The world of sobriety has changed so much in the last decade. While it used to be the case that Alcoholics Anonymous or rehab were about the only options for anyone who wanted to change their relationship with alcohol, it is now possible to cut down or quit drinking with the help of the large number of experts and influencers who share their advice and tactics online.
On top of this, there are numerous online groups and communities that allow people who want to quit drinking to feel a real sense of being part of something bigger and enable them to connect with other people on the same journey.
There are some incredibly inspiring influencers who are helping thousands of people make a positive change. They work trielsly spreading the message about an alcohol-free lifestyle and helping people quit drinking. Many of these influencers reach people through social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, all of which have become powerful tools to help anyone who wants to quit drinking.
Below are the biggest sober influencers in 2020 – in no particular order:
Annie Grace – This Naked Mind
Annie has been a huge influence on my own journey to freedom from alcohol and I am lucky enough to work with her these days as a senior alcohol coach for This Naked Mind. She has been a true inspiration to me personally and a wonderful friend, she has provided me with so much support and encouragement, especially when I was writing my first book. Annie was even kind enough to write the foreword and it was an honour to have her words in the opening chapter.
Annie has released two books This Naked Mind and The Alcohol Experiment, both of which were bestsellers and have helped thousands of people make a lasting change. A third book is coming soon and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Annie also hosts and speaks at live events and has large followings on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
The This Naked Mind podcast has become a firm favourite with listeners around the world and I was honoured to recently appear on one of the episodes.
On top of all this, Annie runs a number of incredible online programmes for people who want to quit drinking, find out more at www.thealcoholexperiment.com
Kate & Mandy – Love Sober
I have followed Kate and Mandy from Love Sober since I quit drinking. They produce an awesome podcast that provides brilliant real-world tips and tactics to help anyone who wants to quit drinking. In addition, they have regular special guests to provide a different perspective on living an alcohol-free life. I have been lucky enough to appear on the Love Sober podcast, you can listen right here.
They also feature on the Sober Sessions live panel and I feel honoured to work alongside them and hear the wonderful insights they share about quitting drinking, mental health, sober parenting and a whole lot more.
Kate and Mandy also speak at live events and have a big following on Instagram and Facebook.
Russell Brand – Public Figure
Russell Brand turned his life around when he quit drugs and alcohol 2002. Since that time he has gone on to become a globally recognised public figure, appearing on TV, radio, in movies and on stage. I have been lucky enough to see Russell live stage on a couple of occasions and I don’t think I know anyone with such a huge vocabulary or the same level of wit and intelligence.
More recently Russell has been focusing on the wider picture of living a peaceful and happy life and provides some incredible thoughts and insights on his YouTube channel.
He has also released a number of excellent books focusing on addiction.
With almost two-million followers on Instagram, Russell is a huge name in the sober-world that you should keep your eye on.
Holly Whitaker – Hip Sobriety
Like many sober-influencers Holly Whitaker has been on her own journey to finding freedom from alcohol. She tells her story with the power of her own experience.
Through her website and social media posts Holly provides a wealth of resources, tools and educational information to help people quit drinking using the same roadmap that worked for her.
Holly is also the author of the bestselling Quit Like a Woman and she also produces the HOME podcast and runs the online Sobriety School.
With almost 90,000 Instagram followers, Holly is an influencer well worth checking out.
Carly Benson – Miracles are Brewing
Carly Benson is a sober-influencer superstar with almost 20,000 followers on Instagram. Carly is also a coach for This Naked Mind , she speaks at live events, writes and provides people with all the tools and tactics they need to quit drinking.
Carly is also a yoga teacher and understands how leading a life of peace and calm impacts on relationships with alcohol.
I was honoured to share the stage with Carly at This Naked Mind Live, you can watch my talk here.
Sober Dave – Instagram Influencer
Sober Dave quit drinking in January 2019 and since that time he has become one of the big influencers on Instagram.
Dave shares his journey through his real-world Instagram posts and stories, giving his followers a glimpse into his life and the joy of sober-living.
With over 10,000 followers Sober Dave has become a huge part of the sober-sphere and I love following his journey on social media.
