Episode 5

Vic and Justine, Sober Alcohol Free Stories and getting tired of your own bullshit!

Published on: 31st January, 2025

Hi everybody and welcome to Sober Alcohol Free Stories. I'm Victoria and I don't drink. Today I'll talk to Justine. Justine's drinking became problematic and after clinking down the drive with her empties in lockdown and meeting up with an inspiring friend, she made the decision to stop drinking altogether and change her life forever.

Transcript
Speaker:

Hi everybody and welcome to

Sober Alcohol Free Stories.

2

:

I'm Victoria and I don't drink.

3

:

Today I'll talk to Justine.

4

:

Justine's

5

:

drinking became problematic and

after clinking down the drive with

6

:

her empties in lockdown and meeting

up with an inspiring friend, she

7

:

made the decision to stop drinking

altogether and change her life forever.

8

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

Hi, Justine.

9

:

lovely to have you on with me again.

10

:

thank you for coming back on

and speaking with me again.

11

:

Wanted to make sure that we got your

story out there because it was wonderful

12

:

talking to you and I'd like to share

with everybody, your experiences, and

13

:

just some of the learnings that you've

had to support others on their journey,

14

:

whether they're curious about being

sober or whether they have to become

15

:

sober or whether it's something that

they've decided that they're going to

16

:

choose to do for some amount of time.

17

:

So, like always, I'm pretty much

going to hand over to you for

18

:

the beginning part, just to share

with us a little bit about you.

19

:

If we do a bit about you, who you were

when you were a drinker, and then I can

20

:

ask you some questions about what you

did and all of those other bits as well.

21

:

So, can you just talk to me

a bit about who Justine was?

22

:

Before she decided, right,

time to knock this on the head.

23

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Hi, Victoria.

24

:

So, my name's Justine,

as you've already said.

25

:

I'm a 55 year old mum.

26

:

I live in the south of England.

27

:

I'm currently waiting for

the electric to go out.

28

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah,

29

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

crossed it works.

30

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: to be

31

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

32

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

right now, haven't we?

33

:

Let's hope

34

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

35

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

destroy our

36

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

37

:

No.

38

:

Yeah.

39

:

Don't want that happening.

40

:

So going again, my drinking

career really sort of started

41

:

when I was in my teens, like most

people really, you know, the odd,

42

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: hmm.

43

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: bottle

of wine between 22 of us, in the

44

:

local park, progressed into being

allowed to go into, the local pub as

45

:

long as we were to behave ourselves

and didn't drink too much, about 16.

46

:

and to be fair, I, I didn't really,

Alcohol featured a lot in my childhood

47

:

with my family, but it wasn't really,

, there wasn't, I didn't have anybody

48

:

in my family who would be concerned

about , who was drinking excessively.

49

:

It was a sort of part of life, really.

50

:

You know, baby shams at Christmas.

51

:

I think most people think that that

didn't ever have any alcohol in it, but of

52

:

course we now know that it actually does.

53

:

So, You know, I would have been

very young, given a bottle of

54

:

baby sham on Christmas Eve.

55

:

my drinking career kind of took off

really when I was around about 18, 19.

56

:

late eighties.

57

:

God sounds like a long time ago.

58

:

started going out with

friends, so pub crawl.

59

:

and also the sort of culture

of preloading came in.

60

:

because we didn't have much money,

we were all either at college

61

:

or, working, in our early career.

62

:

So,, trying to pay rent

and pay the bills and live.

63

:

And, so we would go to someone's house

and, Drink some cheap rubbish wine before

64

:

we went out so we wouldn't have to pay

for too many drinks in pubs, I guess.

65

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

66

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: and

then clubs, obviously, going into

67

:

a club, that was, the next stage

was, continuing your drinking.

68

:

so the sort of the culture of encouraging

you to binge drink was very much, around,

69

:

in my, late teens, early twenties.

70

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Mm

71

:

Mm

72

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: it sort

of continued on like that, really.

73

:

It was, you know, it was

just that's what we did.

74

:

You know, we'd go out on a

Friday night, Saturday night.

75

:

and,, spend all your spare cash on,

beer or whatever you were drinking.

76

:

Beer, wine, lager, whatever

you could get your hands on.

77

:

I remember when, things like pop,

um, uh, pop, not pop, um, alco pops.

78

:

Yeah, do you remember Alcopops?

79

:

I mean, they were just revolting.

80

:

It was just sugar.

81

:

so the Alcopops became

quite, , commonplace in the

82

:

90s, I guess, early 90s.

83

:

And, it was during that movement where it

was like kind of hip to be a woman and be

84

:

a drinker that could keep up with a man,

85

:

.

-:

86

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: think,

looking back, it was when the alcohol

87

:

industry started realizing that

they needed to sort of target women

88

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Mm

89

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: because

it's the men that went to the pub, , and

90

:

then, you know, the culture changed.

91

:

Cause it's thundering.

92

:

So now the dog's going mental.

93

:

So, yeah.

94

:

So I, you know, and I just

went with it and had a lovely

95

:

time,, with all my friends.

96

:

So yeah, it was a thing we did, you

know, we partied, and, and that continued

97

:

really through most of my, my early

twenties, late twenties, early thirties,

98

:

I went to Australia and traveled

and, you know, Southeast Asia and,

99

:

and, , had the usual, you know, thing

of trying various hideous concoctions

100

:

in Indonesia and Bali and Thailand and,

101

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Mm hmm.

