Easter holidays are here, and if you’re travelling—especially by plane—it’s worth pausing for a moment to think about something that often catches women off guard when they’re working on changing their relationship with alcohol.

Airports.

Bars on every corner. Champagne breakfasts served like it’s a normal Tuesday. People ordering pre-boarding drinks as if it’s part of the routine. It’s easy to slip into the mindset of “holiday mode” where everything feels like a free pass—including drinking.

But here’s the truth: airports are one of the most common triggers for midlife women trying to take a break from alcohol or moderate their drinking. And it’s not because you’re weak or lacking willpower. It’s because the environment is designed to normalise and encourage alcohol at every turn.

If you’ve been working hard to step out of grey area drinking, those moments can feel destabilising. You’ve made progress. You’ve set intentions. And suddenly, a glass of wine at the airport bar seems like it won’t hurt. But it can undo more than you realise—not just physically, but mentally too.

So this is your gentle reminder: you don’t have to drink just because you’re travelling. You don’t have to celebrate with alcohol to feel free, relaxed, or excited. This trip can be yours on your terms, without compromising your values or the promises you’ve made to yourself.

And if you’re just starting out on this path—maybe a few days in, maybe a few weeks—please don’t fall into the all-or-nothing trap. You don’t have to fix everything at once. Changing your drinking is enough for now.

If you find yourself craving something sweet over Easter, eat the chocolate. Truly. Have the eggs, the bunny, the second helping if it helps. Sugar might not be ideal, but it’s not the thing that’s been holding you back from the life you want to live. Alcohol has.

So let go of the pressure to do it all perfectly. You’re not here to perform. You’re here to grow, to shift, to honour what your body and mind need right now. And sometimes that means saying no to a drink and yes to a chocolate egg. That’s still progress.

Be proud of how far you’ve come. Be kind to yourself when it feels hard. And trust that every small step you take adds up to something big.

You don’t need to be perfect to make powerful change. You just need to keep going.