Afleveringen
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It became illegal to smoke in all enclosed workplaces across the UK between March 2006 (first in Scotland) and July 2007 (England) – and no one thought it would happen. It just shows the power of government when it puts its mind to something.
On the eve of the General Election, Ollie and Cess ponder whether the new government will have the appetite and willingness to change alcohol laws. To help answer the episode title's puzzler, they welcome Denise Hamilton-Mace, Founder and Editor of Low No Drinker Magazine, and Blake Gladman, Partner / Strategy and Insight Director at KAM Insight.
There is also a snippet from UK Hospitality's CEO, Kate Nicholls, and some fun Booze News (and stories) about Wimbledon.
Will it be love-all for no and low alcohol and the incoming government?
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast
#NoLowDrinkTrends
#sobermovement
#generalelection
#sober
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On the eve of one of the biggest field-based parties in the world – 200,000 revellers are expected at Worthy Farm – Ollie and Cess speak with DJ Dom Servini.
Dom changed his drinking habits a couple of years ago to extend his career (and his life), and he shares some incredible stories about being intoxicated at work. When he decided to stop drinking, he had a crisis of confidence, as there is – or perhaps was – an expectation that DJs would be getting into the groove one way or another. Drugs, rather than drink, is the biggest vice within the music industry, says Dom. His journey is influencing others on the DJ circuit, though.
There is also a snippet from musicians Tom Bowen and Louis Brennan on their top tips for attending festivals sober as performers and punters. What's lost? What's gained?
Four Booze News items consider the impact of non-alcoholic drinks during the European Championships – Tesco is expecting to sell 5.5 million bottles and cans of “no” and “low” alcohol options – while Glastonbury is trucking in draft beer for 1,200,000 pints (enough to fill two full-size swimming pools). A documentary about Avicii, the Swedish producer who took his own life in 2018 aged 28, is also mentioned. And (alleged) drink-driver Justin Timberlake features.
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast
#NoLowDrinkTrends
#sobermovement
#glastonbury
#musicfestivals#sober
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Now for something a little different ... In this thought-provoking episode, unveiled on the eve of the summer solstice, Cess and Ollie are joined by guest Becky Burchell as they delve into the complex relationship between alcohol and accessing our primal selves.
The conversation explores the notion that while alcohol has become a societal shortcut for tapping into our wild nature, there are alternative paths to embracing our primal essence.
The trio discusses the importance of reconnecting with the natural world and how spending time in nature can help us rediscover our innate wildness. They also emphasize the role of community and surrounding ourselves with like-minded individuals who support and encourage our journey of self-discovery without relying on alcohol.
Throughout the episode, the hosts and Becky share insights on the power of rituals and intentional practices in creating opportunities for experiencing wildness and pushing personal boundaries. They examine how societal norms and expectations have limited our access to our primal selves and propose ways to challenge and redefine these limitations.
Join Cess, Ollie, and Becky as they explore the transformative potential of embracing our wild nature through nature, community, and conscious practices, offering a fresh perspective on accessing our primal selves without needing alcohol.
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast
#NoLowDrinkTrends
#sobermovement
#wildness
#sober
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This week, Cess and Ollie discuss the relationship between alcohol and Father's Day.
After attending a low- and no-alcohol event facilitated by KAM Insight and Lucky Saint, the duo, armed with stats, explore the growing trend of moderating alcohol intake and the need for more grown-up options. The conversation highlights the importance of supporting and normalising non-alcoholic choices and the potential for missed revenue in the hospitality industry.
The hosts also discuss the changing social dynamics and cultural assumptions around drinking. The conversation covers various topics related to alcohol and fatherhood, including outdated attitudes.
As usual, expect personal stories and reflections on the impact of drinking on their lives. This week, Ollie and Cess conclude that setting a positive example for their children is paramount.
