The 28 Day Alcohol-Free Challenge: Sleep Better, Lose Weight, Boost Energy, Beat Anxiety

by Andy Ramage, Ruari Fairbairns

Be happier, healthier and more productive by taking a break from booze! An illustrated day-by-day guide packed with inspiration and practical help, The 28 Day Alcohol-Free Challenge is the only book you need to reset your drinking habits and discover a hangover-free world of quality time to achieve your goals. Drawing on their own experiences of ditching the drink, and bringing together the collective experience of the thousands of people they have helped, Andy and Ruari bring you unparalleled insight into how you can make your break from alcohol an empowering, life-changing experience.

Andy Ramage and Ruari Fairbairns started their website One Year No Beer to connect with like-minded people who no longer wanted to deal with the adverse effects of drinking alcohol. In The 28 Day Alcohol-Free Challenge Andy and Ruari share their extensive experience of going alcohol free, including having a great time at parties, resisting appeals from friends to 'just have the one', and, most importantly, how to make the most of the health benefits of going sober.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 27, 2017

Reviews

[Berit Lundqvist · Rating 2 out of 5]

Former British professional football/soccer player turns oil broker turns sobriety guru. What could possibly go wrong? A lot. At least from my point of view.

This is a guy who has created the booze equivalent to Weight Watchers, and he’s probably cashing in big time. Nothing wrong with that. But, this far too shallow, too polished, too enthusiastic, and too greedy.

I would have like more about the effects in the brain, more about psychology, and more about how to handle failures. This is a bloody cheer-leeding session.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is another excellent book on Alcohol Freedom. (The first book I read was The Alcohol Experiment by Annie Grace.)

What I enjoyed the most from this book: the many anecdotes of which I could relate. There were some hilarious stories in here!

The subjects of anxiety, mindfulness, and goal-setting were a few of the many positives that I gleaned a great deal!

Gosh, I cannot believe I am on day 54 Alcohol Free! And, as these books promote - I feel wonderful, again!

[Laura Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my least favourite book about going alcohol free. there are useful bits and I think if you were doing 4 weeks off the booze it would be useful but for anyone who wants to make a permanent change, I would suggest something else. I found it very much aimed at men and the pictures and lay out where very unappealing to me.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister and I read this in January and took part in the 28 day alcohol free challenge. It was a really good experience. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in exploring their relationship with alcohol. I like wine. I don't see it as a problem in my life (says everyone) but was curious what it would be like to live without a glass of wine for 28 days. The authors encourage you to quit for 90 days once you've completed the 28 days and I didn't take up that challenge but this book could change your relationship with alcohol. An interesting read during the pandemic when we hear that people are drinking more than ever.

[COLEEN DEVER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Great book to learn ways to ease into no alcohol and useful tools to face any situation including family and friend pressures to drink.

[Steve Cornish · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking to reconsider your relationship with alcohol and see what taking a break will do for you then I thoroughly recommend this book. it helps users on a day to day basis and has some great tips throughout. I used the book in conjunction with watching You Tube videos to really understand what alcohol is and what it does to your body. I've now not had an alcoholic drink for 33 days and whilst I'm not saying that I won't ever have a drink again, I'm also not going to get all preachy about it but would simply say, give 28 days a go and find a way that works for you (there are some great alcohol free drinks on the market now)

[Michael Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much like man vs fat, although perhaps from a genuine place, feels like it is aiming for the market that wouldn't go to Slimming World, has given up on the Men's Health perception but don't feel like AA is the next step. Its self-help...for LADS.
The tone of the book is very much aimed at 35+ family man (and its has a male focus) who wants to alter how much alcohol is embedded into daily life - for those of us which drinking is routine rather than habit.

It lays out the fundamentals of behaviour change - from recognising and acknowledge bad habits and their triggers, to strategies of initial avoidance and then the replacement of bad habits with good, healthy habits. the advice given could be used for any unhealthy habit .

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was asked to review by Nudge

firstly to say some of the reviews are a bot unfair, no the book does not go into the medical effects of drinking but we all know that cirrhosis of the liver, cancers etc can result in prolonged and a high intake of alcohol. What is more worrying is that drinking is the norm and on summers days this is blatantly obvious to children too who grow up thinking it is ok to drink to excess.


Right to the book - it set out well and the yellow pages really stand out, and I agree with the authors drinking even in moderation ( I am now not really sure what moderation is) does make you tired, grumpy, your annoying colleagues just get even more annoying and lately with stress at work I drink to help me sleep, which often has the opposite effect.

it is all about looking ay yourself and looking to other motivations, looking after your body we only get one. What I really like was the reference to Steve Peters book The Chimp Paradox, I am currently watching the Tour De France and fascinated by Team Sky.


there are interesting personal stories which the reader can relate to, loved the mocktails and resources are helpful

it is all about mindset, and will I be trying this? - yes when my new job starts in August even if it help me move to a different mindset. It doesn't have to start with a "dry" January it can start anytime.

