Valerie Bertinelli Reveals the Surprising Reason Why She Stopped Drinking Alcohol Almost 1 Year Ago (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Valerie Bertinelli at the inaugural Food & Wine Classic in Charleston on Sept. 28, 2024.Photo:Cameron Wilder / FOOD & WINE Classic in Charleston

Cameron Wilder / FOOD & WINE Classic in Charleston

It’s been almost a year sinceValerie Bertinellihad a sip of alcohol, and she says she’s happier than ever.While at the inauguralFood & Wine Classicin Charlestonon Sept. 28,the newest member ofThe Drew Barrymore Show’sroster of experts shared a big motivator when she decidedto stop drinking alcohol 8 months ago.“I actually think a lot of it has to do with aging," Bertinelli, 64, tells PEOPLE. “I think the older you get, the less you really want to really be putting that in your body. I mean, anybody can do whatever the heck they want, but I feel better.“Now that several months have passed since she gave up alcohol, Bertinelli says she rarely craves a glass of wine or drink anymore.“I don’t miss it because I don’t miss how it actually made me feel either after having it or the next day,” says Bertinelli.In early September,PEOPLE exclusively announcedthe former Food Network star isthe newest “Drew Crew” member, and will make regular appearances on Barrymore’s show on different lifestyle segments. Her favorites so far have beenthose surrounding wellness.Valerie Bertinelli.John Russo“Drew tackles subjects that I wish I had heard about 10 years ago,like menopause alone,” she says. “She tackles subjects that not a lot of people do, and she does it with such grace and such vulnerability and authenticity to her and that all of us can relate to. I love being there.”Opening up so candidly on the talk show, she says, has helped inform her about her own experiences with menopause.“I love being able to talk about it because things are happening to my body. I ask my doctor but he’s just, like, ‘I don’t know,’” she says. “So it’s fun to talk to other women that are going through the same thing and we can relate and we can say, ‘Oh my God, [I] don’t feel alone.’”Drew Barrymore, Valerie Bertinelli and Ross Matthews.The Drew Barrymore Show/Ash BeanAt theFood & WineClassic in Charleston, fellow Drew Crew team memberRoss Mathewsalso caught up with PEOPLE — and revealed he’s elated to have Bertinelli join him on the show.“She’s been family for me for a long time,” says Mathews, 45. “I’ve known her. But the second she walked into our studio, it was like, ‘Welcome home.’ Everybody felt it, and it just made so much sense.“Valerie Bertinelli and Ross Mathews at the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston on Sept. 28, 2024.Cameron Wilder / FOOD & WINE Classic in CharlestonEarlier this summer, theHot in Clevelandalum opened up to PEOPLE about her alcohol-free journey and the noticeable changes it’s brought to her everyday life.“Even with life struggles and how life can be challenging, I find that it is easier to get myself clearer faster, about what I need to do and taking care of my life,” she said. “I feel good when I wake up in the morning. I’m not groggy. I’m not tired. I’m not: ‘What did I do last night?’”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Bertinelli said she considers herself “one of the lucky ones.”“I don’t think I ever really had a problem [with alcohol] and that’s why it was a bit, I don’t want to say easy, but it was an easier path for me to start with dry January,” she said, adding. “And then go, ‘Well, I’m halfway through February, now I might as well just keep going.' And now for me, I kind of make a game of it.”TheFood & WineClassic in Charleston is taking place now September 27-29.

It’s been almost a year sinceValerie Bertinellihad a sip of alcohol, and she says she’s happier than ever.

While at the inauguralFood & Wine Classicin Charlestonon Sept. 28,the newest member ofThe Drew Barrymore Show’sroster of experts shared a big motivator when she decidedto stop drinking alcohol 8 months ago.

“I actually think a lot of it has to do with aging,” Bertinelli, 64, tells PEOPLE. “I think the older you get, the less you really want to really be putting that in your body. I mean, anybody can do whatever the heck they want, but I feel better.”

Now that several months have passed since she gave up alcohol, Bertinelli says she rarely craves a glass of wine or drink anymore.

“I don’t miss it because I don’t miss how it actually made me feel either after having it or the next day,” says Bertinelli.

In early September,PEOPLE exclusively announcedthe former Food Network star isthe newest “Drew Crew” member, and will make regular appearances on Barrymore’s show on different lifestyle segments. Her favorites so far have beenthose surrounding wellness.

Valerie Bertinelli.John Russo

John Russo

“Drew tackles subjects that I wish I had heard about 10 years ago,like menopause alone,” she says. “She tackles subjects that not a lot of people do, and she does it with such grace and such vulnerability and authenticity to her and that all of us can relate to. I love being there.”

Opening up so candidly on the talk show, she says, has helped inform her about her own experiences with menopause.

“I love being able to talk about it because things are happening to my body. I ask my doctor but he’s just, like, ‘I don’t know,’” she says. “So it’s fun to talk to other women that are going through the same thing and we can relate and we can say, ‘Oh my God, [I] don’t feel alone.’”

Drew Barrymore, Valerie Bertinelli and Ross Matthews.The Drew Barrymore Show/Ash Bean

The Drew Barrymore Show/Ash Bean

At theFood & WineClassic in Charleston, fellow Drew Crew team memberRoss Mathewsalso caught up with PEOPLE — and revealed he’s elated to have Bertinelli join him on the show.

“She’s been family for me for a long time,” says Mathews, 45. “I’ve known her. But the second she walked into our studio, it was like, ‘Welcome home.’ Everybody felt it, and it just made so much sense.”

Valerie Bertinelli and Ross Mathews at the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston on Sept. 28, 2024.Cameron Wilder / FOOD & WINE Classic in Charleston

Earlier this summer, theHot in Clevelandalum opened up to PEOPLE about her alcohol-free journey and the noticeable changes it’s brought to her everyday life.

“Even with life struggles and how life can be challenging, I find that it is easier to get myself clearer faster, about what I need to do and taking care of my life,” she said. “I feel good when I wake up in the morning. I’m not groggy. I’m not tired. I’m not: ‘What did I do last night?’”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Bertinelli said she considers herself “one of the lucky ones.”

“I don’t think I ever really had a problem [with alcohol] and that’s why it was a bit, I don’t want to say easy, but it was an easier path for me to start with dry January,” she said, adding. “And then go, ‘Well, I’m halfway through February, now I might as well just keep going.' And now for me, I kind of make a game of it.”

TheFood & WineClassic in Charleston is taking place now September 27-29.

source: people.com