Tom Holland says he's 'the happiest I've ever been in my life' since starting his sobriety journey

• Tom Holland has been sober for a year and a half and said that he's the "happiest" he's ever been.
• The star detailed his sobriety journey during an interview on the podcast "On Purpose With Jay Shetty."

Tom Holland said that he hasn't consumed alcohol in a year and a half and is the "happiest I've ever been in my life" as a result.

The "Spider-Man" star, 27, spoke candidly about his sobriety journey in a lengthy, wide-ranging interview for the latest episode of the podcast "On Purpose With Jay Shetty," released on Monday.

During the conversation, Holland explained when and why he decided to make a change in his lifestyle habits.

"I didn't one day wake up and say, 'I'm giving up drinking,'" the actor said. "Like many Brits, I had a very, very boozy December. [It was] Christmas time, I was on vacation, I was drinking a lot, and I've always been able to drink a lot. I think I get my genes from my mom's side in that thing — I can drink. And I decided to just give [it] up for January."

Holland said that he initially just wanted to participate in Dry January, a challenge in which people abstain from drinking alcohol during the first month of the year. But the actor realized that during that time, "all I could think about was having a drink."

"And it just really scared me," he recalled. "I just was like, 'Wow, maybe I have a little bit of an alcohol thing.' So I sort of decided to punish myself and say, 'I'll do February as well. I'll do two months off. If I can do two months off, then I can prove to myself that I don't have a problem.'"

The Marvel star said that after two months, he was "still really struggling" and felt like he couldn't partake in social settings.

"I was definitely addicted to alcohol," he said.

Holland said that he felt like he couldn't enjoy himself at various work events without having a few beers first. He also spoke about the "pressure" to drink due to the culture of the rugby community.

"I was really, really struggling and I started to really worry that maybe I had an alcohol problem. So I decided that I would wait until my birthday, which is June 1," he said. "I said to myself, 'If I can do six months without alcohol, then I can prove to myself that I don't have a problem.' And by the time I got to June 1, I was the happiest I've ever been in my life."

Holland said that abstaining from alcohol for six months had significant health benefits for him.

"I could sleep better. I could handle problems better," he said. "Things that would go wrong on set, that would normally set me off, I could take in my stride. I had much better mental clarity. I felt healthier, I felt fitter. I just sort of said to myself, like, 'Why? Why am I enslaved to this drink? Why am I so obsessed [with] the idea of having this drink?'"

Holland said that he previously had periods of not drinking alcohol. But this time around, to make a lasting change, he focused on adjusting his mindset and owning up to the reality that he drank to "feel more comfortable in a social environment."

"It's honestly been the best thing I've ever done," Holland said of the decision to become sober. "I'm a year and a half into it now. It doesn't even cross my mind. I've found amazing replacements that I think are fantastic, ones that are also really healthy."

The "Crowded Room" star added that his friends have been supportive of his sobriety, and his mom followed suit in his journey. He's also realized that he enjoys being the designated driver.

"I love being that person that makes sure that everyone gets home," Holland said. "I like being a dependable person."

"I'm over the moon to be sober," he said. "I love it."