“I can’t imagine life being sober. This is a real trap for me. When I awake in the morning, I know that whatever happens, I’ll have my wine time in the evening. A bad day at the office? An argument with my partner? A problem with my son? I’ll forget all of these in the evening!
More than forgetting, it’s that I won’t think about those issues anymore for today, and I won’t care about them until tomorrow.
In my circle, drinking is part of daily routines and events, both at home and out with friends. If you don’t drink, you’re not part of our group, or we think you might have been an alcoholic before or that you have a drinking problem. If I take a break from alcohol, I’ll be changed into somebody I don’t like—less chatty and outgoing—and I’ll feel like an outsider in my social circle.
Another reality that holds me back from giving up alcohol is that I can’t imagine being on vacation or celebrating and having water or Diet Coke when everybody else is drinking fabulous champagne.” —Martha
Lamberghini-West, A., & Karlen Triplett, P. (2025). Tipsy: A Woman’s Self-Guided Method for Managing Alcohol. US: Aysen Wellness.