102

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: it

was all the rage really to drink.

103

:

it was just the thing you did.

104

:

you went out and you drank and you

were backpacking and you drank.

105

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

106

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: the

other backpackers in the pub,

107

:

you know, it was the way it was.

108

:

not so much drugs, thankfully.

109

:

I mean, I was quite frightened of drugs.

110

:

Although I do now think that alcohol

and drugs should be under one label,

111

:

but I think I've been terrified about

drugs for most of my childhood and early

112

:

adolescence, you know, that drugs were

bad, really bad, you shouldn't take

113

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

114

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: a potamidine,

you didn't know what was in it.

115

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: if you

think about that time, whilst we were

116

:

being told to drink as much as the boys,

and it was cool to have all of these

117

:

alcopops and, and I like you also, by the

way, but I remember being in Bali and you

118

:

could, I don't even know what was in it.

119

:

It was a phone.

120

:

You could buy this big.

121

:

fake phone from behind the bar

and it was full of alcohol.

122

:

all sorts of different ways to

make it interesting, wasn't it?

123

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Oh

yeah, these big jars, they were

124

:

like these massive jars, and it was

called an Arak attack, that was in

125

:

Bali, and the spirit was called Arak.

126

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yes.

127

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: I'm pretty

sure it was like nail varnish remover.

128

:

I mean, it was It was

absolutely lethal, deadly.

129

:

I mean, I know there's been

issues, hasn't there, recently

130

:

with backpackers, you know, dying

because they've been drinking these

131

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: They

fed us all of those messages around,

132

:

it's cool to drink and drink as much

as the guys and all that kind of

133

:

thing, they, the same time, there was

also a just say no to drugs campaign.

134

:

so maybe that's why, I

mean, I remember that.

135

:

I remember the just say

no, the Grange Hill.

136

:

just say no messaging.

137

:

so the fear of drugs, probably

they did help with that,, with

138

:

that messaging, but of course,

alcohol wasn't really recognized

139

:

. justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: It was

okay, just, people still smoked, , even

140

:

though we all knew it was bad for us.

141

:

It was,

142

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

143

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: so, so the,

therefore, the, the legal substances were

144

:

out there and very readily available,

but yeah, I say luckily I didn't try

145

:

anything with regards to hard drugs,

but, I didn't even think, at that time

146

:

that alcohol was technically a drug too.

147

:

It is a drug too.

148

:

So, but obviously that's

not the message we're given.

149

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Mm

150

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah, so

I moved on, , moving on into my sort of

151

:

thirties, I had my first child at 33 and I

didn't drink at all, through my pregnancy

152

:

or whilst I was feeding my daughter but I

remember being desperate to get back out

153

:

there, to get back out with my friends

and sort of get some normality back.

154

:

well, I thought was normality

back by going drinking.

155

:

So I did girls weekends away, which would

involve, heavy drinking for a weekend,

156

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Mm

157

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: you

know, or just, you know, getting

158

:

away from the kids and the family

and, , and all the rest of it.

159

:

I do consider myself a binge drinker.

160

:

I did consider myself a binge drinker.

161

:

That was my label if you want to label

it But I also know that there were

162

:

times when I didn't intend to binge

drink, but I did, because my stop

163

:

button had kind of malfunctioned.

164

:

So, there were odd occasions where I

would drink excessively in situations

165

:

where I probably shouldn't have, where,

cooking Sunday lunch, do a bottle of

166

:

red wine while I'm cooking Sunday lunch.

167

:

And by the time I sit down Sunday lunch, I

can't eat it because I'm full of wine and

168

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

169

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: And

170

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Full of

171

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: was the

kind of thing that stuck with me.

172

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: I love

173

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

174

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: was

quite often full of wine and bullshit.

175

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

Unfortunately.

176

:

But after a while you get fed up with

your own bullshit, don't you, just like.

177

:

That wasn't really good, was

178

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: mm,

179

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: it?

180

:

Why did I do that?

181

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: mm, mm,

182

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: So it wasn't,

183

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: mm, mm,

184

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

yeah, so it wasn't just staying

185

:

on the weekends, you know,

186

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: mm,

187

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: I'm away

from the kids and my husband and,

188

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

mm, mm, mm,

189

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: you know,

190

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: mm,

191

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: work

192

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm,

193

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: housework

194

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: mm,

195

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: and

having a lovely time with my friends.

196

:

It would creep into my

day to day life, you know.

197

:

And I always remember my husband

saying to me once, do you,, why

198

:

are you having another, you know,

why do you need a glass of wine?

199

:

And it was like that's an

indignant justification that

200

:

I've had a terrible day.

201

:

I've had need a glass of wine, or five,

202

:

so , I think there was always a

niggling suspicion in the back

203

:

of my head that really I probably

problem with alcohol in times.

204

:

but it took me till I was 50 to

actually do anything about it.

205

:

Well, actually I was 50, 51.

206

:

So I managed to get through

most of lockdown, but everybody

207

:

was drinking, everybody was.

208

:

caning it.

209

:

The weather was great.

