Mother-of-two says quitting alcohol was the change that 'finally made her look young'

A 40-year-old mother and NHS business administrator from Devon says stopping binge drinking was the single lifestyle change that made her look and feel younger after years of turning to cosmetic treatments.

Sarah Mills, who has two children, told reporters she previously spent about £900 a year on Botox and thousands more on fillers and other aesthetic procedures while regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol. She said her drinking pattern included finishing at least three bottles of Prosecco each week and routinely marking the middle and end of the working week with heavy sessions she described as "wobbly Wednesday" and celebratory "Friday feeling" nights.

Mills said the turning point came on her 40th birthday, when an episode of particularly heavy drinking left her unable to function and triggered what she called "crippling anxiety." She recounted a series of embarrassing and dangerous incidents tied to her drinking, including walking into walls, exposing herself unintentionally, and injuring her nose after an incident involving a toilet bowl.

Following that experience, Mills decided to give up alcohol. She reported improvements in how she looked and felt, saying the change made her appear more youthful and reduced her reliance on cosmetic procedures. She described herself previously as "always having a drink in hand" and said the decision to quit followed a period of reflection about the impact of alcohol on her health and daily life.

Mills’ account reflects a growing number of personal testimonies that link reduced alcohol consumption with perceived improvements in skin and general wellbeing, though medical professionals recommend individualized assessment and care for alcohol use and its consequences. Public health guidance in the United Kingdom characterizes binge drinking as consuming large quantities of alcohol in a short period and warns of associated short- and long-term health risks.

In interviews, Mills said she did not stop drinking because of a single medical diagnosis but because the social and personal costs had accumulated. She now emphasizes the nonmedical benefits she experienced, including fewer hangovers, improved mood and confidence, and what she described as a younger appearance without relying solely on cosmetic treatments.

Her story underscores how lifestyle changes can prompt reassessments of personal health choices and spending priorities. Mills said she hopes sharing her experience will encourage others who are concerned about their relationship with alcohol to consider the broader effects it can have on appearance, mental health and everyday functioning.