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast
#NoLowDrinkTrends
#sobermovement
#fathersday
#sober
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Navigating sobriety at a football match can be extremely challenging for people seeking to take back control of their alcohol consumption. For gritty stories and expert advice, Ollie and Cess welcome Jack Stirling (aka Kicking the Cans on Instagram), who is almost nine months sober, and Crystal Palace season-ticket holder Nick Houghton, who is just beginning his sobriety journey.
Blackouts, hangovers, and bad behaviour are the ugly side of the so-called beautiful game, as evidenced by the recent Champions League final at Wembley, when 53 arrests were made. And with the European Championships about to start in Germany, we can expect more headlines about boozed-up Brits supporting the Three Lions.
But why are booze and football seemingly inseparable? What is it about the combination of intoxicants? And what can football clubs do to better cater for fans who don't want to become intoxicated and escape?
Jack and Nick offer brilliant insights and great ideas – but will things change given alcohol sponsorship is ubiquitous?
Before that fascinating interview, Ollie and Cess serve up four tasty items of booze news, including how to identify if you have a drinking problem (that involves cheesecake).
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast
#NoLowDrinkTrends
#sobermovement
#sobercurious
#sober
#football
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A bumper episode! In booze news Cess and Ollie discuss mocktails, partying in Ibiza without alcohol, and sober parties. That's followed by two fascinating interviews.
The first is with US-based lawyer Kris Butler, whose lovely book Drink Maps in Victorian Britain was recently published. She offers an expert perspective on the history of pubs in the last two centuries and the temperance movement, and serves up stats and anecdotes galore.
Then Ollie heads north to visit Stephen Jeffreys at his abode, the Manchester Buddhist Centre. Stephen is the managing director of Hinterland, a new sober bar that will open in the basement any day. He discusses his struggles with alcohol and hopes for the future, not least through more sober bars and enriching the community.
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast
#NoLowDrinkTrends
#sobermovement
#sobercurious
#sober
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Ollie and Cess debate what elements make the perfect pub. Drawing inspiration from George Orwell's classic essay on his ideal boozer, the Moon Under Water, the hosts share their preferences for what makes a great pub atmosphere.
They cover everything, from impressive toilets and bar chat-friendly seating to pub games, animals, and the perfect music. The conversation also delves into the importance of cosy nooks, natural fires, covered areas, and a wide selection of low or no-alcohol options.
The pair discuss the evolution of pubs and the need for inclusivity, ensuring that everyone, whether they drink or not, can find warmth, shelter, sustenance, and good company in their local watering hole.
There is plenty of related booze news, including how you'll no longer be able to buy a drink in a Ibiza after 9.30pm. Talk about party pooping!
Get in touch to let Ollie and Cess know your likes and dislikes about pubs.
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast
#NoLowDrinkTrends
#sobermovement
#sobercurious
#sober
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Is a smelly, sweltering tent the worst place in the world to have a hangover?
What is it about camping that brings out people’s wildness?
How did a particularly catastrophic drinking session during a camping holiday bring a premature end to one of Ollie’s romantic relationships?
And what happened when Cess accidentally sipped REAL booze after almost a year and a half without an alcoholic drink?
These vital questions, and many more, are answered in this "in-tents", 45-minute episode – pitched just in time for your summer camping trip.
You can also listen to the new "booze news" jingle, and a new outro.
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast
#NoLowDrinkTrends
#sobermovement
#sobercurious
#sober
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In a podcast first, Ollie and Cess record out and about. They visit Laura Willoughby, MBE, founder of Club Soda UK, at Club Soda's HQ in Covent Garden.
After some booze news involving England rugby star Billy Vunipola, and Taylor Swift's "functioning alcoholic" lyric, the CDB-drink-guzzling trio discusses the rise of sober venues and the importance of mindful drinking. Laura emphasizes the need for inclusive spaces that cater to both drinkers and non-drinkers, and highlights the growing market for alcohol-free options.
