For people who can enjoy alcohol in moderation, it can be an enjoyable way to unwind after a long day or celebrate a momentous event. For people who struggle with the concept of moderation, or who have addictive tendencies, alcohol can be life-threatening.
These celebrities discovered that they just aren't equipped to partake in mind-altering substances. Sobriety doesn't stop them from living full, amazing lives, though. In fact, sobriety contributes to their full and amazing lives.
Tom Cruise
At one point in time, Tom Cruise was known for his public outbursts. Thankfully, Tom decided to give sobriety a try. Now he's calm, cool, and collected— well, most of the time.
No matter what he does, Tom's life will forever be in the spotlight, so it's probably best for him to stay clean.
Dax Shepard
Dax Shepard is outspoken about his sobriety and his experience in Alcoholics Anonymous. He knows that anonymity is part of the AA process, but he's chosen to break his own anonymity to help others.
Dax isn't anti-alcohol or anti-drug, though. He thinks those substances are great for people who can handle them and his wife, actress Kristen Bell, has said that Dax is fine with her drinking or smoking around him.
Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes went to rehab in 2008 at Cirque Lodge in Utah. The actress and entrepreneur hasn't touched alcohol since then. Eva spoke about how proud she was of people who have the fearlessness and determination to face their demons and get better in an interview, calling the situation 'life or death'.
Obviously, rehab worked for Eva. She has also said that she practices Transcendental Meditation to help her manage stress and calm her mind.
Gillian Jacobs
Despite frequently being cast as a person who has a problem with drinking, Gillian Jacobs has never had an alcoholic beverage in her life. There's a history of addiction and alcohol abuse in her family, so Gillian decided to forgo mind-altering substances altogether.
She says she never feels like she wants a drink, and she can have plenty of fun without alcohol. Gillian describes herself as a "teetotaler" which is a term for people abstaining from alcohol, dating back to the 1800s.
Ben Affleck
Actor Ben Affleck first aimed to be sober in the '90s. His father was an alcoholic and he was aware of the risk that he'd become an alcoholic himself. When he recognized alcohol had become a problem in 2001, he completed a 30-day rehab program.
In 2017, he returned to rehab, but it didn't seem to stick. After his estranged wife, Jennifer Garner saw a photo taken of him receiving a box of alcohol from a delivery man, she staged an intervention. Affleck returned to rehab again in 2018 and has been sober since.
Eminem
Eminem used to rely on drugs and alcohol to give him a little extra confidence while he was performing. After he got sober in 2008, he had to readjust to performing without mind-altering substances. In 2018 the rapper celebrated ten years of sobriety before performing at Coachella.
Eminem has been open with his fans about attending Alcoholics Anonymous and posted a photo of his 10-year milestone coin. I guess sober Slim Shady is the real Slim Shady.
Kelly Osbourne
While Kelly Osbourne experimented with alcohol and substances as a teenager but has since given up all that stuff. She quit drinking because she hates the taste of alcohol, and she hates getting sick from alcohol even more.
In 2018, Kelly celebrated her one-year anniversary of being sober.
Keith Urban
While Keith Urban once enjoyed partying and drinking alcohol, he decided to give up that hectic lifestyle.
Urban said, "I had to make a decision which road I was going to take, once and for all. I'd been at that crossroads before and always taken the wrong road."
Edie Falco
Edie Falco struggled with alcohol early in her life, so she decided that the only way for her to move forward and grow as a person was to become sober. She said the Sopranos cast parties were always difficult for her:
"This cast in particular, they really love to hang out and party. They make it look like fun. And it was fun for me! They spend a lot more time without me than with me, by my own choice. I'm always invited, and I'm always there for two minutes and I leave, because I can't live in that world anymore. It's too dangerous."
Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe has been clean and sober for over twenty years. He's even called rehab "one of the most exhilarating, liberating and exciting four weeks of [his] life." In 2015, he celebrated 25-years of sobriety. and was awarded the Spirit of Sobriety award from the Brent Shapiro Foundation.
I don't know if being sober has anything to do with it, but Rob Lowe just doesn't age. It must have something to do with it. Otherwise, his face is just magic.
Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell had a real problem with alcohol prior to 2006. He said he was nervous about talking to people without alcohol in his system: "I worried I wouldn't be able to talk, full stop. I hadn't uttered a word sober in about 15 years."
In December 2005 he entered rehab. In 2018, Colin returned to rehab, reportedly as a "preventative measure."
Al Pacino
A lot of people consider Al Pacino the best living actor in the world. I wonder if his sobriety has anything to do with his acting prowess? Pacino hasn't touched alcohol since 1977.
In a 2010 interview with Larry King, he said, "All I can say is I'm never sober. I don't want to be sober. I just don't drink." When King asked, "How did you defeat alcoholism?" Pacino said, "Well, I didn't defeat it. One doesn't look at it that way."
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman really is as nice as she looks. Her good girl brand really does hold up when you start digging into her backstory. Nowadays, she doesn't drink at all.
Natalie has said that she's worried about young people growing up in a time when all of their drunken mistakes can be recorded and shared on social media. It might come back to haunt you later in life.
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey, Jr. had an unconventional childhood. He was introduced to substances and alcohol at a very early age. His father, filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., often used substances around him. In July 2003, Robert got clean, but it wasn't easy.
Along with the tremendous support of his wife, Robert committed to 12-step programs, therapy, meditation, and yoga to keep him clean and sober. He had a stint in prison but was officially pardoned by Governor Jerry Brown in 2015.