Actress Patricia Heaton credits a public admonishment from her youngest son with initiating her journey to sobriety eight years ago, a moment she views as a divine intervention. Heaton, 68, has since embraced a sober lifestyle and, with her husband Dave Hunt, launched Solubrae, a line of non-alcoholic wines.
Heaton, best known for her role as Debra Barone in the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, described a period before the COVID-19 pandemic when her children had left home and her work schedule was less demanding. This shift, she explained in an interview with Women's World, led to an increase in her alcohol consumption. What began as a glass of wine with cooking evolved into wine with dinner, cleanup, and television viewing, culminating in her realization that she was finishing nearly an entire bottle alone.
Observing her own changing behavior and altered perception of alcohol, Heaton turned to prayer. "God, I think You want me to stop drinking," she recalled praying. "I would be willing to stop, but You have to make it happen because I can’t. I’m willing, but I’m unable."
The following evening, during a family gathering, her youngest son publicly pointed out her difficulty speaking. "I couldn’t pronounce the word ‘tradition,’" Heaton recounted. "My youngest son said, ‘That’s great, Mom. You can’t even speak.’ I was completely mortified."
Describing the incident as a clear message, Heaton stated, "The next morning I said, ‘Okay, God. Message received.’ That was eight years ago."
Heaton and her husband, producer Dave Hunt, developed Solubrae as a way to fill what they perceived as a gap in the market for high-quality non-alcoholic wine. The company's website notes that Heaton missed the ritual of enjoying wine, which prompted the creation of their product. The wine is made with California grapes, aiming to replicate the experience of traditional wine for those abstaining from alcohol.
Everybody Loves Raymond aired on CBS for nine seasons from September 1996 to May 2005. Heaton earned two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Debra Barone. The series also starred Ray Romano as Ray Barone, Doris Roberts as Marie Barone, Peter Boyle as Frank Barone, and Brad Garrett as Robert Barone. The show depicted Ray and Debra's life with their three children, Ally and twins Geoffrey and Michael. In a recent reunion special, Ray Romano indicated that a reboot is unlikely due to the passing of cast members Roberts, Boyle, and Garrett.