Insights

There are five stages of grief: Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance We usually hear these in the context of bereavement. So what’s this got to do with alcohol? Quite a bit, actually. When you stop drinking, you’re not only changing a habit. You’re letting go of what alcohol represented and of the identity you built around it. It's how you celebrated, commiserated and socialised. It was your reward after a hard day. It was an escape, a way to relax. Removing that fro

It’s hard to imagine life without alcohol. Of course it is. Most of us grew up in a world that treats drinking as normal, expected, even desirable. We’re shown glossy adverts that promise connection, confidence and glamour. We learn a social script growing up: birthdays, weddings, Friday nights, Tuesday nights… there’s a drink for every moment. Before long, alcohol looks like the answer to everything. The fact is, though, alcohol is a drug. Nothing more, nothing less, and eve

Halloween might come with its fair share of scares; fake blood, plastic spiders and the odd jump scare from a kid in a mask, but for many of us, the real fright comes from what we do when we drink. When I think back, I’ve drunk more than a frightening amount of alcohol and whilst under the influence, I’ve put myself in risky situations, fallen over, been sick in public, and woken up entire households when I've been bouncing off the walls on my return from a night out. I’ve em

When we talk about living well, it’s easy to think of diet and exercise first. But true wellbeing is far broader. It’s a balance of...

When I used to drink, I thought feeling tired, fuzzy and headachy was just part of life. I would wake up groggy. Some days, I’d reach for...

Have you ever noticed those little words on alcohol adverts or printed on bottles? “Be Drink Aware.” “Drink Responsibly.” They slip past...