210

:

You know, and I mean, I hear this

story over and over again, but I think

211

:

really for, for all of lockdowns, you

know, all the, all the panic and the

212

:

awful situation for lots of people,

I think a lot of people came to the

213

:

conclusion that they needed to stop

drinking because it became part of, you

214

:

know, it was, it was like, it was okay.

215

:

If you could get to the supermarket

and, rattling up the drive, with you.

216

:

Empties on a Friday morning or

whatever and thinking God, how

217

:

much wine did we drink this week?

218

:

And God, did I drink all

that, , hiding things in the

219

:

back of the cupboard, you know?

220

:

The gin bottle that's only got an

inch left in it after a day and you're

221

:

like and I'm the only one in the house

that drinks gin, that kind of stuff.

222

:

So I was like, oh, this is just and then,

a friend of mine came to stay with me,

223

:

just after my 51st birthday, a couple

of days afterwards, and I'd had a.

224

:

couple of fairly heavy sessions

for my birthday because I was

225

:

obviously allowed it's my birthday.

226

:

And, um, so it's justifiable.

227

:

And, she and I had met in Australia.

228

:

she's still a very good friend of mine.

229

:

And she had said to me,

I've stopped drinking.

230

:

I'm not drinking anymore.

231

:

You know, cause we were party

girls, , we were the ones who,

232

:

we were the Stollies girls.

233

:

We would be out there, you know,

party, party, party in Australia.

234

:

And, it was It was the kick

up the ass that I needed.

235

:

It was somebody else who I knew.

236

:

liked to drink sometimes as much as I

did and she stopped drinking and I was

237

:

like really shocked and I was like,

God, if she can do it, I can do it.

238

:

You know?

239

:

So for me, it was, that personal,

you know, that person, it was

240

:

a person . And I thought, well,

how can I, how can I do this?

241

:

How can I, how can I manage not drinking?

242

:

How can I?

243

:

So I thought I'll set myself a hundred

days target because I'd heard that if

244

:

you do a dry month, it's not quite enough

245

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah.

246

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: feel

the benefits of not drinking.

247

:

I was tired of myself, Victoria.

248

:

I was bored.

249

:

Like I said, I was bored

with my own bullshit.

250

:

I was like, Justine, for

God's sake, you know.

251

:

What's wrong with you, why

do you need to drink so much?

252

:

what is going on?

253

:

why are you numbing out?

254

:

Why are you, what's all that about?

255

:

So I mentioned to you before that

I'd had some breast cancer at 43.

256

:

And I think the most terrifying

thing now is that I do know

257

:

with research and hindsight,

not being told at the time that.

258

:

Excessive drinking can cause breast

cancer, particularly the type

259

:

of breast cancer I had, and I'm

260

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Wow.

261

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: certain,

probably, I probably exacerbated that,

262

:

you know, I don't carry the BRCA1 gene.

263

:

I did have my children, you know,

at 33 and 40, so that does add

264

:

to the higher risk of developing

a hormone related cancer.

265

:

I don't think I help matters.

266

:

I think I, but no one ever

said, how much do you drink?

267

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: No.

268

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

are you putting into your body?

269

:

What toxin are you putting in there?

270

:

What is having, and it has a massive

effect on, on our hormone levels.

271

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Mm-hmm

272

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: but

ously I was, this is October,:

273

:

or whenever it was cause it's been

nearly five years, four years and four

274

:

months since I've stopped drinking.

275

:

And, I, I said, right, I'm

going to do a hundred days dry.

276

:

I'm going to do a hundred days.

277

:

I'm not going to drink.

278

:

And, my husband joined me in the quest.

279

:

So, we, we did it.

280

:

We just did it.

281

:

We just got through it.

282

:

I mean, I don't know that there

was much going on to be fair, apart

283

:

from Christmas, Christmas, New Year.

284

:

And to be fair, , I was not, you

know, I'm not the best person to

285

:

get drunk at Christmas because

I'm the one that does everything.

286

:

So it was,

287

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

288

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: I did a

hundred days, which took us into the

289

:

February and then, After 100 days, I

thought I don't want to drink anymore.

290

:

I have no desire to drink.

291

:

I watched my husband spectacularly fall

off the wagon on his 50th birthday.

292

:

point where he was quite unwell

for two days, you know, recovery.

293

:

And I don't want to feel

like that ever again.

294

:

I never want to wake up and

think, Oh Christ, what did I do?

295

:

Who have I pissed off?

296

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

297

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

What did I say?

298

:

Who, what deep, dark secrets have

I shared to somebody I better know?

299

:

, what bullshit have I,

have I put out there?

300

:

I, thank God . I don't bother

with my phone when I'm drunk.

301

:

So I haven't sent like, Crazy text

messages or drunken voicemail, thank

302

:

God, because, you know, I mean, and I

don't do Facebook posts when I'm drunk

303

:

or anything like that, so I,, I think

there's probably a few of them out

304

:

there of me that other people have put.

305

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

306

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

I feel so much better.

307

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: It's

308

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

I have clarity,

309

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

moment where you realize you

310

:

don't actually have to drink, like

311

:

all these things that have

been causing you distress that

312

:

you've been doing yourself.

313

:

So not anyone else has been doing

314

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

Doing two yourself, yes.

