Yeah, I mean, it’s so hard. It’s sort of like the coping skills that we should have learned at the age of 16 1820 to 25. And we never did, because any time we were happy, sad, frustrated, upset, socially awkward, we just drank. The science is unequivocal now. Epidemiologists will tell you it causes cancer, which is another reason to treat it with a bit more caution, not just for the good of people who are struggling but also for moderate drinkers.”

But she says there are also differences in the way alcohol affects woman and in how it is marketed to them. While women generally drink less than men and are also less likely to be hazardous drinkers than men, for various biological reasons. they are also more likely to be damaged by alcohol than men. Women’s generally lower body weights and higher proportion of body fat mean that, if a man and a woman drink the same amount, the woman’s blood alcohol will almost always be higher, putting her at greater risk of harm.I know. And I also feel like when I’m talking to people, like at a bar, even coworkers, they’re like, Oh, you don’t want to drink? And I was like, Oh, no, I quit drinking, like f4years ago. And they’re like, you did and like, Yep, absolutely. I used to drink a lot. I decided it wasn’t working for me. I quit. And I feel like I’ve got a story there. There. People are like, wow, that’s probably an interesting story. For her, the turning point came in September 2011 when she woke up one morning at 3am after drinking nearly two bottles of wine the night before and remembered that she had hidden the empty first bottle so her husband wouldn’t know how much she had drunk. She was so horrified at what she had done she decided to quit drinking. Almost 9 years later, she’s a happy sobriety advocate who, rather than pouring herself a wine at 5pm, slips into a pair of comfy trousers. Other relaxation triggers that work for her include lighting a scented candle or listening to a favourite album while she cooks. There’s no denying that getting drunk with your friends can be an awesome, fun experience (goodness knows I did it for years before the wheels fell off my habit), and there are studies clearly showing that there are social and well-being benefits to be derived from drinking alcohol in relaxed social environments. But does alcohol need to be front and centre of every type of girly bonding experience or female gathering? Do we need alcohol to give currency to all our social catch-ups? Is wine the foundation of a deep, lasting friendship? Or is it all those other values and qualities, things like authenticity and being a good listener? Is it possible that alcohol, rather than connecting us like we think it does, actually serves to push us apart?

And have you felt like you’ve gotten more support now that you’re, kind of, more honest about how you’re feeling? And what I loved about your book is that you take people through each day, through day 3 through day 5, because there’s such a similar cadence for what we go through in different phases. I mean, day 5 is so hard for everyone, you know, day 16, somehow, it’s really difficult. And you didn’t even intend to document that. Right. It was just for yourself.

Now that I’m sober. I mean, I go to yoga retreats, and we sit around during sharing circles, and people play their guitar and we go on long walks and paddle boarding and skinny dipping. And I swear, I feel like I’m 16 again.