The trap of binge drinking

I’m Thomas. I’m 29 and work for a large company in Levallois-Perret. A few years ago, I was convinced that alcohol was just a way to unwind, to fit in socially. After-work drinks were a chance to let off steam—a break from responsibilities. But what was meant to be occasional turned into something of a ritual. And without even realising it, every night out became a race to get wasted, where the goal was simply to drink more and more.

I thought I was in control

The problem with binge drinking is that you always think you’re in control. For me, as long as I wasn’t drinking during the week or alone, I didn’t have a problem. The heavy drinking was reserved for weekends—or sometimes after-work drinks. So, I told myself it was fine, that I wasn’t a 'real' alcoholic. I didn’t drink every day, so there was nothing to worry about, right? I didn’t realise how caught up in a downward spiral I already was. Evenings always started the same way: one or two drinks to unwind, to get in the mood. Then, before I knew it, the drinks were piling up at a crazy pace. It was almost as if the alcohol wasn’t affecting me at all... until suddenly, it hit me all at once. I’d go from being the cool, sociable guy to the one who couldn’t remember the end of the night, who sent stupid texts or got into ridiculous situations. The worst part was that I thought it was normal.

The first warning signs: physical and mental

After a while, my body started sounding the alarm. At first, it was just rough mornings after, brutal hangovers that I’d somehow manage to get through. But gradually, it became more frequent and more intense. Sometimes the hangovers would last the whole weekend; I just couldn’t bounce back anymore. I had memory lapses, I’d lose my things, and I became irritable—even aggressive at times. And yet, I kept going. Because you always tell yourself it’ll be better next time, that you’ll handle it better. I wasn’t myself anymore. I could feel it. I was more tired, and my work performance was suffering. It wasn’t obvious at first— just little dips in energy, trouble concentrating. But the cumulative effect of my excesses was finally catching up with me. I was finding it increasingly hard to handle stress. Alcohol, which was supposed to be an escape, was actually creating even more problems for me.

When binge drinking affects work

The turning point came one morning like any other. I woke up with a pounding head, unable to remember what had happened the night before. I had snatches of memory, but nothing coherent. As usual, I had a strong coffee and headed to work, my head in a fog. I was late. Again. That was the day my boss called me into his office. He looked me straight in the eye and told me that my performance had slipped and that my lateness was becoming a problem. I didn't know where to look. I knew things weren't right, but hearing those words hit me like a punch in the gut. My job meant everything to me. I had built my life around it, and now I was at risk of losing it all because of my excesses. That day, I realised the gravity of the situation. Alcohol was no longer just a way to have fun; it was destroying everything.

The path to realisation

From that moment on, I decided things had to change. I couldn’t go on like that anymore. I had too much to lose. But it was easier said than done. I told myself I could just quit overnight—that I’d be fine—but in reality, it was far more complicated. I stepped away from the party scene and tried saying no whenever I was offered a drink. It was hard. Very hard. Especially at the beginning. The hardest part was realising just how deeply alcohol was woven into my social life. Turning down a drink felt like refusing to be part of the group. But I had to stick to my decision. I took the time to refocus and rediscover myself. I started looking for other ways to manage stress and other ways to have fun without needing to drink to excess. It wasn’t an easy path, but every bit of progress made me feel a little freer.