Well Enough

Millie Mackintosh Shares Sobriety Journey With Alcohol Expert Professor David Nutt

Well Enough

Show Notes

Millie Mackintosh hit our TV screens in the early 2010s on reality show Made In Chelsea. Since then, she’s made the life changing decision to quit drinking. Now, she loves her sober lifestyle and supports a huge sober curious community online.

In this emotional episode, she shares her alcohol free journey with world-leading authority on alcohol and drug science, Professor David Nutt. Together, they discuss the normalization of binge drinking culture, why Gen Z is rejecting alcohol and bust a common myth about tequila.

You’ll hear strategies from Millie’s book ‘Bad Drunk’ - which she co-wrote with NHS GP Dr Ellie Cannon - charting her sober journey and documenting the profound mental and physical health benefits she experienced by quitting booze. Professor David Nutt will help you make informed decisions about your own alcohol consumption with an evidence-based look at how alcohol affects the body and brain.

More from Well Enough: Follow Well Enough on Instagram here Follow Emilie on Instagram here Subscribe to the Well Enough newsletter here

Timecodes 00:00 Millie Mackintosh: My Life-Changing Decision to Quit Drinking 01:07 The Normalization of Binge Drinking Culture 02:12 Why We Drink: Alcohol as a Social Lubricant 03:30 The Stigma of the "Problem Drinker" 04:30 Understanding Shame and Dependency 05:15 Does Tequila *Actually* Make You Happy? 06:15 Why Gen Z is Rejecting Alcohol 07:22 The Immediate Benefits: Weight Loss and Clarity 09:20 Natural Dopamine Hits 10:35 Why Non-Alcoholic Wine Often Fails 11:30 The Science of "Functional" Alcohol Alternatives 14:35 How to Quit Alcohol 16:20 Navigating Pubs When You Don't Drink 19:00 Handling Peer Pressure and Social Cues 20:25 Losing Friends When You Get Sober 21:40 How to Tell If You Are Drinking Too Much 23:15 Helping a Friend: How to Talk About Drinking 25:40 Alcohol and Cancer Risk 26:45 Is Any Amount of Alcohol Safe? 28:05 The True Economic Cost of Hangovers 33:50 Advice for Partners 38:00 Sobriety and Parenting

More from today’s guests: Millie Mackintosh’s book ‘Bad Drunk’ here David’s book ‘Drink?: The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health’ here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from Well Enough

Jun 24, 2026

What if the life you thought you wanted was never really yours to begin with?

Jun 17, 2026

For decades, women have been sold the idea that exercise is about shrinking themselves — flattening stomachs, toning arms, and chasing the elusive “beach body.” But personal trainer and author Elizabeth Davies thinks it’s time for a rethink.

Jun 10, 2026

Comedian, presenter and Off Menu co-host Ed Gamble has spent more than 25 years living with Type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed at just 13 years old, he describes managing the condition as "like having another job" - a constant balancing act of food, insulin, exercise, stress and everyday life. In this episode, Ed opens up about growing up as a self-described "fat kid", the complicated relationship with food that inspired his memoir Glutton, and how living with a chronic condition has shaped his understanding of health, control and wellbeing. We discuss the mental load of diabetes management, male body image, perfectionism, social media wellness trends, and why trying to optimise every aspect of your life can sometimes make you feel worse, not better.

May 20, 2026

Elite marathon runner Anya Culling's story will inspire you but maybe not in the way you expect. She shaved nearly two hours off her marathon time and now competes at the highest level, representing her country.

May 13, 2026

This week, clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and content creator Dr. Julie Smith joins us to dismantle the myth of constant happiness and offer practical tools for navigating life's inevitable storms.

See all episodes →