Why These Surprising A-List Stars Secretly Ditched Alcohol—And What Happened Next

If you’ve ever woken up at 2 a.m. after “just one more drink” wondering if maybe, just maybe, it’s time to give your liver a break—well, trust me, you’re in good company . Ever notice how in Hollywood, where cocktails flow like Oscar speeches and the afterparties never end, there’s a quiet trend brewing? Lately, some of the biggest names on the marquee are trading gin-and-tonics for green smoothies and sobriety chips . Now, before you sigh and think, “Here come the lectures,” let’s pause—because honestly, who among us hasn’t flirted with the blurry edge between a fun night out and waking up with a new existential crisis? This roundup is your overdue permission slip to ask: if Daniel Radcliffe can defeat a Dark Lord and his own tequila demons, and Tom Hardy can stay tougher than vodka for two decades, then what’s stopping the rest of us? Whether you’re just sober-curious or straight-up tired of those morning-after regrets, these celebrities prove that life post-booze isn’t just possible—it can be pretty remarkable (and sometimes seriously amusing) . So, ready to swap hangovers for high-fives from your future self? Dive in and get inspired by the stars who’ve left the bar behind—for good … LEARN MORE

Here are some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry who’ve made the decision to ditch the booze for good.

Let’s be honest, most of us enjoy a cheeky tipple, meaning it can sometimes be hard to tell where the line is between having the occasional heavy night and overdoing it too often.

But have you found yourself thinking about saying goodbye to the beers, gin and tonics or cocktails for an extended period of time – or even completely – and find yourself needing a little motivation?

Well, here is a roundup of celebrities who’ve spoken publicly about how ditching drugs and alcohol has improved their lives.

Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy has been sober since 2003 (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Venom actor Tom Hardy previously revealed that he’s been sober since 2003, after following a 12-step rehabilitation program at age 25 to help his struggles with addiction.

The 47-year-old has since been alcohol-free for over 20 years and has spoken openly about his decision to quit drinking, telling The Mirror back in 2017: “If I had four pints of lager and half a bottle of vodka I could turn this room into an absolute f**king nightmare in about three minutes. I could destroy everything in my life I have worked so hard for.”

Hardy also admitted to suffering blackouts on heavy nights, recalling one incident where he woke up ‘in a bed in Los Angeles’ with a gun. “I woke up in a bed with a dude with a gun, naked. With a cat, as well. I don’t remember the cat, or the dude. The safety was off, that was the scary thing,” he said.

Eminem

Eminem has spoken about his sobriety before in his music (Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)

The rapper – real name Marshall Mathers – would narrowly escape death after overdosing in December 2007, an incident which gave him a wake-up call about his relationship with drugs and alcohol. He entered rehab the following year, becoming fully sober on 20 April, 2008 — celebrating his 16 year milestone with fans on Instagram last year.

Mathers has rapped numerous times about his relationship with alcohol, drugs and his path to sobriety over the years, most recently in his song ‘Somebody Save Me’ where he imagines what life would’ve been like for his children if he’d died from an overdose.

Daniel Radcliffe

The Harry Potter star is alcohol free (John Lamparski/Getty Images)

As the titular star of the Harry Potter franchise, Daniel Radcliffe revealed that he would turn to alcohol as a method to deal with his fame. “In my case, the quickest way to forget about the fact that you’re being watched is to get very drunk,” he told Off Camera in 2019.

“And then as you get very drunk, you become aware that ‘Oh, people are watching more now because now I’m getting very drunk, so I should probably drink more to ignore that more’.”

Radcliffe went on to reveal that he’d been sober for three years during a 2016 interview with The Telegraph, telling the outlet: “I change when I’m drunk. I’m one of those people who changes.

“There is something in any person who drinks in a way that’s clearly not good for them.”

Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper went sober in 2005 (Anna Webber/Variety via Getty Images)

The Hangover star Bradley Cooper has been sober since 2005, with the actor deciding to get clean after battling issues with alcohol and painkillers.

Speaking about his struggles with addiction during a 2013 interview with GQ, Cooper said he’s ‘been very lucky’ to have been sober for two decades.

“If I continued it, I was really going to sabotage my whole life,” he added.

Demi Lovato

Singer and ex-Disney star Demi Lovato has been candid about her struggles with alcohol and drugs (Presley Ann/Getty Images for Tryst Hotels)

Actor and pop singer Demi Lovato has faced a high-profile battle with alcohol and substance abuse, revealing her decision to go sober in 2012.

In 2018 the ‘Cool for the Summer’ singer suffered a relapse and was hospitalised after a drug overdose which left her ‘minutes from death’. She would briefly identify as ‘California sober’, which involves smoking and drinking in moderation, before telling followers on Instagram in 2021 that ‘sober sober is the only way to be’.

Tom Holland

Tom Holland now has his own alcohol-free beer brand ( Euan Cherry/Getty Images for University of St Andrews)

Spiderman star Tom Holland has spoken numerous times about his decision to ditch the booze after completing Dry January back in 2022.

Speaking about how his life has changed since during a 2024 interview with athlete Rich Roll on his podcast, Holland explained that he’d been drinking in order to ”fit into the LA world’.

“I used to go to these parties and be like ‘I can’t speak to someone until I’m drunk’,” he said.

“And now that I’ve kicked that and I’ve found replacements that make me feel like I’m part of the process without sacrificing my morning… my next few days, has been so liberating.”

Holland has since launched his own alcohol-free beer brand named BERO.

Samuel L Jackson

Marvel’s Samuel L Jackson became sober in 1991 (Unique Nicole/Getty Images)

Hollywood veteran and Pulp Fiction star Samuel L Jackson has been sober since 1991 after his wife and eight-year-old daughter found him on the floor of the kitchen.

Explaining how he believes sobriety made him a better actor in an interview with I Am Sober, the 76-year-old said: “My success directly correlates to me getting straight and me getting in touch with who I am and understanding what my talents were and how to tap into them in a positive way and not that negative way that I used to.”

Zac Efron

Zac Efron has embraced an alcohol-free lifestyle (Disney/Randy Holmes)

High School Musical actor Zac Efron made the decision to go sober after entering rehab in 2013 for treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.

Talking about how sobriety had overhauled his life a year later, he told Elle: “What I found is structure. That led me to a balance of opposites: You get out of life what you put in.”