is ending the year by celebrating a major milestone in his sobriety journey.
“Good morning! Happy 29th of December. 29th? Why 29th? Well, 49 years ago today, I stopped [drinking],” the actor, 86, said while making a hand gesture for drinking in a Sunday, December 29, Instagram video. “I was having such fun, but then I realized I was in big, big trouble because I couldn’t remember anything and I was driving a car, drunk out of my skull.”
Hopkins confessed he realized in that low “fatal” moment that he “needed help” and sought it out.
“I phoned up a group of people like me — alcoholic — and that was it. Sober,” he continued. “I’ve had more fun in these 49 years than ever.”
In the clip, Hopkins sat in front of a lit fireplace and the mantle was decked out with garland from the holidays. He encouraged those who find themselves in a similar situation to get support.
“If you do have a problem — having fun is wonderful, having a drink is fine – but if you are having a problem with the booze, there is help,” Hopkins said. “It’s not a terrible deal. It’s a condition. If you’re allergic to alcohol, get some help. There’s plenty of help around.”
Hopkins confessed that when he first began his sobriety journey, he didn’t know that there were others out there in similar situations.
“One thing I didn’t realize: I was not unique,” he admitted. “There are thousands of people around like me.”
While Hopkins has come a long way since then, he has shared that his sobriety has made his life better — and there’s a lot to look forward to.
“Anyway, I got sober and, it sounds a dull word, but I’ve had a wonderful life,” the Silence of the Lambs actor reflected. “They still employ me, they still give me jobs. I’m going to be 87 in two day’s time. So I’m celebrating my long life — unexpectedly long life.”
Before wishing everyone a “Happy New Year,” Hopkins shared that people looking to become sober can “phone any intergroup” or join a “12-step program” to get the help they need.
For the past four years, Hopkins has taken to social media to celebrate his sobriety milestones. He posted his first Instagram video in 2020 sharing what caused him to abstain from alcohol.
“Forty-five years ago today, I had a wake-up call. I was headed for disaster, I was drinking myself to death. I’m not preachy, but I got a message,” he recalled at the time. “A little thought that said, ‘Do you want to live or die?’ And I said, ‘I want to live.’ And suddenly the relief came and my life has been amazing.”