315

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

yeah, yeah, exactly.

316

:

and then you realize, actually I

don't ever have to wake up and wonder.

317

:

Have I upset somebody or like

you say, have I shared something

318

:

I shouldn't have shared or,

319

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah,

320

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

bloody awful.

321

:

I don't have to do that again because

I don't actually have to drink.

322

:

Took me a long time to actually realize

that was was a choice I was making.

323

:

You

324

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

To me , it's a no brainer.

325

:

Because

326

:

I was saying to someone the other

day, I said, when you are, when

327

:

you are a, when you're a child.

328

:

So when you're in your, when

you're 12, you can go to a party.

329

:

I mean, I've got a 15 year old daughter

and I watch her having her birthday party.

330

:

We had a Halloween party for her.

331

:

She's had Christmas parties.

332

:

And they have so much

fun with her friends.

333

:

She's having so much fun.

334

:

They laugh and they dance and they

have fun and they talk and they

335

:

And I'm like Why do we need to add

a substance to ourselves in order

336

:

for us as grown ups to do that?

337

:

And I think it's really sad.

338

:

, because it, you just lose the connection.

339

:

You lose, because you're bright,

you've shut your brain down.

340

:

You lose that connection with people.

341

:

And then you end up doing

things with people you don't

342

:

even want to do those things.

343

:

You don't even really perhaps

even like those people really.

344

:

and sadly, you get to get

deep into yourself, you know.

345

:

You're kind of gonna go, Who are

these people that I hang out with

346

:

and why do I hang out with them?

347

:

What is it about them?

348

:

Is it because I think they're fun?

349

:

Is it because they make me laugh?

350

:

Or is it because they drink like I do?

351

:

Is it because that's what they want to do?

352

:

They want to get out there and

blank it all out and You know, and

353

:

so, so yeah, so there's so much to

consider with not drinking, letting

354

:

people know that you don't drink.

355

:

to be fair, the most important thing

for me, the most important thing has

356

:

been for me is to do the research.

357

:

Because I needed to be able

to say to somebody, I'm not

358

:

drinking anymore because of this.

359

:

Because science says.

360

:

Because there's no good going,

I just don't drink anymore.

361

:

Because people go, why not?

362

:

And you go, well, I'm obviously

not pregnant, or, you know, or

363

:

I'm driving, or,, actually it's

none of your bloody business.

364

:

But I'm too polite to do that.

365

:

So, you know, I go, because

it's really bad for you.

366

:

And they go, how'd you know that?

367

:

I go, cause I've read all the stuff,

you know, I've read all the literature.

368

:

I've looked at,

369

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah,

370

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

listened to podcasts.

371

:

I sort of armed myself with information

372

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah.

373

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: you

know, knowledge is power as they say.

374

:

I say that , anybody starting on

their quest for sobriety, just read

375

:

everything that you can get your hands on.

376

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

yeah, just arm

377

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

Um, absolutely.

378

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: and then

it's a choice and that's I feel like,

379

:

not a preachy person about not drinking.

380

:

I absolutely 100 percent not want to drink

myself because I know all this stuff.

381

:

but what I.

382

:

Do you feel quite strongly about is

that people should at least be informed?

383

:

And then the reason that that bothers

me so much is because I was so blindly

384

:

ill informed for so long, you know, and

things that I regret are, silly things

385

:

like the mummy drinking culture part of

386

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Oh God.

387

:

Yeah.

388

:

Yeah.

389

:

Yeah.

390

:

Yeah.

391

:

Yeah.

392

:

Yeah.

393

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

mad, I need a drink.

394

:

To like, that messaging that I just

feel like a whole generation of

395

:

kids have grown up thinking that

they're so awful that they've driven

396

:

their parents to drink alcohol.

397

:

Things like that, that I just feel

like, Oh, I just, I wish I'd been more

398

:

informed because then I would have been

saying, God, the kids are driving me

399

:

mad, I better not have a drink because

it's going to make me anxious and

400

:

really tired and it might give me cancer.

401

:

I like, , that I just was a, was

able to know those things, you know,

402

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

But I think you're right.

403

:

I think, I think you're not being preachy.

404

:

If someone says to you,

why don't you drink?

405

:

And you're just being honest.

406

:

You say, because it's really bad for you.

407

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

Cause it's really bad for you.

408

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

And they go, oh.

409

:

Is it?

410

:

And you go, yeah.

411

:

But then, you know, people

don't want to be trusted really.

412

:

They just, they just think

you're weird and you're boring.

413

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: thing.

414

:

People don't want to know

415

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: No, no.

416

:

And

417

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

frightening.

418

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

I didn't want to know either.

419

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

no, I didn't want to know at all.

420

:

I wouldn't.

421

:

I would have actively not listened.

422

:

I would have searched out all

the articles that told me it was

423

:

good for me a hundred percent.

424

:

But yeah, I mean, once you know it,

you can't unknow it, can you then?

425

:

So you almost feel like you don't

want to preach to people, but you

426

:

also, don't want your friends and your

family to be doing something and not

427

:

knowing that it could be harming them.

428

:

it's quite an interesting

position to be in, isn't it?

429

:

When you've stopped drinking at this

time in history, I'm sure there will

430

:

be a time where it's much more common

knowledge and much more informed

431

:

choices where this won't feel like this.

