Why is Generation Z going alcohol-free in 2025? Hear from this Gen Z NA member who shed old toxic habits and gained fresh, new perspectives in just one year.
The Beginning
In February 2024, I had an onboarding call with my now personal coach, during which we discussed my goals for the year and my sense of purpose in life. While I had aspirations to get into better shape, travel the world, and start a business, something became painfully clear during that conversation: I lacked confidence, presence, and contentment. I felt stuck in a cycle that drained my happiness and fueled negative emotions. I knew something had to change, but change requires effort—and, specifically, it demands three essential elements: mindfulness, discipline, and consistency. Over the course of the year, the results were transformative, setting me on a path I could once only dream of.
Mindfulness
I believe that meaningful change begins with awareness. As I started training and dieting, I quickly realized that snacking, smoking, and alcohol consumption were all counterproductive to my goals of losing weight, building strength, and improving my energy levels. I became aware of the lies I told myself to justify these habits and avoid change. Regarding alcohol, the excuses were endless: "It’s what we do as adults," "It helps me unwind and relax," "It’s for a special occasion," "It’s only on weekends," or "I’ll only drink once a month."
As I began to limit my intake and became more mindful of the toxins in my life, I realized that the excuses I had used to justify my behavior were just that—excuses. I began to see how these same lies extended beyond alcohol, to toxic relationships, unproductive environments, and habits that no longer served me. The "truths" I had held onto for so long were no longer valid, and I was forced to confront these uncomfortable realities. It required looking myself in the mirror and making difficult decisions.
Discipline
Once I became mindful of the toxic elements in my life, the real work began. But I quickly discovered that change wasn’t as simple as "drink or don’t drink." It wasn’t black and white. There were countless moments where I had to make difficult decisions and practice the art of saying "no." It’s easy to make the right choice when you have full control of your environment. But what happens when you’re thrust into situations you can’t avoid?
That’s when discipline comes into play. With newfound clarity about who I was and who I wanted to become, I had to navigate social gatherings, family events, and moments of temptation with resilience. Even when people rolled their eyes or questioned my decisions, I chose to leave the party early or pass on that drink. Discipline is hard; it demands grit, integrity, patience, and, most importantly, self-love.
Consistency
Once I became aware of the toxicities around me and committed to change, I began to notice how easily everything started to flow into a routine. From the moment I woke up to when I went to bed, my daily habits started to reinforce my goals. Journaling, stretching, breathing exercises, walking, working out, and mindful consumption became second nature. And alcohol no longer had any appeal. My weekdays were filled with water, juice, and coffee, and my weekends became a time for healthy alcohol alternatives, like Functional Mocktails from NA.
Consistency is the key to long-term success. There were moments when I stumbled, when the urge to fall back into old habits resurfaced. But every time I had a setback, I quickly reminded myself of my intentions and got back on track. The key is not to be too hard on yourself when you slip, but to learn from those moments and stay focused on your larger goal.
The Results
This journey wasn’t easy. There was literally blood, sweat, and tears along the way. Yet, looking back, it feels like everything fell into place in the blink of an eye. The past 365 days have been nothing short of life-changing. I lost 45 pounds, completed my first half marathon, traveled to new stretches of the earth, and launched my business. I feel healthier than ever—physically, mentally, and spiritually. Above all else, I’m happy. Truly happy.