Your complete guide to online peer support
If you’re looking for online peer support that explores anything from sobriety to how to reduce your drinking or stay on track, there are several online resources and communities available.
Online peer support can allow you to engage with like-minded people who have shared experiences. From Instagram influencers to supportive online communities and subject experts, and can include thought-provoking articles to insightful podcasts. Here are just a few of them.
Influencers
Millie Gooch – Sober Girl Society founder
As founder of The Sober Girl Society and author of the ‘The Sober Girl Society Handbook’, Millie is one of the leading voices for the sobriety movement in the UK. You can find out more about The Sober Girls Society as an organisation below, she also posts regularly on her journey and relationship with alcohol.
Simon Chapple – The Quit Alcohol Coach
Simon Chapple is author of ‘The Sober Survivor Guide’ and ‘How to Quit alcohol in 50 Days’. He also runs the Be Sober Facebook group and runs programmes and workshops.
Annie Grace – This Naked Mind
Author of ‘The Naked Mind’, and ‘The Alcohol Experiment’, Annie Grace is a well-known name in the sobriety sphere. Annie runs a blog, podcasts and programmes for controlling your drinking via her website, This Naked Mind. She’s also active across several different social media channels.
This Naked Mind
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Sober Dave
Coach and motivational speaker, David Wilson ‘Sober Dave’ runs a podcast, ‘One for the Road’, where he chats to different guests who have changed their relationship with alcohol. With a huge amount of informative content on Instagram and Facebook.
One for the Road podcast
Facebook
Instagram
Laurie McAllister – Girl and Tonic
Laurie McAllister is a sobriety advocate, writer and yoga teacher. You can follow Laurie’s five-year sobriety journey on her blog. She also has a weekly ‘pep talk’ email you can sign up to. Don’t miss our latest guest blog with Girl and Tonic.
Girl and Tonic
Facebook
Instagram
Your Sober Pal – Laura
If TikTok is your social media of choice, ‘Your Sober Pal’, Laura might be one to follow with her honest and humorous take on giving up alcohol appealing to her followers.
Podcasts
BBC Hooked
Presenters Melissa Rice and Jade Wye debunk the stereotype of addicts and guide you through the highs and lows of alcohol addiction and recovery.
Bubble Hour
A weekly podcast hosted by recovery author and blogger Jean McCarthy, featuring real people and real stories, with real hope.
Janey Lee Grace – Alcohol free life
Presenter and author of ‘Happy Healthy Sober’ and founder of ‘The Sober Club’, Janey Lee Grace has a regular podcast covering everything from alcohol and mental health to mocktails and includes tips and motivational advice.
Organisations
Alcohol Change
This UK alcohol charity offers a wide range of informative content on alcohol harm and behaviour, from tips and useful advice to blogs.
Club Soda
Aimed at helping people drink more mindfully, Club Soda hosts a range of events, discussions and blogs for people looking to change the way they drink. They also have an online community and run a regular podcast, covering everything from managing stress to meditation and mindful drinking.
SMART Recovery
This charity offers free online weekly meetings and training programmes, aimed at helping to teach self-empowering skills. It covers all types of addiction, including alcohol. SMART Recovery online meetings are held on Zoom (cameras optional). There are additional meetings for families and friends, as well as specific women’s only and LGBTQ+ meetings.
SMART Recovery
SMART recovery online meetings
Sober Black Girls Club
Founder Khadi Olagoke set up Sober Black Girls Club during the COVID-19 pandemic, after seeing the lack of support on offer during this difficult time. It has an international following of Black women considering sobriety, the club offers a wide range of online resources via its website, including virtual meetings and podcasts.
Sober Black Girls Club
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
One Year No Beer (OYNB)
As well as providing programmes to support with stopping drinking, online community One Year No Beer runs both a blog and a podcast, with plenty of stories and content to inspire you to reduce or stop drinking. Don’t miss our latest guest blog with OYNB.
Sober Girl Society
The Sober Girls Society promotes itself as a ‘sisterly safe space for sober and sober curious women who are changing their relationship with alcohol.’ Run by founder, Millie Gooch, it’s one of the largest communities for sober women around the world and holds face-to-face events and virtual meetups. The group has a number of online resources, including a community blog. You can connect with the Sober Girls Society community through Instagram.
Sober Girl Society
Instagram
Facebook
Recovery Elevator
The Recovery Elevator community brings together like-minded individuals who are seeking a better life without alcohol. Based in the US but with an international following, Recovery Elevator offers a freely available blog and podcast via their website. You can also subscribe to join Café RE and have access to an exclusive non-searchable Facebook group, online discussions and virtual hangouts.
LGBTQ+
Queers Without Beers
Predominantly set up to organise ‘real life’ social events for LGBTQ+ people that don’t revolve around alcohol, Queers without Beers has a large online following. You can chat to members through the Facebook community group before deciding if you’d like to attend the socials.
Queers Without Beers
Twitter
Instagram
The Gay Sober
Lee Mengo – otherwise known as The Gay Sober, is a keen sobriety advocate, sharing insights and musings on Instagram.
Finlay Games – ‘Finn the Infinncible’
Sober for over ten years, Finn shares his journey as a transgender man and recovering alcoholic via his various social channels.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Allie K Campbell (formerly Young, Dumb and Sober)
Allie K Campbell creates entertaining and educational content describing living sober with ADHD as someone who identifies as queer. You can access Allie’s content through the channels below.
The Sober Gay
This podcast channel features friends Dillan and Aubrey who talk about their sober lives, with an insight into the world of sobriety in the LGBTQ+ community.
Bethany Stevens
Describing herself as a disabled, queer, sexpert, Bethany has been in recovery for over two years. Bethany posts on Instagram and runs a virtual meeting called Disabled & Sober. You can also access the Sober Company podcast episode that features Bethany below.
Get professional help if needed
You might find that online resources help to motivate or support you in your journey to cutting down or giving up alcohol as a lifestyle choice. But it may not be right for everyone. If you’re signing up to online services or courses, it’s really important to check the qualifications and experience of the people delivering the content.
It’s also important to recognise when you may need to get professional help. This may involve talking to a health professional at your local GP surgery, contacting a local treatment provider or accessing local community alcohol support services.
If you are struggling with your drinking, talk to a helpline or alcohol support service, you can find these listed in our Alcohol Support Services section.
Get in touch
Has online peer support helped you? We’d love to hear from you. Perhaps you know a website, online support group or podcast that should be featured on this list? Email us contact@drinkaware.co.uk
Please note that any third-party content on the Drinkaware website is intended for general information and non-commercial purposes only. Any links to third party websites are provided solely as a convenience to you and not as an endorsement by Drinkaware of the contents or accuracy of materials on such third-party websites. Always consult a suitably qualified medical professional in a timely manner before undertaking any medical-related decisions.
Alcohol support services
If you are concerned that you or someone you care about has a problem with alcohol there is help available. Here you can find useful links and phone numbers to get the support you need.
Get support
Further advice and information
Arming yourself with strategies and tips can help you or a loved one take small steps towards big results.
Last Reviewed: 12th April 2022
Next Review due: 12th April 2024