432

:

But at the moment, feel like I

know something that I should tell

433

:

you, but it's going to upset you.

434

:

That's what I

435

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Hmm.

436

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

sharing the information.

437

:

So

438

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah, sure.

439

:

Yeah.

440

:

Yeah.

441

:

Absolutely.

442

:

Absolutely.

443

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

if they, if they happen to

444

:

hear it guys, you know, we are.

445

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

Like you say, I follow, people

446

:

who are sober on Instagram and

447

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yes.

448

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: a group,

and also I'm on a UK, women's, menopause

449

:

and it's basically called menopause

and alcohol group, which is super

450

:

interesting because the women, on there,

they were struggling with menopause,

451

:

perimenopause, menopausal symptoms,

and they've stopped drinking and all

452

:

of them all the symptoms are either

dulled down or they've gone away.

453

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

That's amazing.

454

:

What's that group called?

455

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: it's

a Facebook group and it's something

456

:

like Sober Menopause Group and I

just happened to come across it.

457

:

there's not many women on it, there's

a few hundred, but It's great.

458

:

and that's for me, particularly

at my time of life.

459

:

I should technically be out

the other end of that now.

460

:

Well, that's, it's not quite happened.

461

:

But the women are saying, oh, you

know, my anxiety levels are down.

462

:

I haven't, I'm not having hot flashes,

as much because hangover symptoms and

463

:

menopause symptoms, they mimic each other.

464

:

They're like, You know, they're

like the same thing, you know, the

465

:

sleeplessness, anxiety, the foggy brain.

466

:

I mean, if you just said that to

someone, if you said, I got a hangover,

467

:

and you said, how do you feel?

468

:

Someone reeled off those things.

469

:

And you'd say the same for

people, going through a menopause.

470

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

this morning.

471

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: pivvy.

472

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: McCall.

473

:

I don't know if you've heard

her podcast Begin Again.

474

:

Very good.

475

:

And there was an alcohol

episode this morning.

476

:

and she talked a bit about that.

477

:

About the menopause.

478

:

Connection as well.

479

:

fascinating.

480

:

. justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Um,

yeah, I, I have, I have listened to

481

:

her, podcast and yeah, that's right.

482

:

And she also talked to somebody about,

she talked to someone about sobriety.

483

:

Cause obviously she herself's been.

484

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

485

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

Sober for like 20, over 20

486

:

years, I think, or longer.

487

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Hmm.

488

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

that's a good podcast, actually.

489

:

And also, I quite like the pragmatism of

certain podcasters, so, I like William

490

:

Porter, who I know you've spoken to,

and he, I've read his book, Alcohol

491

:

Explained, because that for me was

like, because I'm not very scientific,

492

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Mm

493

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: but he

wrote that book in such a way that it

494

:

just makes sense, because it's not,

495

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

496

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

It's just, you know,

497

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: No.

498

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

so he and he, I like,

499

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

doesn't it?

500

:

It clears up why you

501

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah,

502

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

another drink, why that doesn't

503

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah,

504

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

work, why you end

505

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah, yeah,

506

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: he

talked about the balance, and, you know,

507

:

all of the, adding in the depressants,

and then trying to get, you know,

508

:

your body trying to counteract it.

509

:

I found all of that fascinating,

actually, because Yeah, I like to know

510

:

what I like to know what's going on.

511

:

I like his stuff as well.

512

:

he's really good.

513

:

,

-:

514

:

And like I said, I like his

pragmatism because he's just

515

:

like, well, that's what it is.

516

:

you know, because you're like, oh, okay.

517

:

Cause he, you know, you don't

argue with him because he's right.

518

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: on

my podcast, he said, Oh, I feel like,

519

:

people sometimes think I'm preachy.

520

:

That's what he said.

521

:

He was like,

522

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah.

523

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: I'm

just saying, the facts because I have

524

:

to say them because they're true and,

525

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah,

526

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

It's very pragmatic.

527

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: I like that.

528

:

I don't want someone to

beat you around the bush.

529

:

I want someone to tell

me, you know, this is it.

530

:

This is why.

531

:

So when you have a drink,

this is what happens.

532

:

This is what happens to your metabolism.

533

:

And I think that's a good one as well,

that's something I didn't know, is

534

:

that when you drink alcohol, if you've

just had a big meal, that your body

535

:

then goes into sort of panic, and

deals with the alcohol, because it's a

536

:

neurotoxin, before it deals with the food.

537

:

So that's why when you're trying

to lose weight, if you're drinking

538

:

regularly, it doesn't even have to

be excessively, you're not digesting

539

:

the food that you've taken, your body

will deal with the alcohol first.

540

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

541

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: And

that's really interesting, especially

542

:

for lots of my friends, you know,

because I think, well, they always

543

:

moaning, Oh God, I'll lose 10 pounds.

544

:

And you think, you know, I, you know,

personally I enjoy my food, but a whole

545

:

stone off without having to really

try just by not drinking alcohol.

546

:

someone said to me

yesterday, you look great.

547

:

I said, it's just because I don't drink.

548

:

I wake up and go, gosh,

I'm still that weight.

549

:

When I was drinking, my weight was awful.

550

:

Because, and also then, you drink,

what do you do the next day?

