'I watched England in a packed pub sober and I didn’t feel like I was missing out'

For many football fans, watching England in a packed pub and drinking go hand in hand.

But for Matt Guest, who is approaching five years sober, Saturday night’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway was a reminder of how much his relationship with big sporting occasions has changed.

Matt, from Bromsgrove, went to the pub with friends several hours before kick-off to secure a table and soak up the atmosphere. He said: “I’ve always loved watching England and, in the past, a big tournament match would automatically have meant a prolonged drinking session.

“The pub was packed, everyone was excited and the atmosphere was brilliant. Years ago, I couldn’t have imagined being in that environment completely sober.”

Matt is sharing his top tips to inspire others who may be looking to reduce their alcohol intake.

For Matt, alcohol-free beer has made social occasions easier. He said: “I think people sometimes imagine giving up alcohol means sitting in a pub drinking tap water all night.

“There are so many good alcohol-free options now. We no longer have to rely on only Becks Blue. For me, having a cold alcohol-free beer still gives me that ritual of having a drink with my mates and watching the football.

“You have to find what works for you. Some people avoid pubs completely, particularly in the early days. I’ve found I can still really enjoy them.”

As the night went on, Matt began to notice the evening differently .He said: “You see people getting progressively more drunk. Some were struggling to stay awake and others had probably reached a point where they weren’t really taking the game in anymore. I’m not judging anyone because I was that person for years.

“It just made me reflect on what I was actually there for. I was there to watch England and spend time with my friends. I could still do both of those things sober.” Matt said focusing on the occasion itself, rather than what he was not drinking, had helped change his mindset.

“You aren’t giving up the football, the pub, your friends or the celebrations. You’re just changing what’s in your glass.”

Matt said one of his biggest motivations for remaining sober is remembering that drinking often affected far more than one evening. He said: “I woke up fresh on Sunday and hadn’t written off my day. That’s probably one of my biggest tips. When you’re tempted to drink, don’t just think about the next few hours. Think about tomorrow as well.”

Matt said being sober did not take away from the drama of the match. He said: “I still felt all the nerves. I still celebrated the goals and enjoyed being there with my friends. I didn’t feel like I was missing out. If anything, I felt more part of it because I actually experienced the whole night and I’ll remember it.”

His advice to people trying to drink less is to question whether alcohol is really adding what they think it is. He added that he does not want his experience to sound like a criticism of people who choose to drink.

He said: “I’m not anti-alcohol and I’m certainly not judging my friends or anyone else in the pub. It was just one of those moments where I looked around and realised I was genuinely happy to be sober. I used to think giving up alcohol meant giving up nights like that. Nearly five years on, I’ve realised I still get the night – I just get the next morning as well.”

Lisa McNally, Director of Public Health at Worcestershire County Council, said: "Major sporting events like the World Cup can be a great opportunity to bring people together, but they can also encourage us to drink more than we realise.

“Taking a break from alcohol, or simply cutting back, can improve your sleep, boost your mood and energy levels, and have lasting benefits for your physical and mental health. Small changes can make a big difference, and support is available for anyone who wants to review their drinking habits."