Chrissy Teigen's Honesty About Alcohol Struggles Is A Reminder That Sobriety Isn't One-Size-Fits-All

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If there's one thing we can count on Chrissy Teigen for, it's her transparency. Whether she's discussing her life-saving abortion or a wardrobe malfunction that revealed a little too much, Teigen is always willing to open up. She's fearless when it comes to showing just how human she is, and never shies away from an opportunity to connect and relate with others.

Like a lot of people, Teigen has a difficult relationship with alcohol. While she's never called herself an alcoholic, on July 18, 2022, she posted on Instagram that she had been sober for a year. "I miss feeling loopy and carefree sometimes, but to be honest toward the end, it didn't give that fun feeling anymore anyhow," wrote Teigen. "I drank to end crazy anxiety that later mostly went away when I — get this — quit drinking!" Teigen went on to add that she was feeling really good, and she's frustrated with all the times she could have stayed sober and experienced what was happening, for example, at award shows. "While I honestly STILL don't know if I'll never have a drink again, I do know I never want to be that way again," continued Teigen. "And for now, none is best."

Although Teigen was able to remain sober for a few years, she announced on Instagram on May 15, 2025, that she was drinking again. This is in no way a failure. Instead, it's proof that sobriety is a journey and that journey is different for everyone.

While Chrissy Teigen quit drinking in 2021, it wasn't the first time. In 2017, Teigen told Cosmopolitan she was sober. "I was, point blank, just drinking too much," Teigen told the magazine, adding that she couldn't even go into hair and makeup without a glass of wine. At some point, she started drinking again, because in December 2020, she responded to a fan on Instagram who asked what drugs she was on, stating she was four weeks sober.

Eventually, Teigen read "Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol," by Holly Whitaker, which she credits with changing her life. In the same Instagram post, she also expressed frustration with her relationship with alcohol. "I am one hundred percent pissed that I can't be normal and have a cocktail with my husband on vacay without it turning into 8 and feeling like s***," wrote Teigen. "I hate that the thought of maybe having a drink can consume me some days ... I am deeply aware of where this can go if I let it."

According to the American Addiction Centers, two-thirds of people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) relapse within six months of going sober. This number alone says so much about the hold alcohol has on people. While Teigen may be drinking again, it doesn't mean she always will. She's aware that her relationship with alcohol is fraught, and maintains a mindful approach to drinking. For many, that's a step in the right direction.