Man nine months sober after 45 years of drinking shares 'what really changed' when he stopped drinking alcohol

Quitting alcohol can be one of the toughest things to do in life but one man has been reaping the rewards from going sober after drinking for 45 years.

Ian Callaghan has gained a reputation on TikTok as a sober coach as he continues to share life advice and tips for those looking to give up the gin, having abandoned alcohol himself nine months ago.

Naturally, there are all sorts of health benefits associated with going sober, with doctors suggesting that even stopping for a month in sober October or Dry January can help you feel your best.

Ian has previously revealed that a good night's sleep is one of the biggest benefits he's noticed since quitting at the start of this year.

He said: "The most shocking physical change wasn't weight loss (though I lost midsection bloat), but the quality of my sleep.

"I'd forgotten what it was like to sleep through the night and wake up truly rested, not just less drunk.

"No more low-grade headaches or groggy dread; now I wake clear-headed."

After sharing some brutal advice for people who pretend they are fine with having hangovers, Ian has now taken to social media to explain in black and white exactly what changed for him when he banished alcohol from his life.

He's warned people to be honest with themselves (TikTok/@ian_callaghan)

He said: "I killed the 'just one' voice. That whisper used to own me. 'Just one pint. You’ve earned it.'

"It was never one. It was always a trap.

"Now I starve it daily. I replace it with movement, breath, stillness.

"Every time it calls, I move my body. I reset my system. I win another round."

While denying yourself things you might have become reliant on is difficult at first, it is important to stay busy and ensure your body is getting what it needs through healthier methods, rather than dulling the senses.

Ian added: "I swapped sedation for sensation. Cold plunges. Long walks. Early light. Stillness before screens.

"I trained my nervous system to feel again. At first it was uncomfortable — because feeling again means facing yourself.

"But discomfort became data. Pain became purpose."

Going sober has changed Ian's life (Getty Stock)

If the benefit of a good night's sleep wasn't enough, Ian also opened up about losing weight but getting stronger in other parts of himself after ditching the drink.

He said: "I dropped 40kg of invisible shame. Not just weight — I shed the lies. The guilt. The 'functioning' nonsense.

"Drinking made me small. Sobriety made me honest. Now I walk taller. I sleep deeper. I look people in the eye."

Ian concluded that going sober has made him realise who he really is after alcohol blurred his existence for nearly half a century.

He concluded: "I remembered who the f**k I am. Alcohol blurred my edges, made me forget my power.

"Sobriety sharpened it. I found my voice again — the one that doesn’t shake. The clearest weapon in the room is the one who doesn’t need a drink to speak his truth."