Welsh actor Sir Anthony Hopkins celebrated 50 years of sobriety just two days before his 88th birthday.
The two-time Oscar winner took to his social profiles to share his major milestone and offer well-wishes for the new year.
Anthony first quit drinking alcohol after an incident on 29 December 1975.
“My only problem was I was having too good a time, because 50 years ago today I was nearly killed. I [drove] my car in a drunken blackout. That’s the way it was,” he shrugged to the camera.
“I realised at that point that I was having too much fun. It was called alcoholism,” said Anthony in his video. Not wanting to be a “killjoy,” but also advising caution to others.
“So, anyone out there who’s got a little problem with having too much, check it out, because life is much better. Without being a killjoy, I just wish you well, choose life instead of…the opposite. Life, life, life, and more life!”
He continued by sharing that his birthday was in a couple of days time.
“I’m also going to be 88 in two days, so maybe I did something right, I don’t know,” he laughed to himself in the video.
He also congratulated those who are also choosing to be sober and reminded them to take it “one day at a time.”
He is not the only high-profile actor to lead a sober lifestyle. Anne Hathaway revealed in an interview with Vanity Fair that she had decided to give up alcohol.
“My personal experience with it is that everything is better. For me, it was wallowing fuel. And I don’t like to wallow.”
Zendaya and her fiancé, Spiderman actor Tom Holland, are also alcohol free. When Zendaya turned the legal drinking age of 21 in the US, she shared that she had decided not start drinking. Tom, on the other hand, came to realise he had an issue with alcohol and has since opted out. In fact, he’s also launched an alcohol-free beer, BERO, since making the lifestyle swap.
Sir Elton John also ditched alcohol and drugs and now celebrates his sober birthday every year.
Australian model Elle MacPherson celebrated 20 years of sobriety in 2025. Tom Hardy has also been sober since his twenties, as has fellow actor Daniel Radcliffe. Irish actor Colin Farrell also went sober.
And it’s not just celebrities. According to industry reports, no and low-alcoholic (NoLo) drinks are continuing to rise as more and more people embrace a liquor-free lifestyle.
Treasury Wine Estates and The Australian Wine Institute released a report in November 2025 detailing that NoLo is the “fastest-growing segment across our stores.”
“NoLo is the fastest growing beer category in Australia, now exceeding light beer in volume and retail value. The release of Coopers Zero responds to changing lifestyle trends with exclusive Coopers research showing younger Australians (aged 18-44) are twice as likely to consume NoLo beverages compared to those aged 45+.”
If you’re inspired by Sir Anthony Hopkins or are simply “sober-curious,” keep reading here:
