Home Setup for Not Drinking at Home

Written by Susan — Quit drinking at 37 • Sober since 1998 • Sharing what actually works

Written by Susan — Quit drinking at 37 • Sober since 1998 • Sharing what actually works

Thinking about your home setup for not drinking can make a bigger difference than most women think. Having a set of pretty wine glasses and decanters sitting in the glass-front cabinet can be a constant reminder of your "drinking days."

Why Your Home May Be Keeping the Habit Alive

Humans love routine, at least I do! It keeps me grounded and I feel productive on those "blah days."

We women love nesting. We plump the cushions, put fresh flowers in vases, and set the scene that is pleasing to us. It makes us happy.

Thing is, when you arrive home from work — or shopping! — and you drop the car keys on the buffet table top, it's all too easy to catch a glimpse of glasses and bottles of wine.

Before you know it, your hand reaches for a glass. Half an hour later, you're refilling it.

Coming home to the same home setup day after day builds a sense of safety. It's reliably the same. It's comfortable. 

The problem is, your home as it is right now may be supporting your drinking habit without you even realizing it.

Home Setup for Not Drinking Starts With Removing Triggers

Back in my "drinking days," I had the obligatory wrought-iron wine rack on the kitchen counter. I even bought a small wine fridge. Seeing it stacked meant I was ready to party!

I especially loved sitting outside on the patio with a glass full of whiskey and Coke — with one of those tiny umbrellas in it. What?... I live in Florida.

It's funny how we accumulate all the bar stuff that keeps the idea alive that "drinking is fun."

After January 17, 1998, I gave all the stuff away. I had no need for it anymore.

Should You Keep Alcohol "Just in Case"?

If the thought of tossing out the glasses, corkscrews, bar paraphernalia... and booze makes you cringe... I understand.

You see, my closet contains a row of "skinny clothes." And another row of, shall we say, "fat clothes." (I'm back in the fat clothes row right now, sigh.) But I'm holding on to the skinny clothes "just in case" I get down to goal weight — again.

If you're keeping alcohol, wine glasses, and bar gear "just in case," you're leaving the door open for a return to drinking. If it's in plain sight, it's too easy to grab.

The easier you can make it on yourself in those first tender days of sobriety, the better.

What to Remove and What to Replace

So when the cupboard is bare, what do you put in it?

My "alcohol station" was replaced with a pod-brewing coffee maker and nice canisters of coffee — decaf, high-test Colombian — and an assortment of tea bags (I'm an ex-Brit). 

In other words, put stuff in there that supports your new non-drinking routine.

Create a Go-To Evening Space

If you've given away the two-tier trolley that was in the corner, stick a nice big fake tree in its place. I have a super realistic palm tree, and a fiddle leaf fig tree! (I love Amazon).

Even though I am in sunny Florida, I love sitting by that palm tree with the fan on overhead.

It's peaceful.

I close my eyes and I'm walking down Duval Street in Key West.

Cute cottages with metal roofs.

Cockerels crowing at any time of day!

Magical. This is my happy place.

What could your happy place look like?

Create that.

Why Food and Alcohol Are Not the Same Thing

That might sound like an oddball headline, but hear me out. In one of my stories, I talk about how quitting drinking is easier than losing weight. Honest! But why do I say that?

Food is necessary for life. Alcohol isn't. Having food in the cupboard is a necessity. Having alcohol in a cupboard is not. Fill it with food instead.

How to Prepare for the First Few Alcohol-Free Evenings

So you're now prepared to face your first alcohol-free evening. Take a deep breath. Go sit in your happy place. Close your eyes... and relax.

But let's be realistic.

• Cravings will arise.
• Your old routine is disrupted. 

Once you're aware of those possibilities, it's easier to manage them.

Cravings Cure: Retrieve your best somatic marker moment that will crush the craving.

Old Routine: Acknowledge that you're beginning a new chapter. It'll take time for you to settle into your new routine. Take your time. Enjoy it! 

Above all, keep in mind why you're doing all this. Your desire to be alcohol-free doesn't come at a price. It'll end up paying you dividends.

When Home Changes Are Not Enough

It's all fine and dandy creating nice, comfy spaces...

But what if you are a heavy daily drinker who experiences blackouts? Suddenly stopping drinking may cause withdrawal symptoms beyond the scope of this website. In those situations, I highly recommend you seek proper medical advice. 

One Small Change Tonight

First things first. Before you can create something new, you need to remove the old.

Tonight, walk through your home and identify the three strongest drinking cues you see every day.

Remove, box up, relocate, donate, or replace at least one of them before you go to bed.

Focus on progress, not perfection.

Continue Exploring Starting to Stop

If you're ready to move beyond thinking about change and begin taking action, these articles will help you get started. Explore practical first steps, simple strategies, and gentle guidance to help you stop drinking one decision at a time.

→ Browse all Starting to Stop articles

Ready for More Support?

Explore Live Better Sober: Quit Drinking — Break the Alcohol Habit, a practical, shame-free 66-day course designed to help you recognize and interrupt the pattern behind your evening drinking.

➡️ Learn more about the course here: Break the Nightly Drinking Habit

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