551

:

You eat

552

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

yeah, you eat a

553

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: that,

554

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

of old rubbish.

555

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

You just carve up, don't you?

556

:

So you just grab the crisps.

557

:

You can't be bothered to cook yourself

anything, so Oh, I've still got pizza

558

:

that's in the fridge, . And then,

559

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

yeah, something terrible like that.

560

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: you don't

get out in the air, you don't take the

561

:

dog out, you don't take the kids out,

you know, because you feel rubbish.

562

:

And so, there's another wasted day,

563

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: mm,

564

:

,

-:

565

:

I'm

566

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

sorry for yourself and not realising

567

:

that the only thing you need to do

differently is not drink next time.

568

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

Yeah, self inflicted, injury

569

:

that you've done on your body.

570

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah,

571

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: and

then that has that knock on effect

572

:

on everybody else, doesn't it?

573

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah,

574

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

Because everybody's creeping around,

575

:

because you don't feel great,

576

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah,

577

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: have had

a bit of a row with your husband, but,

578

:

you daren't say, what did we have a

row about, because you can't remember.

579

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah,

580

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: You

know, and then you go think, oh, what

581

:

were we, what were we rowing about?

582

:

And you know, you should say, sorry,

probably, but you don't know how it ended.

583

:

You know, all that kind of stuff.

584

:

And then you spend your whole day going,

oh, perhaps I should leave my family.

585

:

They'd be better off without me.

586

:

I'll go and live somewhere else

587

:

, you just, all that kind of hideous

588

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

spiralling.

589

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: So self

sabotage, . And I just, you know.

590

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: to

lots of people listening and that

591

:

feeling the next day is just horrendous.

592

:

And I don't mean the physical

feeling like a hangover is not very

593

:

pleasant, but for me, it was the,

594

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

595

:

Mm.

596

:

, vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

I couldn't remember.

597

:

The

598

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Mm.

599

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

that I would fill that gap with.

600

:

I mean, God, I probably

601

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

Oh, that's good.

602

:

Mm.

603

:

Yeah.

604

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

would just think the worst of myself

605

:

.

-:

606

:

tell you, because people are gleeful,

aren't they, to tell you what happened.

607

:

, do you remember when you did that?

608

:

Do you remember when you got up on

the dance floor and you did this?

609

:

And you're just like, oh, my

God, I don't want to know.

610

:

I don't want to hear.

611

:

That was just,

612

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

613

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: know, and

you're already dying inside, and you

614

:

just don't want someone to tell you that.

615

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

616

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

And that's the thing, isn't it?

617

:

That's that's the incongruity between

drinking and not drinking is that you it's

618

:

lauded go for it drink drink drink drink

drink drink But the minute you step over

619

:

a line, whatever that line is, whatever

your line is, is it dotted invisible?

620

:

you know, it's a very fuzzy line

into blackout drunk or out of

621

:

control drunk or stupidity, people

then, you then get into trouble.

622

:

You know, people then

want to tell you off,.

623

:

It's a terrible place to be,

624

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: it is.

625

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: you know.

626

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: know, and

then it's almost like it's your fault that

627

:

you react in this way to this substance.

628

:

You wouldn't blame the person

for any other substance's

629

:

impact on them, would you?

630

:

But yeah, you do get people saying,

Oh, she can't handle her drink.

631

:

I mean, you hear things like that

and you just think, well, lots of

632

:

people can't handle their drink

because it's meant to do that to you.

633

:

It dumbs your

634

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

635

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: it

literally numbs parts of your brain.

636

:

, it's not surprising that

people can't handle it.

637

:

And I don't really think that you

should be getting an award for,

638

:

for your brain being better at

managing that than someone else's.

639

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

Well, that brings me round

640

:

to the concept of moderation.

641

:

You know, I mean, it's

What does that even mean?

642

:

You know, moderation.

643

:

I did try that.

644

:

I think I said you thought in

about the pennies in your pocket,

645

:

you go out with so many pennies

646

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

647

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

every drink, you shift your penny

648

:

from one pocket to the other.

649

:

And then when you get to

the end of your pennies.

650

:

Five pennies, six pennies.

651

:

I don't know.

652

:

You set your limit of pennies.

653

:

, but, but alcohol doesn't

allow you to then become,

654

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah,

655

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

you just carry on.

656

:

You think, I'll sell the pennies, the

pennies go in your purse or, you know,

657

:

back in the opposite pocket and off

you go and have another 10 drinks.

658

:

it's like, who even

invented that as an idea?

659

:

Because

660

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

And the effort that you put

661

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: it's

662

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

to moderate when actually the truth

663

:

is, is just really hard to do.

664

:

I mean, some people can do it.

665

:

I know they can, but, I

don't, I don't know many who.

666

:

Who can, you know, even the ones that

think they can, you know, you see them

667

:

on a night out and think, well, if you

truly could moderate, then you probably

668

:

wouldn't have had those last three.

669

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah,

670

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

it's a weird concept moderation.

671

:

and certainly for me, it's not something

I ever want to consider because it just

672

:

fills my head with too much conversation.

673

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah.

674

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

many, when, what, with what time.

675

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah,

676

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: and

I'm really happy being a non drinker.

