Credit: Lisa OConnor/AFF-USA.com / MEGA
Kyle Richards revealed why she stopped drinking, as she celebrated four years of sobriety. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star hinted at friends who “didn’t love when I stopped,” and she shared how she’s changed since giving it up.
When Kyle stopped drinking in 2022, several co-stars shaded her decision, implying that she wasn’t as fun. But Kyle stuck to her guns and hasn’t gone back. Her good friend, Morgan Wade, a country singer, has also been sober for many years.
“This past week marked 4 years since I gave up alcohol,” wrote Kyle in a July 20 Instagram post. “I wanted to look and feel better during a time where I didn’t feel my best both physically or mentally & didn’t feel like I could afford any bad days.”
“People loved when I drank. I was fun! That meant people didn’t love when I stopped,” she went on. “But I didn’t let that deter me. I knew I could still be ‘fun’ without alcohol and feel a lot happier the next day. I quickly learned that the people who had an issue with my choice were more concerned about how it made them feel about themselves.”
Kyle then shared how she’s changed since she stopped drinking.
“What I wasn’t expecting was a calmer Kyle in spite of going through very challenging times,” she said, seemingly alluding to her separation from Mauricio Umansky. “Something shifts in you even if you aren’t a big drinker. Things that would normally make me feel anxious, I now faced with an unfamiliar calmness. Looking healthier was just a bonus. For me, it’s been all upside.”
“I know it’s not easy for everyone but if it’s something you’re considering don’t be discouraged by people that want you to drink for their entertainment. Even well meaning friends,” she said. “I have plenty of friends who have no desire to give up alcohol. I totally respect that and they respect me.”
The star said she focused on “how good I felt.”
“And that was more important to me than having fun for a few hours at a party followed by ‘alcohol doom’ the next day,” she explained. “I’m always asked what I drink at a party because people don’t want to just drink water … I opt for a low sugar non alcoholic sparkling wine, non alcoholic beer and seldomly a mocktail (because I TRY to limit my sugar).”
“Having my non alcoholic sparkling wine in a wine glass limits questions about why you’re not drinking and makes you feel like you’re not missing out,” she said. “I didn’t think I’d be here 4 years later sharing that I still haven’t drank. But I’m happy and proud that I can say that.”