Millie Gooch – Sober Girl Society
Millie Gooch is another social media superstar with a huge following. She has over 75,000 Instagram followers who she keeps engaged with inspirational and thought provoking content.
Millie has led the way when it comes to connecting with millennials who are re-evaluating how alcohol features in their lives and I really enjoy following her work.
Kelly Fitzgerald-Junco – Social Media Influencer & Recovery Coach
Kelly is a true inspiration and has helped people around the world quit drinking through the work she does on her blog and with This Naked Mind.
6 years ago, Kelly became sick and tired of how alcohol was controlling her life. She was the fun-loving, popular, social party girl who had a ton of friends and thought she was living every moment like it was her last. But what many people didn’t know is how dark she felt inside. It was time to make a change.
Since then Kelly has successfully quit drinking and gone on to become a sober-influencer and a recovery coach with a thriving Instagram community and a brilliant website packed with helpful information and resources.
Kelly also works with This Naked Mind and I was honoured to speak on the same stage as her at This Naked Mind Live in Denver. Kelly – you ROCK SOBRIETY!
Lee AKA The Gay Sober – Social Media Influencer
Lee has been sober for almost two years at the time of writing and found accountability and support on Instagram. Since then he has gone on to become a bit of a sober-legend and inspires thousands of people with his motivational and quite frankly hilarious posts on social media.
I was honoured to have the opportunity to speak to Lee live on a Friday Q&A session recently in my Facebook group, he has also appeared on The Sober Sessions panel talk as a guest, on both occasions he almost made me spit out my tea as I was laughing so hard and some of the brilliant analogies he came out with.
Lee really does take the serious out of sobriety at the same time as helping people understand that something wonderful is on the other side of alcohol addiction.
Alex & Lisa – The Sober Experiment – Quit Drinking Coaches & Social Media Influencers
Alex & Lisa both grew up around pubs and went on to become the best of drinking buddies before realising alcohol was starting to run the show. They both changed their lives when they quit alcohol and these days they are proudly sober and do all the can to spread the word about the joy of living alcohol-free.
I have appeared on numerous podcasts and live videos with Alex and Lisa, they are simply wonderful and I feel honoured to count them among my sober BFFs.
If you haven’t checked out their wonderful podcast make sure you have a listen, the link is below.
Alex and Lisa spend their time running their social media channels and website as well as running face to face quit alcohol workshops to help inspire people to make a lasting change.
These girls love sobriety, they are so much fun and radiate positive energy by the bucket-load!
Laura Willougby MBE – Club Soda
Laura Willoughy MBE is the co-founder of Club Soda, a mindful drinking movement for people who want to cut down or quit drinking altogether.
Laura has worked tirelessly to change the culture around drinking and her work has brought about real change.
Through Club Soda Laura has hosted The Mindful Drinking Festival and appeared on national TV and radio, she has also just released her first book – How to be a Mindful Drinker.
I met Laura when we were both speaking at This Naked Mind Live in Denver and she fast became a super sober-friend.
If you are thinking of making a change to the way alcohol features in your life, make sure you check out Club Soda.
Laura McKeown – Author and Social Media Influencer
Laura is the author of We Are The Luckiest – The surprising magic of a sober life. She also produces the Spiritualish podcast and appears at live events.
Through her website Laura provides online courses that are designed for anyone who wants to quit drinking.
With over 50,000 Instagram followers, Laura is a sober-influencer worth connecting with,
Simon Chapple – Sobriety Coach, Author & Speaker
Yes, that’s me! I feel so privileged to find myself in a place where people find inspiration and real-world support from my own journey with alcohol.
I certainly didn’t ever set out to become a sober ‘influencer’, but my work to spread the word about sobriety has resulted in appearances on national TV, radio interviews and coverage in the national newspapers. You can read more about it here.
I have also spoken at live events, including This Naked Mind Live and the Club Soda Mindful Drinking Festival. My Be Sober Facebook group currently has over 10,000 members and I recently released my first book – The Sober Survival Guide. You can get the first 10 chapters free on the home page of this website.
I also run a YouTube quit drinking channel with two new videos every week, I share tactics to help people quit drinking on their own, as well as writing blog posts and sharing stories from the people I connect with on my own journey.
All of this just from putting down the wine bottle!
