What a Month of Sobriety Taught Me About Quarantine Drinking
In the midst of a pandemic, alcohol was an all-too accessible coping mechanism. But putting down the bottle brought about a newfound clarity.
Earlier this year, I went on a 30-day run without drinking. It was supposed to start when the ball dropped — a dry January to match the ritual that kicked off my 2020. Yet several factors, including the stress of quarantine and the aftermath of the 2020 election, led me to postponing my dry run by one week. Naturally, I started the day that insurrectionists stormed the Capitol. Here’s how I got there.
I was one of millions of people who transitioned to remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic. I’m fortunate that I was able to do so, but that has meant that I’m constantly close to my liquor cabinet. Without a commute or a chunk of time spent in the office, alcohol has been within extremely easy reach.
Sure, back in the good ol’ days, I’d sometimes stop after work somewhere to have a few drinks. But as any casual wino knows, drinking in a bar quickly adds up. Price markup aside, I’d sometimes tip more than the retail cost of one bottle. Financial prudence alone limited how much I indulged. Meanwhile, at home I can easily afford to drink well into the night.
