Pertti Salovaara’s gigantic life change – 50 doses of alcohol a week changed to sobriety and celibacy

Pertti Salovaara talks about his big life change. MIKKO RÄSÄNEN

You don’t end up with rocks in the morning anymore, and you don’t taste catnip in your mouth.

Pertti Salovaara, 53, made a big life change two years ago. He completely gave up alcohol.

– He probably drank the last drop of it. I just got the feeling that that’s it, Salovaara tells Iltalehte.

– I got fed up with the fact that in the mornings there were enormous starting difficulties. It also affected my mood negatively.

When playing with my own children, I felt like I was running out of energy.

– Now I can be with the children and do all the things. There is more energy!

No more fussing

Alcohol became a stealthy part of Salovaara’s everyday life. It was enjoyed while sitting on the sofa at home and meeting friends without thinking about it. He says he hasn’t had much binge drinking.

– I was hardly ever drunk. Even so, I could drink up to seven cans of beer in the evening while watching TV. When they started to grow, it became more than 50 servings a week, even though I was never even properly in hipraka. I noticed that I drink a lot, he says.

– If you take a couple of drinks in the afternoon and some more in the evening before going to bed, that’s it. And it doesn’t require miracles, you can drink that much. All the time, however, alcohol flowed in the blood.

The result was the previously mentioned unmotivated feeling. Social situations started to feel awkward because of it. The close circle also gave a note about the consumption of alcohol, which helped clarify the situation.

– Both ex-wives were of the opinion that the teasing should end. However, don’t believe it when someone else says it. Sobriety has to come from yourself.

Salovaara went to AA a few times and met people who had decades of alcoholism behind them. When he heard their stories, it made his own decision more stable, even though he can’t fully identify with all the experiences.

– I’m not a proper alcoholic in the sense that many alcoholics I’ve met can’t even taste communion wine or zero-percent beer without it triggering a thong. And then they are lost for two weeks. I don’t have that.

The change in life has had a big impact on health and coping. He plans to continue living sober for the foreseeable future.

Celibacy for joy in life

For work, Salovaara does sound productions in his own company. In addition to that, he holds a weekly music quiz at a restaurant in Tampere and works as a car courier for the well-known Autokauppia.

– Now I enjoy these things that I do. I still don’t rule out the possibility that I could do a radio show someday. It’s nice when you get in touch with people that way.

Next, Salovaara surprises. He says he has been celibate for almost three years.

– It was my own choice. Life is significantly simpler and more predictable without a relationship, he says with satisfaction.

– When you drank, you could take it home with some pub roses. Now it is clear that there is no such lack of judgment that this could happen, laughter can be heard from the handset.

The decision has brought joy to life in many ways.

– Many things are eliminated. There’s no need to squabble and argue. You can be with yourself freely and enjoy what you are doing. I’m single and I don’t want a relationship.

The feeling is liberating – the last time he remembers he was a single boy at the age of 24.

– You’ve always had to please the other party, take it into account and wonder what it’s all about. Now you don’t have to think about such things. You can only listen to yourself. I’m turning 54 this year, and you can say that even for my age, that virility has already decreased quite a lot. I don’t miss the things that come with a relationship, he loads.

Never again the closeness of another? Salovaara can’t say that.

– It’s the same thing as with that sobriety. I can’t say that I’m totally sober. I make year-long goals. If it feels good in the future, I’m relationship-free.