7 Years 181 days Sober - Never Again7 Years 181 days Sober - Never Again
I'm Quitting Alcohol
Comedian David Boyle, over seven years sober, chats about his mum and stepdad’s ultra-cheap tour of China, their strong "never again" reaction, and the odd mix of vibrant cities, ghost towns and Chinese pizzas. The episode shows how everyday family stories sit alongside a long-term, alcohol-free life.
7:09•12 Nov 2026
Seven Years Sober and Mum’s ‘Never Again’ China Adventure
Episode Overview
- Sobriety can become a natural backdrop to everyday life, even on seemingly trivial days.
- Expectations about foreign food and culture often clash with familiar habits and tastes.
- Ultra-cheap travel packages may come with compromises, even if they look amazing on paper.
- Family stories and humour can make long-term recovery feel lighter and more relatable.
- You don’t need grand milestones every day; simple check-ins help sustain ongoing sobriety.
“"Never again, never again… oh, so many Chinese. Chinese everywhere."”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? In this short, offbeat episode of *I'm Quitting Alcohol*, Australian comedian David Boyle checks in at 7 years and 181 days sober, sounding freshly steamed, relaxed and ready to chat about anything but booze – namely, his parents’ bargain-basement tour of China.
You’ll hear Boyle recount his mum and stepdad’s trip, framed through her dramatic verdict of, "Never again, never again," and her wide-eyed reaction to "Chinese everywhere, Chinese everywhere." Her complaints about the food hit exactly where Boyle expected: apparently "the pizzas were good" and everything else was a write-off. He jokes about the idea of "Chinese pizzas" and her insistence that if she wants "Chinese crap" she can just buy it back home in Australia.
There’s a surreal edge as he tries to decode her description of "ghost cities everywhere" seen from the bus, while also acknowledging that the cities she did visit were "vibrant" and full of money and bustle. The trip itself sounds almost too cheap to be real – roughly $800 AUD for return flights, 10 nights’ accommodation, some meals, and tours – with the tour guide admitting it’s the last time that deal will ever run.
Beneath the comedy and family banter, you’ll still catch the signature tone of Boyle’s daily sobriety check-in: raw, casual, unscripted, and unfiltered. There’s no grand lecture on recovery here, just a sober bloke talking rubbish about his mum’s holiday, showing what a normal, alcohol-free day can look like when long-term sobriety becomes the background to everyday life. If you like your recovery stories served with sarcasm, family chaos, and zero pretence, this one might be just what you need today.
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