Jason Bateman made the choice to stop drinking due to the “tension” it created in his relationship with his wife, Amanda Anka.
Anka, who is 57, described the “drip, drip, drip” of Bateman’s drinking at parties years ago as “disgustingly unpredictable.” She asked him during an interview with a publication, “When will the spigot completely shut off?”
Bateman reflected on “negotiating several times” about his alcohol consumption. He didn’t ask for a full pass, but rather it felt like a back-and-forth discussion.
“I thought, ‘Well, I feel like I am.’ The timeline for sobriety is six months away, but if I could land this plane now, I’d feel much calmer, so let’s just do it,” he shared further.
He admitted that while he does smoke marijuana, he views alcohol and cocaine as part of “the Scarface thing.”
Bateman opened up about how his drinking habits had caused strain in their relationship. He considers himself fortunate to have realized that if he wanted to achieve certain goals, he needed to set limits.
Having married Anka in July 2001, he also got sober around that time. He’s reflected on how the major events in his life, like his marriage in Malibu and his role in “Arrested Development,” all came within a couple of years of each other.
The actor pointed out that the previous decade had been quite confusing and challenging, almost like a learning curve, particularly for someone who started in the industry as a child.
Bateman emphasized that there were “some things” he couldn’t do if he wanted to be successful, noting that turning 30 felt like the right time to strategize for his career aspirations.
He voiced that it was crucial to cut out alcohol, as it leads to late nights and questionable choices. “Do you want to stay great in your 20s or do you want to step up and transition into adulthood?” he pondered.
The pair welcomed daughters, Francesca, now 19, in 2006, and Maple, now 14, in 2012. Bateman feels lucky to have reached this point in his life.
