In a remarkable transformation, a Scottish mother has swapped a life of chaos and addiction for one of clarity and adventure, founding the UK's first dedicated alcohol-free travel company. Lauren Burnison, 41, from Perthshire, credits her decision to quit drinking in 2016 with unlocking a world of possibility, both personally and professionally.
A Turbulent Past Gives Way to a Lucid Future
Lauren's early life was marked by the tensions of growing up in Belfast during the Troubles, an experience she describes as living under a "blanket of fear." This environment preceded what she calls years of "chaos," which saw her move to Edinburgh and later to Buenos Aires. Her struggles with alcohol culminated in a violent incident on New Year's Eve 2002, when a booze-fuelled clash erupted between her group of friends and strangers on the streets of Argentina.
The turning point came nearly a decade and a half later. In 2016, Lauren made the life-altering decision to become sober. Embracing her new clarity, she embarked on an extensive trip around the globe. "I’d done a lot of travelling in the past, but this time it was different. This time, I was seeing life through the clear lens of lucidity," she explained. It was during this journey, in the picturesque Andalusian town of Ronda, Spain, that the seed for a unique business idea was planted.
Building We Love Lucid: Travel Without the Booze
Channeling her renewed passion for life, Lauren established We Love Lucid, a venture that organises teetotal group excursions and proudly holds the title of the UK's inaugural alcohol-free travel operator. The company caters specifically to sober solo travellers seeking meaningful connection and new challenges.
"Our trips are geared towards sober solo travellers who are looking for a new challenge and who want to connect with others like them," Lauren states. "The focus is on connection and creating new and unforgettable experiences that don’t revolve around booze." The company's plans for 2026 are ambitious, potentially including a group ascent of Mount Toubkal in Morocco and a women's-only trek along the Portuguese Camino de Santiago to raise funds for the She Recovers Foundation.
Sobriety Transforms Family Life and Finances
The benefits of an alcohol-free life have profoundly impacted Lauren's role as a mother. She recently completed a two-month road trip across Spain and Portugal with her four-year-old daughter, an endeavour she feels would have been "almost impossible" while drinking, largely due to the debilitating effect of hangovers.
Beyond health and wellbeing, quitting alcohol has also had a significant financial upside. The money saved has been directly reinvested into exploring the world. Lauren's current travels involve slow, immersive living: cooking outdoors, creating driftwood art, and enjoying unplanned adventures like impromptu beach trips. A recent highlight was visiting the ruins of an ancient Roman city in Extremadura, Spain.
"My sobriety is my biggest priority in life. Without it I wouldn't be doing any of this," she reflects, as she approaches the milestone of ten years of sobriety in 2026. Her story stands as a powerful testament to how a profound personal change can unlock global horizons and inspire a pioneering business that meets a growing demand for mindful travel.
