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Taking a month off booze is the most obvious place to start drinking less. But is it teaching you the wrong thing?

Sober October, Dry January, a few alcohol-free weeks until your holiday or your birthday: a booze break is how so many of us start changing the way we drink, and there are some really good reasons for that.

But if you know you still want alcohol in your life, and what you're after is learning how to moderate, is a clean break from alcohol the best way to get there?

I'm weighing up the pros and cons of taking a break from alcohol, from the simplicity of having just one rule to the all-or-nothing thinking that can come with it, and what a month of white-knuckling your way through actually teaches you about drinking less once it's over.

I've also got five questions to ask yourself before you circle a date in the diary, so you can work out whether a booze break is the right first step for you.

By the end of this episode you'll know:

• Whether a booze break like Dry January or Sober October is the right way to start drinking less
• What a month off alcohol can (and can't) teach you about moderation
• What to do if you have a drink halfway through your dry month
• How to stop your break becoming a countdown to your next drink
• How to plan for day 31, so you don't slide straight back into old habits

0:00 Should You Take A Booze Break?
3:22 Why You Want To Take A Booze Break
6:05 The Pros Of Taking A Break From Alcohol
7:16 Space To Think
8:49 Know How You Feel
10:12 Practice Your Sober Socialising
11:46 The Cons Of Taking A Break From Alcohol
12:06 All-Or-Nothing Thinking
14:21 Not Living A "Normal" Life
16:10 White-Knuckling Your Way Through
18:03 Are You Practising The Right Skill?
20:01 Five Questions To Decide If A Booze Break Is Right For You
28:46 Final Question

Best episodes to listen to next:
195. Are You Overcomplicating Your Moderation? - https://www.mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/2229527/episodes/19810720

163. 5 Questions to Ask Yourself About the Pros & Cons of Different Moderation Techniques - https://www.mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/2229527/episodes/18671408

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✅ Get the Beginner's Guide to Mindful Drinking - https://lownodrinker.com/mindful-drinking-beginners-guide/

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❓ Take the Midlife Drinking Triggers Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68dd33385bb4a20015996a13