For Alexandre Béhier from Belgium, quitting alcohol was not just a health decision – it was a transformation. Once drinking 3, 4 or 5 bottles a day, today he describes his alcohol-free life as beautiful and filled with renewed purpose.
Across Europe, stories like Alexandre’s are becoming more visible: powerful examples of people challenging long-standing social norms around drinking alcohol and finding a sense of freedom, control and clarity in an alcohol-free life.
As Europe continues to have the highest levels of alcohol consumption in the world, their stories offer critical insight into both the challenges and the possibilities of choosing sobriety in environments where drinking is often encouraged or even expected.
Growing up where drinking is “everywhere”
Alexandre started drinking at 15, growing up in Belgium, where, as he puts it, “alcohol was everywhere, woven into the fabric of daily life”. He remembers being constantly surrounded by friends drinking alcohol and smoking, and seeing heavy drinking as not only accepted but celebrated.
“In my experience, Belgians are proud of drinking, it’s a source of pride,” he says. Even as his consumption escalated, the cultural environment made it difficult to recognize the danger. “I had no warning signs, even when I needed alcohol daily.”
A similar experience was shared in Slovakia. A 36-year-old Slovak travel blogger, Radoslav Hoppej, who has been alcohol-free for 13 years, recalls how normal drinking felt during his student years, especially while working in a nightclub.
“For a while, I perceived alcohol as a normal part of my life, and I was probably not far from becoming addicted to it.”
In his country too, drinking carries a social expectation: “In the environment of our country, those who don’t drink alcohol are still considered ‘strange’”.
Despite living in different countries, their reflections echo a wider truth across many countries in Europe: the social weight of drinking alcohol – and the pervasive stigma of refusing an alcoholic drink – remains strong.
A turning point: when alcohol harms become impossible to ignore
“At 37, I began vomiting blood in the mornings,” Alexandre says – a frightening symptom that sent him to the hospital. Doctors told him he had early-stage liver cirrhosis and had to stop drinking alcohol if he wanted to live.
While often associated with alcohol use disorders later in life, liver cirrhosis due to alcohol can also develop in younger people who practice heavy episodic drinking, or “binge-drinking”. This can eventually lead to liver cancer, 1 of the 7 types of cancer alcohol is known to cause.
In the years that followed, Alexandre underwent surgeries to remove his colon and rectum, fighting 2 cancers believed to be linked to his heavy drinking.
“At first, the idea of quitting seemed unimaginable,” he shares. Yet just weeks after stopping, he felt as if he were experiencing life for the first time. He also found psychological relief from anxiety and panic attacks.
Since then, Alexandre has turned his experience into a meaningful career. After pursuing a certificate in alcohol studies from the Free University of Brussels, he now works as a counsellor supporting others struggling with alcohol.
Choosing sobriety and discovering freedom
For Radoslav, quitting alcohol was more natural than expected: “Once I stopped drinking, it suddenly felt completely natural to me,” he says.
He quickly began to feel the benefits: “Seeing my physical and mental health improve was a huge motivator. I felt stronger, more energetic and mentally balanced. I regained control of my life and could focus on my goals and ambitions.”
But sobriety also brought some interpersonal challenges.
“People’s reactions have been mixed. Some of my friends and family members have been very supportive and encouraged me in my decision. Others did not take it seriously. Some acquaintances even tempted me to drink again,” he recalls.
What he tries to convey to his friends and travel blog readers is that alcohol-free living is not about restriction, but identity and autonomy.
“Many may consider alcohol to be the social norm, but I have discovered that the greatest freedom is being yourself, without any artificial stimuli,” reflects Radoslav. Changing the drinking culture and normalization of alcohol is something he aspires to do.
“With my alcohol-free life comes responsibility – for my choices and the example I set for others. I try to motivate people, to realize that entertaining or relaxing can also be done without a glass in hand.”
Together, Alexandre and Radoslav demonstrate a growing shift: more people questioning not only their own drinking, but the social expectations that surround it.
Finding support and more information
If you or someone you know is experiencing harms from alcohol, it’s important to reach out for help. You can find support and guidance by consulting your doctor.
Alexandre and Radoslav shared their stories with us for the “Redefine Alcohol” campaign. This campaign is part of the joint WHO–European Union Evidence into Action Alcohol Project (EVID-ACTION), which aims to increase awareness about harms from alcohol across 30 countries – the 27 European Union Member States plus Iceland, Norway and Ukraine – from 2022 to 2026.