Jamie Redknapp surprised listeners of Romesh Ranganathan's podcast when she shared the unexpected news that he's been sober for the last 18 months.
Speaking on The Romesh Ranganathan Show in October, the former footballer told the comedian that an awful hangover after his 50th birthday party in June 2024 had forced him to address his drinking, despite the fact he never felt he had an issue with alcohol.
"I never had a bad relationship with alcohol [but] I've always suffered terrible hangovers, so that tells you alcohol doesn't agree with me," he began. He continued that he was "Hammered off [his] nut."
© gettyJamie explained he spent the whole day drinking, sharing: "By the time I got to the club I was in a mess and it really hit me, and the next day I woke up horrendous."
On the moment he decided to pursue sobriety, Jamie shared: "I remember walking home with [my sons], and I thought, 'That's it, I'm gonna stop drinking'. That feeling of not memorising anything that happened was just horrendous for me."
On his drinking habits before cutting out alcohol, Jamie said: "I love a glass of wine, and I'm not a drinker, maybe had the odd binge, but I thought I'm going to see how it goes. And that went to one month, two months, six months. And I don't necessarily feel that much better for it, but I just feel pleased that I've done it."
Relating to Jamie Redknapp
This feeling of not having a drinking problem is one that Best Quality Designer Handbag contributor Donna Francis is familiar with. Like Jamie, she cut out alcohol after her birthday.
"Following my 48th birthday, I decided I was done with booze. I'd always enjoyed a glass of wine and often found myself first and last at the bar on nights out, but as I got older, drinking alcohol left me with worsening hangovers, 3 a.m. anxiety, plus lots of self-loathing and guilt."
Donna has now been sober for almost two years, but like Jamie, she didn't plan for sobriety to be forever, and this is a clever way to approach quitting alcohol, according to sobriety coach Christy Osborne. "You never have to say forever, but if you are sober curious or considering stopping drinking set yourself a temporary challenge to see how you can feel better without it," she advises.
"When you've been alcohol-free for a few weeks, take a look at how life alcohol-free feels. That way, you can compare the two, and you get to decide whether or not the alcohol is serving you."