[Iain · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's an okay book, I just didn't find it particularly inspiring. I have already stopped drinking alcohol, so I'm not really the target audience. I can see how it would benefit anybody who is thinking of stopping or having a break, though.

The audiobook is read by the authors and grated on me somewhat. Ramage's mispronunciations of words like "thought" as "fought" distracted from the message.

There is actually not very much about the effects of alcohol on health, but there is plenty of practical information on dealing with friends who want to drag you back into drinking, dealing with objections you might have yourself (but my friend's wedding is coming up) and making changes to fitness and diet.

This is probably a useful read if you want to have a break from drinking bur feel you might struggle. If you have already stopped, you are better off reading something about diet and exercise.

[Thanh97 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Một cuốn thú vị về tìm động lực vươn tới mục tiêu. Tác giả có vạch ra một lộ trình 28 ngày rõ ràng cho người đọc cùng hướng dẫn cụ thể để vượt qua 28 ngày đó với kết quả tốt nhất. Văn phong mình đánh giá là hài hước, gần gũi, làm quyển sách bớt khô khan hơn.

Tuy nhiên các ý trong sách bị lặp lại khá nhiều, và đôi chỗ hơi lan man, ảnh hưởng không nhỏ đến trải nghiệm đọc của mình.

Chung quy lại đây vẫn là một cuốn nên đọc, nhất là với những ai dễ nhụt chí trong mọi việc giống mình.

3 ⭐

[Justyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know what I was expecting from this read... I wasn't expecting much... but still I was disappointed with what this book gave me. I bought this book used at the library for $1 so I'm grateful it didn't drain my bank account. The best part of this book coming into my life, was the fact that it only cost me $1 for the disappointment it gave me. I own this book but I guarantee I will never open it again. I wish I could rate it as 0 stars. 2 thumbs down.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good motivational guide for drinking less.
My one issue with it is that it was written by two dudes, and clearly was for dudes with a collegiate drinking history, but whom had careers and families now. I would love to see a similar book whose focus is on women (or includes women's issues at all)--in their different times of life, after pregnancy, etc.

[Renee Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this challenge and loved the practices. Very simple and easy to apply process and guilt fucking free! I thoroughly enjoyed my time attempting to complete this challenge with this book as my daily support guide. I made it to Day 21 but I would take the challenge again and follow the process for fun! Would recommend to anyone who's sober curious or just wants a health reset.

[christopher nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As it says on the back of the book. It will change your life.

This book doesn't just cover the reasons why you should ditch the booze, it also talks about the psychology around stopping drinking.

As you read it you begin to wonder why you ever drank alcohol in the first place.

[Joe Court · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty Good

Good for someone beginning on the road to sobriety.
Could be a bit sterner on the reader.
Speaking more in depth about alcoholism and the damage it does to the families of people with alcohol problems.

[BLDinMT · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book I picked up for some Sober October reading. The book is about a lot more than not drinking though, I realized. It is about changing habits, in general, and the importance of goal-setting and self-reflection.

[Turquoise Brennan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Annie Grace's approach to AF challenge far surpasses this ... The entire book has not one picture of a person of color ... The suggestions they have clearly are not universal bc you can do none of them during a pandemic.... Made it 12 days with this book ...

[Chris Savant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down to earth, personable...feels you are sitting with them in a room them as they give you insightful guidance. Love Andy and Ruari! There are books about the science part...and though interesting they're often like reading a school book...this is personal.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found it useful for doing dry January , and yes I am going to try and drink less. Maybe I’ll do another booze free month towards the end of the year. If you have a serious drinking problem it’s not the book for you

[Artur Mydlarz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very shallow book, simple language, a lot of simple motivation... like you read motivational instagram for not very smart people...

No real root causes of the problem, bo real solutions... Marketing bs.

I think chatgpt would generate better content

[Palorossi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m fully onboard with not drinking for 28 days or more. As for the book, it was mostly a collection of others people’s ideas on wellbeing and happiness. I do not argue with the contents on a point by point basis , but it fell short of something tangible , or a solid “method” so to speak.

[Carys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helped encourage me to actually go ahead with trying dry January this year. Fingers crossed the tips will help me through this month!

[Bookishgamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great tool to assist with dry January! 👍🏻

[Caroline Croezen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this. Great tips for real life situations such as weddings and hens. Didn't come across as smug either like some others do. Well worth a read!

[Stephanie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very very beneficial. I truly enjoyed the road map, the stories of others who have taken the journey. And the practical tips.