Why I’ve stopped drinking (again)

This is not about the health benefits of sobriety and it's not about preaching or making anyone feel guilty. Rather, it's an exploration into why I drink alcohol (and why I needed to stop)...

Firstly, there’s every chance that by this time next week, I’ll be sitting on a Dorset beach sipping an ice-cold pint of lager, looking out at the horizon and laughing at myself for thinking I was about to give up alcohol.

I have set myself no goals, there is no plan, I’m not referring to myself as an addict or an alcoholic and I’m not going to get all preachy about sobriety. Rather, I’m interested in what makes me want to drink and why I’ve realised it’s sometimes problematic.