677

:

I don't feel like I've

lost out on anything.

678

:

I thought I would feel like I'd lost

out when I first stopped because

679

:

I didn't know how to be this.

680

:

I didn't know how to be

681

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah,

682

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

in this world

683

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah,

684

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

don't feel like

685

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: no,

686

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

It's amazing.

687

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

yeah, I have this sort of

688

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: hmm.

689

:

Yes.

690

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

overwhelming feeling of just calmness.

691

:

You know, it's just this.

692

:

There's no chaos, because

drinking is chaos, and it brings

693

:

with it chaos, regardless of

what kind of drinker you are.

694

:

You know, and I was, you know, about the

sort of labelling of people alcohol

695

:

is alcohol, whether you drink one

glass of wine a day, or you drink

696

:

four bottles at the weekend, or

you, it doesn't matter what it is,

697

:

alcohol is just dressed up poison.

698

:

thank God, places are really copping

on, you know, I was out at the weekend

699

:

with some girlfriends, had a lovely

evening, really lovely evening out

700

:

with them, just catching up, went

out for dinner, and everywhere I

701

:

went, the alcohol free, options were

amazing, and I went to a cocktail bar.

702

:

And I don't even like to call

my cocktail a mocktail, because

703

:

it sounds like I'm pretending.

704

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah,

705

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

And it's like, the word mock,

706

:

you know, doesn't suggest to me.

707

:

So I just, you know, I had

an alcohol free cocktail.

708

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yes.

709

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: It's all

the lovely flavours that they add to

710

:

that drink to make it taste like that.,

711

:

most people drink alcohol

because they like the taste of

712

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Mm.

713

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

they're drinking.

714

:

If you're a beer drinker, a wine

drinker, a spirit drinker, but you

715

:

wouldn't drink alcohol on its own.

716

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: No,

717

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: You couldn't.

718

:

You couldn't swallow a glass of alcohol.

719

:

Well, it'd probably kill you anyway, but

it, you know, it's, it's watered down

720

:

poison flavoured to make you drink it.

721

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah,

722

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: we

just like drinking the flavours.

723

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah,

724

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

know, I had some lovely alcohol

725

:

free cocktails and, you know.

726

:

The white, the wine?

727

:

You're not so good, I've

tried lots of red wines.

728

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: last

week my podcast Janet, was telling

729

:

me that she gets, called No Seco,

but it's not the, just the fizz.

730

:

It's not the, it comes in red, white.

731

:

And pink

732

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

733

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: fizzy.

734

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

735

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

seco brand of red is very, very good.

736

:

I've never tried it.

737

:

I don't really feel, I don't

necessarily always want to have

738

:

like a fake alcohol drink anymore.

739

:

That probably changed a

couple of years ago for me.

740

:

I'm not really as fussed about that.

741

:

But if I did want to have one,, maybe

if I was having a Sunday lunch and

742

:

thought, Oh, everyone else is, maybe

I could try something like that.

743

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah,

744

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: to try.

745

:

Haven't asked you about any challenges

you faced if there was something

746

:

that you think people can expect to

find as a bit of a challenge, just

747

:

so they're warned about it, would

you share it from your experience?

748

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Sure.

749

:

I, well, I mean, I just think, like

I said to you before, just, I haven't

750

:

had any really negative experiences.

751

:

I found negativity from other people,

sort of, you know, cause people

752

:

become very suspicious of you when

you stop drinking, they're, ooh,

753

:

you know, why's she done that?

754

:

And so therefore you, you know, like

going back to the friendship thing,

755

:

you might find that people just aren't

interested in you anymore because

756

:

you're boring or you don't drink.

757

:

But that's, that's kind of

easily overcome, really, because

758

:

you just think, well, I don't

want to go and do that anyway.

759

:

I don't want to sit in a pub all day.

760

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Mm

761

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

want to do a boss's brunch.

762

:

I mean, how ridiculous is that?

763

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: hmm.

764

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Getting

pissed at lunchtime and eating.

765

:

Rubbish food.

766

:

That's what bottomless branch is.

767

:

Again, something else that's

dressed up to look like.

768

:

It's really glamorous.

769

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

770

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: So yeah,

I would say just look after yourself.

771

:

If you don't want to do it, if you

really don't want to do it, just say no.

772

:

No thanks.

773

:

Not this time.

774

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

775

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: I'll,

but then put something else in place.

776

:

But I'll meet you for a coffee

or I will go for a dog walk or,

777

:

you know, that would be for me.

778

:

Sort of keep yourself safe

779

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yes.

780

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: from

situations where you, you know,

781

:

going back to doing things that you

may have done before, which, could

782

:

threaten your newfound sobriety.

783

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

784

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: I personally

found that drinking or finding an

785

:

alcohol free alternative worked for me.

786

:

Not a lot of people decide not to do that

because they find that maybe triggering.

787

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Mm

788

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: but I

just thought, well, it's quite nice

789

:

to have a drink with everybody else.

790

:

, because I don't actually really like,

I don't really like diet coke or juice.

791

:

I don't necessarily want to

just drink fizzy fizzy water.

792

:

But obviously you don't drink the

quantity everybody else drinks because

793

:

they're getting drunk and you're not.

