Alcohol vs. Success: 5 Powerful Ways to Reclaim Your Life

Guest: Ruari Fairbairns
WHY.os: Contribute – Simplify – Mastery

In this episode of Beyond Your WHY, Rory Fairbairns joins Dr. Gary Sanchez to talk about his personal and professional journey. Rory is the founder of One Year No Beer, an initiative that has helped thousands of people rethink their relationship with alcohol. His experience as a top oil broker in London and his own struggles with alcohol make him a powerful advocate for living a life free of unhealthy habits.

Here are three key takeaways from this episode:

How taking a break from alcohol can boost your energy, productivity, and happiness.
The surprising link between alcohol, stress, and success in high-pressure careers.
Why you don’t need to hit rock bottom to make positive changes in your life.

Listen now to discover how Rory made life-changing decisions that led to a healthier, happier future.

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Watch the episode here

00:00 Introduction to the Why of Contribute
13:53 Taking a Break from Alcohol and its Impact
25:20 The Importance of Finding Meaning and Purpose
34:16 Understanding the Relationship with Alcohol
37:40 Addressing the Underlying Drivers of Compulsive Behavior
40:32 Alcohol’s Impact on Coping Mechanisms and Stress Tolerance
49:01 Shifting the Conversation: From Sobriety to Control and Reduction
52:11 The Potential to Profoundly Change Lives
56:21 Character Development and Personal Growth

Breaking Free from Alcohol: How Rory Fairbairns Found Success Without It

Rory Fairbairns didn’t just take a break from alcohol—he completely changed his life by doing it. In this episode of Beyond Your WHY with Dr. Gary Sanchez, Rory shares how ditching alcohol led to personal and professional breakthroughs he never expected. As the founder of One Year No Beer, Rory has helped thousands rethink their relationship with drinking, showing that it’s possible to succeed without a crutch like alcohol.

But here’s the kicker: Rory didn’t hit rock bottom. He didn’t lose his job, destroy relationships, or have a dramatic wake-up call. Instead, he made a conscious decision to improve his life, and it paid off in ways he couldn’t have imagined. From thriving in the competitive world of oil brokering to launching a successful global initiative, Rory’s story is a powerful reminder that you can change your life without waiting for a crisis.

The Alcohol Trap in High-Pressure Jobs

One of the standout moments in the episode is Rory’s raw honesty about how alcohol was woven into his daily routine as a top oil broker. He describes the culture of long lunches where wine flowed freely and how not drinking was almost seen as a career risk. “I believed my business would crumble if I stopped drinking,” Rory admits. But the opposite happened—his business grew by 50% after taking a break from alcohol.

This experience hits home for anyone who’s felt pressured to drink in social or work settings. Rory challenges the notion that alcohol is needed to fit in or build connections, especially in high-stress careers. Instead, he found that showing up clear-headed gave him an edge, especially when his colleagues were battling hangovers.

You Don’t Have to Hit Rock Bottom to Change

One of the most valuable lessons from Rory’s story is that you don’t need to wait for a catastrophic moment to make a change. Many people think they have to hit rock bottom before reassessing their drinking habits, but Rory is proof that’s not true. He wasn’t in a crisis when he decided to step away from alcohol; he simply wanted more out of life. “The truth is, if you’re regularly consuming alcohol, it’s already costing you,” Rory says in the episode.

This idea is crucial because it encourages people to evaluate their habits before they spiral out of control. Even a short break from alcohol can lead to massive improvements in health, relationships, and productivity. Rory emphasizes that this decision is within reach for anyone willing to get real with themselves about the role alcohol plays in their life.

Reconnecting with Purpose

Another key takeaway from the episode is how Rory’s decision to stop drinking helped him reconnect with his purpose. During the interview, Rory talks about the power of finding your “why” and how living with intention led to greater happiness and success. “I found that when I got back to my purpose, everything clicked. The noise in my head about alcohol started to fade,” he says.

For Rory, giving up alcohol wasn’t just about health—it was about aligning his life with his deeper goals. Whether you’re struggling with drinking or not, Rory’s advice on finding purpose applies to anyone looking for more meaning in their daily life. This is about more than quitting a bad habit; it’s about setting yourself up for long-term success by living in alignment with your values.

Ready to Make a Change?

Rory’s story is a reminder that we all have the power to make big changes before things fall apart. You don’t have to wait for rock bottom to step away from unhealthy habits, whether it’s drinking, stress, or anything else holding you back. The episode is packed with valuable lessons for anyone looking to improve their life, health, and relationships.

If you’re ready to explore how changing your relationship with alcohol (or any habit) can unlock new levels of success, listen to the full episode of Beyond Your WHY with Rory Fairbairns. Don’t wait for the crisis—take control now.

About Ruari Fairbairns

OYNB is a company with a powerful mission to completely transform the relationship people have with alcohol. There’s no denying that alcohol abuse has profound negative impacts on society and the lives of individuals– it’s estimated that poor alcohol habits cost the UK economy $52 billion and the US economy $250 billion.

OYNB provides transformational programs where people can get awareness about their drinking habits, along with the support, education, and coaching they need to make a change. To date, **OYNB content has been seen by over a billion people globally** (including over a million podcast downloads), and they’ve **helped hundreds of thousands of people in 158 countries to reshape and rethink their relationship with alcohol**.

# About Ruari Fairbairns

**Ruari Fairbairns is the founder and CEO of OYNB**, a leading figure in the health and well-being space. He was awarded Great British Entrepreneur of the Year for Scotland and Northern Ireland 2020, with OYNB also being named *The Spectator’s* Economic Innovator of the Year in the UK. Known for his passionate advocacy for healthier living, Ruari has been instrumental in steering OYNB to the forefront of the alcohol-free movement, inspiring over 100,000 people worldwide to reassess their relationship with alcohol, and strive to become the best version of themselves.

Ruari’s story

Born on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, from an early age Ruari harboured a deep-seated determination to make an impactful mark on the world. He left school at 15 to start his first business, and eventually landed in London where he carved out a successful career as a senior oil broker. However, he quickly found himself immersed in a binge-drinking culture, leading him to the profound realization that alcohol was causing him more harm than good.

Taking a transformative break from alcohol, Ruari witnessed significant improvements across various aspects of his life: he became healthier, happier, more productive, and a better father and husband. Motivated by these personal improvements, he embarked on a mission to help others experience the same positive changes. In 2015, he launched One Year No Beer (OYNB), to help people reassess their relationship with alcohol. The initiative quickly went viral, attracting over 20,000 sign-ups in its inaugural year. And so OYNB was born, with its core values deeply rooted in the supportive online community established by its initial members.

Today, Ruari takes immense pride in the fact that OYNB is recognized as a leader in preventive behaviour change, with ambitious plans to diversify into numerous other behaviour-change models beyond alcohol. His previous experiences, particularly the harmful alcohol culture he encountered during his tenure in London, continually drive his work.

Anything else we should know?:

More about our main program, Complete Control:

The Complete Control program is an 8-week program designed to help high-achievers, business-owners, entrepreneurs, and top professionals change their relationship with alcohol to optimize their health, well-being, relationships, and business performance.