as great as it’s been to say no to alcohol for this long, I’m starting to feel like I’ve been saying no to some joy too. Some spontaneity. Some relaxation.

There have been moments — special weekends with my wife, meaningful celebrations with friends — where a glass of wine might’ve enhanced the experience. But I said no because of the streak. And now I’m wondering if that’s the kind of rigidity I want in my life anymore.

The broader question I’m thinking about is this: Am I over-optimizing my life to the point of missing it?

Am I too focused on the perfect sleep score, the never-missed workout, the endlessly dialed-in nutrition? Have I wound things too tightly?

Am I unnecessarily punishing myself and missing out on opportunities for fun and better connections with friends and family? The answer is probably yes.

What’s Next?

I’m not totally sure! I’ll probably reintroduce alcohol slowly. I still care a ton about how I feel — physically and mentally— and I’m not interested at all in hangovers, poor sleep, or sluggish mornings. So I’ll experiment. I’ll see what I enjoy. I’ll see what I don’t.

I do have some concerns. Namely: decision fatigue. One of the best parts of the last three years was taking that decision off the table. Every social event, every dinner, every Friday night — the answer was always no. That made life easier.

Now, I’m opening that door back up. And I’ll need to figure out what kind of guardrails I want in place — if any.

But I’m choosing to trust myself. I’ve proven I can say no. I’ve proven I can literally go years without drinking. I don’t need alcohol — and that’s a powerful place to be making this decision from.

So for now, I’ll have that drink this coming Friday night on my birthday. I’ll raise a glass with my brother. I’ll sip wine with my wife. And I’ll reassess as I go. Maybe I’ll find a balance I like. Maybe I won’t. Who knows — maybe 2026 will be another dry year.

But for now, I’m planning to intentionally end this streak. And see what happens after that.

Thanks for reading. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts — especially if you’re someone who’s followed me for a while and maybe even made some changes of your own. Let me know how this hits you.

Before you go…

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Content Diet

Founders Podcast — David Senra on Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos
So after my commentary last week about finding a balance between obsession and acceptance — and somewhat criticizing the “all or nothing” approach of some of history’s most successful entrepreneurs (as chronicled by Senra on the Founders podcast), I’ve ironically been bingeing Founders all week and chastizing myself for not having started a super successful business yet by age 47! Who wants to be my business partner? I need to get something off the ground here before I turn 50… Anyhow, the Jobs and Bezos episodes I listened to this week were great. Any leader would benefit from listening.

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Intentional Wisdom x Peloton

1. Lastly…remember to join the IW group on Peloton if you want to sweat alongside me and other IW readers. Here’s the link.

2. It just got MUCH easier to kick my a$$ on the Peloton bike. Why? Not because I suddenly got fat and out of shape… but rather because I got a NEW Peloton bike and it’s calibrated WAY differently than my old one (which maybe was juiced?)… not sure… anyhow, I explained it all in a Twitter thread that no one appears to have read… but you can!

Have a great week!

Greg