Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Is it Time for a Tactical Break from Alcohol? With Andy Ramage #85

Nov 27, 2019

Andy Ramage, a performance coach and author, co-founded One Year No Beer, encouraging people to take breaks from alcohol. He discusses the benefits of abstaining, even for casual drinkers, and shares personal stories about his six years alcohol-free. The conversation delves into societal pressures around drinking, the impact on social dynamics, and how temporary breaks can lead to healthier choices. Andy offers practical advice for those considering a tactical break and emphasizes the importance of genuine connections in overcoming alcohol dependency.

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ANECDOTE

Andy's Journey

Andy Ramage, initially a "middle lane drinker", hasn't had alcohol in six years.
His initial attempt at a 30-day break failed due to social pressure at work.

ADVICE

The Alcohol Experiment

Test your relationship with alcohol by taking a 28 or 90-day break.
Track physical and mental changes to assess alcohol's true effect on you.

INSIGHT

Drinking Career

The term "drinking career" reveals how deeply ingrained alcohol is in our culture.
This cultural blind spot makes it hard to question our own drinking habits.

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How does alcohol fit into your life? Have you ever given it any thought?

My guest on this week’s podcast is Andy Ramage, a performance coach and author. He’s also one of the founders of One Year No Beer, a habit-changing programme that invites people to try 28, 90 or 365 days alcohol free – and see what it does for them. Andy was like many of us, he was not an alcoholic but he was what he calls ‘a middle lane drinker’. He would drink a little bit to unwind, at work events, when he saw his friends and probably a little bit more on the weekends. Andy started off on a 30 day trial without alcohol and now hasn’t drunk any alcohol for six years and says he can’t envisage doing so again. But his agenda is not to make you stop drinking for good. It’s to demonstrate that taking a break from the booze can bring a surprising host of benefits, even if you don’t think of yourself as a problematic drinker.

Andy and I delve into just what some of those benefits might be. We discuss how alcohol is so ingrained in our social lives and often our work culture that often we don’t even consider what life would be like without it. It’s linked to every part of our lives from relaxation and fun to social bonding or even just relieving boredom. We talk about societal expectations and peer pressure and both of us share our own individual stories and our own journeys with alcohol. Finally, Andy shares some brilliant, practical tips to help anyone who maybe considering tactical break from alcohol.

This is a really inspiring conversation. Whether you’re already thinking of cutting down, it’s not something you’ve considered, or even if you’re already abstaining, I hope you’ll find some life-enhancing lessons in this podcast.

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/85

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.