794

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

795

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: so

yeah, and just arm yourself with

796

:

knowledge because knowledge is power.

797

:

And you, you know, once you know,

it's like you're in, you've got this

798

:

little kind of secret kind of thing

going on, you're eager to think, well,

799

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

800

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

I know, I know.

801

:

I'm not going to tell you because.

802

:

Yeah,

803

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: No.

804

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: definitely

keep yourself safe by saying no, if

805

:

you didn't want to put yourself into a

situation, especially in early sobriety.

806

:

I'll do anything now.

807

:

I'll go anywhere apart

from bottomless brunch.

808

:

Like I just said, I'm like,

what is the point in that?

809

:

I'll go out for lunch.

810

:

I did actually go to a

club on Saturday night.

811

:

It was particularly quiet.

812

:

so we didn't stay long, but the

girls I was with, we had a couple

813

:

of cocktails, actual cocktails.

814

:

And I was like, yeah, I love dancing.

815

:

Let's go and have a dance.

816

:

, got to get over yourself, no one

knows that I'm not drunk or not tipsy.

817

:

I don't, I'm not that age.

818

:

I'm 50 bloody five and

no one's looking at me.

819

:

And also I'm so over myself.

820

:

I'm just like, I've been to

weddings and christenings and.

821

:

Bar mitzvahs and all sorts of celebrations

without having to get to numb my brain

822

:

and I get up in the morning and I

remember them and I can drive home.

823

:

I had enough of something.

824

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah.

825

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

you know, it's all, it's all,

826

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: in the

morning, particularly after a family event

827

:

like a wedding and not be having those, oh

my God, what did I do or say last night?

828

:

Those were

829

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

they're my keys.

830

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

worst ones.

831

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

Where's my phone?

832

:

Where are my shoes?

833

:

Where's my dignity?

834

:

You know, It's so refreshing.

835

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Yeah,

836

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: yeah,

up the sober movement because it's

837

:

very, massive now, even in four years.

838

:

When I first started poking

around in it, it was quite quiet.

839

:

People were sort of almost embarrassed

to say they weren't drinking and

840

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: hmm.

841

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

now it's huge.

842

:

it's a big movement.

843

:

And I think, you know, really important

message and, you know, positive.

844

:

So there's lots and lots of

support out there, lots of help.

845

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305:

Well, there

846

:

people like you coming on and speaking

to people like me and us having

847

:

done it and sharing that message.

848

:

Is

849

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: it will

850

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: how

851

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

inspire somebody.

852

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: it.

853

:

Yeah.

854

:

Somebody will hear it and they'll

think, yeah, it's time, it's

855

:

time for me to give this a go.

856

:

Um, so thank you, thank you for

sharing your story today Um, been

857

:

really, really lovely talking to

you and some really great insights.

858

:

So thanks a lot.

859

:

Take care.

860

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305:

much, Victoria.

861

:

Take care.

862

:

vic-host988_2_01-27-2025_140305: Bye.

863

:

justine_2_01-27-2025_140305: Bye.

864

:

Bye.

865

:

Thank you for listening.

866

:

To Sabre alcohol-free stories.

867

:

If this episode helped you, please.

868

:

Please like share and follow.

869

:

Or leave a review on pod chaser.

870

:

Dot com.

871

:

And if you've got a story to

tell, please contact me on Sabre.

872

:

A F stories@outlook.com.

873

:

And don't forget.

874

:

You can make your catch phrase.

875

:

I don't drink.

All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Sober, Alcohol Free Stories

About the Podcast

Sober, Alcohol Free Stories
"I Don't Drink"
If you’ve ever googled “do I drink too much” this podcast is for you!

This is for those of you who end up wondering what’s wrong with you, questioning how your friends can possibly drink so slowly, or worse can just have one with dinner (aliens). For those of you who have tried to moderate, just a Thursday, only red wine, not before 6, not after 9, not if I’m wearing blue 😊

For those of you who secretly don’t enjoy the theatre because you know the show will be an interruption to a booze filled evening. For those who fall out with loved ones, lose handbags, feel lonely or shameful the morning after, wear sunglasses on the school run, or enjoy way too many mints for an average human. For those who need something to change but feel it it’s impossible to break up with their loyal companion – booze.

The good news is you are NOT weird, or alone, there’s millions of us, just like you. You CAN stop drinking alcohol. I know this because until Jan 2022 I was all the above, and now “I don’t drink”.

In this podcast we will delve in to what it takes to become alcohol free in a society that’s quite frankly obsessed with drinking! I’ll talk to people just like you and me, some near the beginning of their alcohol-free life, and some further along, but all with one thing in common, the courage to stare booze in the face and say NO, NOT ME, NOT ANYMORE! They will share their sliding doors moments, regrets, loves, pink clouds and the tools that have helped them to succeed.

We will show you that life without the “wine witch” is actually pretty amazing, how we all thought we were losing something, but what we have gained is insurmountable. We will share how our lives transformed, skin began to glow, sleep became deep and relaxing, bodies became healthy, relationships flourished, careers progressed, and our minds were at peace. WE will show you that you deserve the chance to be happy and free and turn what may seem impossible into possible.

Listen along and join me in making your catchphrase “I don’t drink”.

About your host

Profile picture for VICTORIA Banat

VICTORIA Banat