In a rare and candid interview, Ed Sheeran opened up about the life changes he’s made in recent years—most notably, giving up alcohol and drugs after becoming a father. At the height of his drinking, the singer admits he was consuming as much as 5.5 liters of beer every night.
The turning point came during a conversation with his wife, Cherry Seaborn, shortly before the birth of their daughter, Lyra. “She said to me, ‘If my water breaks, do you really want someone else to have to drive me to the hospital?’ That was it. I realized I didn’t want to miss that moment—or be holding my child drunk.”
Sheeran has previously acknowledged his struggles with substance use, but the sudden death of his close friend Jamal Edwards deeply reshaped his perspective. “Jamal died from this. I’m never touching anything again,” he told Rolling Stone.
Reflecting on one of his most embarrassing drunk moments, he recalled being locked out of his hotel room completely naked—save for a napkin. “Now that I’m sober, I don’t do stupid stuff like that anymore,” he said with a laugh.
These days, his nights are quieter. He prefers a good movie and a full night’s sleep. “You never really rest properly when you’ve been drinking. Alcohol has so much sugar,” he added.
While he’s not certain he’ll remain completely sober forever, his relationship with alcohol has fundamentally changed. “I don’t need to drink every night. Once a week, sharing a bottle of wine over a romantic dinner with my wife—that’s enough for me.”
