When I did Dry January last year, I obsessed over not drinking. I dreamed about what wine I would enjoy once the month wrapped. I fantasized about the my favorite cocktails in the city (Hillstone’s dirty martini, Jajaja’s spicy margarita, The Mark’s aperol spritz). I spent so much time thinking about not drinking that I wonder how I got any writing or work done at all.
Have you read Not Drinking Tonight by Amanda E. White? She is a therapist who is sober, and she talks a lot about all the cultural and societal stuff you reference, as well as that you don't need to have a "problem" to stop drinking—AND that it's also OK to just cut back and not fully cut it out if that's not dangerous for you. She talks a lot about the psychology of why we drink and how to identify our triggers and what to do about them. 10/10 recommend.
issue #121 - the one about (not) drinking
Have you read Not Drinking Tonight by Amanda E. White? She is a therapist who is sober, and she talks a lot about all the cultural and societal stuff you reference, as well as that you don't need to have a "problem" to stop drinking—AND that it's also OK to just cut back and not fully cut it out if that's not dangerous for you. She talks a lot about the psychology of why we drink and how to identify our triggers and what to do about them. 10/10 recommend.