A self-confessed ‘party girl’ who lives in Clitheroe says her life has changed since deciding to give up alcohol.

Alison King, 42, said she would drink in situations to help her become more confident and social.

Since deciding to give up alcohol more than two years ago, Alison has started two businesses and improved her relationship with her daughter.

Alison, who grew up in Accrington, said: “I was a party girl and would often drink for the social confidence as I am naturally quite introverted. I felt that drinking helped me be more confident and sociable.”

Alison decided to go sober after “feeling miserable” with a hangover.

She said: “I was coming up to the age of 40 and had just ended a long-term relationship, finding myself single again.

“I had become a mum and started my own business. I didn’t want to keep making the same mistakes and find myself in situations that I found myself in, during my 20s, as a result of drinking too much.

“I didn’t want to go 'off the rails' and I wanted to be a good influence on my eight-year-old daughter.

“I had been toying with the idea for a while, trying dry January and taking the odd weekend off.

“I woke up one morning feeling miserable with a self-inflicted depression from a hangover. That's when I decided to quit.”

According to Alison, she faced pressures to drink alcohol at all stages of her life.

She said: “I didn’t really see giving up as an option. I was not an alcoholic but knew I didn’t have the best relationship with alcohol.

“The UK drinking culture has been quite prevalent in all stages of my life.

“I drank at university and then there was the ‘mummy wine culture’ in my 30s. There are different pressures at different stages of my life, until I decided I wasn’t going to do it anymore.

“I wasn’t great at moderation so it felt like a relief to decide just to not drink.”

Alison said her life has improved since deciding to quit drinking. She feels more confident and has a better relationship with her eight-year-old daughter.

She said: “I feel like I am more confident in myself. I used to drink to get through situations I didn’t want to be in.

“I think I’ve become a better mum. I am a lot more patient and I am not trying to speed up the day, just so I can pour a glass of wine. I enjoy my time with my daughter a lot more and we spend more time together.

“I know myself a lot better and can trust myself to make good decision.”

Alison also said her sobriety has helped with her career. She has become a partner in a business since abstaining from alcohol

Ali was already self employed as a copywriter but she connected with her business partner Gaby Marsden on Instagram. 

Their friendship led to Ali joining Gaby’s firm, Good Business UK, a group designed to help self-employed women get advice, network, learn, grow their businesses and ease the isolation that can come from being self-employed. 

Alison believes that becoming a non-drinker helped her have the confidence and clarity of mind to be able to take on a second business and feel able to share her knowledge and expertise with others as she feels she is able to connect with other people better.

She said: “I had a natural confidence that I didn’t give myself credit for even professionally, I run two businesses.

“I naturally have more energy and a clearer head for all types of business situations.

“We are hosting a networking event for female business owners on January 25.

“In my drinking days I would have felt too nervous to network but now I know I can back myself and talk in front of people.

“If anyone wants to go sober I have some advice. Write down why you are doing it so you can remind yourself regularly.

“If you think you will fall ‘off the wagon’ think about the repercussions and mentally ‘skip forward’ to how you will feel the next morning.”