Straight from the pen: Marjolein

At the moment I write this I am in the swimming pool of a holiday park. It's spring break and I'm celebrating my first alcohol-free vacation since I was 15.

I drank my first beer at my parents' table. Wednesday evening, we ate macaroni and they drank a beer with it. I felt a lot when I was allowed to participate for the first time. Since then, a lot of moments have arisen where alcohol is just part of it. Habits that have become so ingrained that I haven't thought about them in years.

Well, that's not quite true. I sometimes noticed in restaurants that there are also people who drink a soft drink with their meal. I did have an opinion about this; how very uncomfortable! It's slowly dawning on me now: I drink out of habit, but also out of fear of not having a good time.

So now I have been celebrating an alcohol-free holiday with my family for three days. Something I never thought possible. After all, a holiday is mainly a series of pleasant moments, where alcohol is simply part of it. But I have to admit that without alcohol it is not that much more unsociable.

The big advantage is that I feel a lot more energetic and have a lot more patience. For the first time I really feel like diving in the water with the kids, playing games and reading endless stories. I had hoped that I would suddenly sleep like a baby in strange beds, but that turned out to be a bit too ambitious.

During the fitting period in January, I didn't really have to put myself to the test. This vacation was my first big challenge. But it turns out to be okay! It's not that hard at all to break the drinking habit. It takes some getting used to to choose tea instead of wine. But it gives me a more active and intensive holiday. I can imagine doing the same thing again this summer.