Episode 019 - Sober in a World of Drinkers with Mandy Withers

As the leaves turn golden and the sun shines brightly, it's a magical time of year. I recently spent a few days in Northumberland, surrounded by the stunning scenery of blue skies and colourful autumn leaves. It's a joy to wake up sober and fully embrace these beautiful mornings.

I also have an exciting update to share about my cold water swimming journey. I've acquired an Arctic pod, which is like a grown-up's paddling pool in the shape of a barrel. The challenge is to take a dip in it every day throughout the winter. So far, I've been consistent, except for days when I'm away from home. It's getting progressively more challenging as the temperatures drop, and I'll be posting some photos on my social media soon.

In the alcohol-free world, an interesting article caught my eye in the Daily Mail, a publication I don't typically favour. The article discusses the mummy wine culture's role in the UK, where women are among the world's top binge drinkers. Surprisingly, only 25% of women worldwide consume alcohol, meaning 75% are sober. This statistic was an eye opener for me. The article rightly points out the harmful influence of mummy wine culture, which normalises excessive drinking, often using humour or large wine glasses to downplay the issue.

The podcast takes a deeper dive into the stigma around not drinking. I recently received a call from someone who had never consumed alcohol but faced pressure from friends who assumed they were an alcoholic. The stigma of not drinking was troubling for them, similar to the challenges I faced. My guest this week, Mandy, runs the Talk HR Club, a community for HR independents. She shares her journey of becoming a non-drinker and the pressure she faced to drink in social situations.

We discuss the importance of challenging the stigma around not drinking and creating a world where saying "I don't drink" is perfectly acceptable. Mandy's story resonates with mine, and it's the inspiration for this week's episode, "Sober in a World of Drinkers." We delve into the peer pressure, unhelpful comments, and judgments that non-drinkers often face.

Thank you, Mandy, for being a part of the podcast and sharing your story. It's been a pleasure having you as my guest, and I appreciate your support for the Professional Drinkers Podcast.