My life without alcohol: “One day, I see my reflection in the mirror: I have a good life, why do I drink so much?”

To ensure you don't miss any testimonials or stories, subscribe to our new "Experienced" newsletter .

Putting wine, beer, or spirits away after a few boozy weeks. This is the purpose of initiatives like "Dry January," or alcohol-free month , which takes place in January, or its Australian cousin, "Dry July ," launched in 2008. They allow us to question our relationship with the (over)consumption of alcoholic beverages. But for others, sometimes in situations of addiction, sobriety has become a saving way of life. In this episode, Susan, 52, an Irish woman who has lived in Paris for more than twenty-five years, explains how alcohol became too important in her life.

"I've been drinking at parties since I was a teenager, like everyone else. Sometimes it's excessive, but not all the time. I arrived in France at 25. I'm Irish, and moving to France for work was quite an adventure. It was when my life became more stable that alcohol became more and more important.