Hard Candy
Starlight Mints Peppermint Candy (2 Lb Bag)
The mint that got me through the hardest nights. When a craving hits fast, this is the first thing my hand reaches for.
$12–$16
Get it on Amazon →You don't need another meeting.
You need a new habit.
I'm Yasmin. I was a business consultant, a single mom, and a secret drinker. I lost my house, my health, and my freedom. And then I found the simplest thing that actually worked. I want to share it with you. New Habits, New Hope is where I share that method — a distraction-based approach to sobriety for anyone who wants to change without AA or expensive therapy, one small habit at a time.
Read My Story →2 years sober. No AA. No $150/hr therapy. Just new habits.
Does any of this feel familiar?
You don't think of yourself as an addict, but you reach for a drink more often than you'd like.
Therapy feels out of reach at $125 an hour. And honestly, you've tried it. It helps, but not enough.
You've been to AA. You sat in the circle. And you left feeling worse, not better.
You know you need to change. You just don’t know how to start without making it into a whole dramatic thing.
Your family doesn't fully understand what you're going through. And you're tired of explaining it.
You believe there is a simpler way out. You just haven’t found it yet.
If any of that is you, you're in the right place.
Hi, I'm Yasmin.
In 2020, my house caught fire. It burned my lungs and changed everything. The painkillers led to drinking. The drinking led to losing things I can't get back. I was a professional woman who had built her career from nothing. And suddenly I was drowning in something I couldn't name.
I spent 13 months away from everything. And in that time, I found something that none of the expensive programs had ever offered me: the idea that you don't have to fight your cravings. You just have to replace them. A mint instead of a drink. A book instead of a bottle. A new habit, built one small distraction at a time. Two years later, I'm sober. And I built this place to share what worked.
Read my full story →Therapy costs $150 an hour. AA meetings can feel depressing. There is a third option.
New Habits is built on one simple idea: when you feel the urge, replace it with something better. Not willpower. Not a 12-step program. Just a new habit.
Distract
When the craving hits, reach for something else. A mint, a candy, a book, a game. Your brain needs something to do, not a lecture.
Replace
Over time, the new habit grows stronger and the old one loses its grip. It's not magic. It's just how the brain works.
Live
You don't have to announce your sobriety or go to meetings or spend money you don't have. You just have to start small, today.
"My girls in camp used to eat through bags of butterscotch during withdrawal. It worked. And nobody gave them a chip for it."
— Yasmin
Things Yasmin recommends
Every product here is something she used, tested, or believes in. When you buy through these links, a small commission supports this mission.
Hard Candy
Jaw Breakers Candy, Assorted Fruit Flavored (2 Lb Bag)
Something that takes twenty minutes to finish is twenty minutes your hands and your mouth are busy with something other than a drink.
$8–$15
Get it on Amazon →Gummy Candy
Gummy Sharks, Blue Raspberry Flavor (2 Lb Bag)
Chewy takes longer than crunchy. Longer is the point.
$10–$16
Get it on Amazon →Hard Candy
Cinnamon Jawbreakers, Spicy Cinnamon Candy (2 Lb Bag)
A little bit of heat is its own distraction. Some nights that's exactly what you need.
$9–$15
Get it on Amazon →Hard Candy
Arcor Fruit Filled Hard Candy, Bon Bons (2 Lb Bag)
Individually wrapped, always within reach — pop one in when the craving hits and let it do its job.
$9–$15
Get it on Amazon →
Gummy Candy
Gummy Chewy Candy Mix (2 Lb Bag)
A little variety so the distraction doesn't get boring.
$9–$16
Get it on Amazon →New Habits is growing.
Right now this is a place to find the products and ideas that helped Yasmin get sober. But soon it will be more: a weekly Zoom community, a modern alternative to AA, a space where people who want to change can connect without shame, without judgment, and without a $3,000 invoice. Stay close.
Questions people ask
How do I stop drinking without going to AA?
AA works for some people, but it doesn't work for everyone. New Habits offers a different approach: instead of fighting cravings, you replace them with simple distractions like candy, books, or activities that give your brain something else to focus on. It's not a program. It's a practice.
What is an affordable alternative to addiction therapy?
Professional therapy can cost $125 to $150 per hour, which is out of reach for most people. New Habits was built on the idea that small, affordable distractions — things you can buy for a few dollars — can be just as powerful as expensive programs when used consistently.
Can candy help with alcohol withdrawal?
Many people in recovery report that sweet foods, especially mints and butterscotch, help reduce alcohol cravings. This is partly because alcohol metabolizes as sugar in the body. Replacing the craving with a sweet distraction is a simple, accessible tool that has helped many people in early sobriety.
What is the New Habits method for sobriety?
New Habits is a distraction-based approach to addiction recovery created by Yasmin Goetz, a 2-year sober recovering alcoholic and former business consultant. The method involves replacing cravings with small, positive habits — candy, reading, games, movement — rather than fighting them with willpower alone.
Who is Yasmin Goetz?
Yasmin Goetz is the founder of New Habits, New Hope, an addiction prevention and recovery brand based in Orlando, Florida. She is Puerto Rican with German heritage, a former business consultant, a recovering alcoholic with 2 years of sobriety, and a single mother. Her story began with a house fire in 2020 that led to painkiller dependence and alcoholism. She rebuilt her life and now shares what worked.
What products help with sobriety and addiction recovery?
New Habits recommends distraction-based products — starting with the candy Yasmin actually reaches for during a craving: peppermints, jawbreakers, gummies, and old-fashioned hard candy. These are available through the New Habits shop and are curated based on Yasmin's personal recovery experience.
Is New Habits a nonprofit?
Not yet. New Habits is currently in its first phase: building a community and a sustainable income through an affiliate product store. Phase two will be establishing a nonprofit organization to fund a free weekly community support program for people in recovery.