"My name is Luca, I’m 37, and I live in London.

When I first moved here, I had one goal. Work hard, move up the ladder, and land a great job in the corporate world. I was ready to put in the hours, learn from the best, and make something of myself.

What I wasn’t ready for was the drinking culture that came with it.

In my industry, everything revolved around alcohol. Client meetings in bars. Team celebrations in pubs. After work drinks that were supposed to be one pint but always turned into four. It didn’t matter if it was a Tuesday or a Friday, the expectation was the same. You show up, you drink, you belong.

At first, I told myself it was networking. I wanted to fit in, make connections, and build my reputation. I thought that if I didn’t go, I’d be left out of important conversations, maybe even overlooked for opportunities.

But it quickly became most nights of the week. By the weekend, I was burnt out. I’d sleep in late, laze around, order takeaways, and eat whatever was easiest. My energy was gone, my diet was a mess, and my health started to suffer.

I began to notice I was ageing faster than I should have been. My skin looked tired, I had constant brain fog, and I could feel my stress levels rising. But I still kept going to the events, still kept drinking, because I thought that's just what I should be doing.

Then one Sunday evening, I sat down and worked out exactly how much I had been drinking that week. The number shocked me. I was so far above the recommended limit it wasn’t even close. It wasn’t just the odd drink anymore. It was an everyday part of my life.

That was my wake-up call.

I started searching for ways to break the cycle and came across Clear Minds. The Alcohol Aversion session caught my attention because it didn’t just help people cut back, it helped them stop wanting to drink altogether.

I decided to go all in. I started listening to the aversion sessions every night before bed. It was strange at first, but within a couple of weeks, the idea of drinking after work stopped feeling appealing. The thought of a heavy night made me feel more tired than excited.

But it wasn’t just about the drinking. I realised I had built up this belief that I had to go to these events to be accepted. So I started using the Self Confidence and Anxiety sessions too. They helped me walk into work the next day knowing I could still be respected and included without having a drink in my hand.

Now, my life looks completely different. I still attend some events, but I don’t drink. I focus on meaningful conversations and leave early enough to get a good night’s sleep. My weekends are no longer wasted recovering. I have more energy, I exercise, I cook proper meals, and I actually enjoy my time off.

I used to think alcohol was helping my career, but it was slowly destroying my health and my confidence. Clear Minds helped me break that cycle and take back control of my life."

We want to thank Luca for sharing his journey and showing that you can succeed in your career without sacrificing your health.

His story will inspire others who feel trapped in the same routine.

If you are ready to break free from workplace drinking culture and take back your time, energy, and confidence, click below to learn more about the same programme that helped Luca transform his life.