The idea is that when you reach for that glass of wine, bottle of beer, crystal glass of ice, you look to the future and “play it out”.

IF you take the drink of alcohol: What do the first few sips taste like? After the initial buzz, what then? Another glass? Will all the things you want to do tonight get done? Will you sleep well? How will you feel in the morning? Now, what would happen if you don’t have the alcohol? Play that out too. Same questions; different answers? This is harder than it sounds when the temptation strikes, but it can work.

You’ll notice I said ‘drink of alcohol’ rather than just ‘a drink’. Obviously, Bridget and I are huge proponents of non-alcoholic options. I still believe that “having a drink” is a sensory experience that goes beyond what is going on inside your glass. It can be a ritual that brings people together or enhances a moment alone; it just doesn’t HAVE to be alcohol. You can choose another option.