She also addresses the role of big alcohol brands in promoting moderation and providing alternatives, and explores the concept of mood-enhancing drinks and the benefits of switching to alcohol-free beverages.
Finally, Laura offers great examples and encouragement to individuals seeking to make positive changes in their drinking habits and advocates for a society that offers diverse and enjoyable options for everyone.
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast
#NoLowDrinkTrends
#sobermovement
#sobercurious
#sober
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In the afterglow of the London Marathon, Ollie and Cess discuss the relationship between running and giving up drinking.
They explore how running can serve as a substitute for boozing, and socialising, and how it can help individuals get on track with sobriety.
The conversation touches on the impact of running on mental health – just ask Russ Cook (aka Hardest Geezer). Charlie Allen, the Founder of Run Social – "a running pub" – who is "99% sober" and this week's guest, ran alongside Russ during his last marathon across Africa, in Tunisia, earlier in April.
Another former drinker, reality TV star Spencer Matthews, has announced that he is attempting a world record to run 30 marathons in 30 days through the Jordanian desert. He's mentioned in booze news.
Other booze news includes a man with a bizarre condition that makes his body produce alcohol and the alarming rate of child alcohol abuse in Great Britain – the highest in the world.
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast
#NoLowDrinkTrends
#sobermovement
#sobercurious
#sober -
Time to slay some dragons!
Ollie and Cess discuss St George's Day celebrations – have you had your "dragon's blood" cocktail yet? – with beer aficionado Rupert Ponsonby, who provides brilliant stories and details about boozing in England over the years.
Before that interview, the hosts reflect upon their experiences with alcohol-free dancing (awkward!), their favourite boozers, and the nation's most popular TV pubs, plus the pros and cons of sobriety – is Cess slipping?
They also celebrate football-hardman-turned-geezer-actor Vinnie Jones' 11 years of sobriety – and an article about the changing drinking habits in the pub industry. Choice quotations include: “You can have a few pints because you're in your 20s. You can run it off and you can get on with it, but drinking is a young man's sport.” And: “I've learnt that ego is not your amigo.”
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast
#NoLowDrinkTrends
#sobermovement
#sobercurious
#sober -
Friend of the pod Paul Walker, a digital engagement practitioner at the charity Change Grow Live, discusses his experience working in online support for individuals with substance misuse issues.
He explains how the charity created a web chat platform to provide digital access to its services and the benefits of this approach. Paul emphasizes the importance of reaching out for support before hitting rock bottom and highlights the gender and age trends in online support. He also discusses how to evaluate problematic drinking and the impact of the pandemic on alcohol dependence.
Cess and Ollie have three interesting items of booze news, including Dutch courage in extremis on The Titanic, and Lily Allen on nearly five years of sobriety.
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast #NoLowDrinkTrends
#sobermovement
#sobercurious
#sober -
The hosts interview Chrissie Parkinson and Chris Losh, who established the World Alcohol Free Awards to address the lack of recognition and understanding of alcohol-free drinks. According to the competition founders, innovation and creativity in alcohol-free drinks are rapidly evolving, with a focus on artisanal and experimental approaches. Good news for the sober curious, then!
In booze news, Cess and Ollie raise a glass to the recently departed Juan Vicente Pérez, who died on April 2, aged 114, after a daily drink of strong sugarcane alcohol. The new oldest living man in the world, 112-year-old John Tinniswood from Liverpool, put his longevity down to "moderation" and weekly fish and chips, rather than hard booze.
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast #NoLowDrinkTrends
#sobermovement
#sobercurious
#sober
#alcoholfree -
In this episode, Ollie – who now boasts a year without booze – and Cess discuss various topics related to alcohol consumption and abstinence.
They explore the perception of alcohol as a poison among younger generations and the growing view that boozing is bad. The hosts also reflect on their own experiences of sobriety and the positive changes it has brought to their lives.
With Cess screwing on his historian's hat, the conversation then delves into the origins and significance of Lent as a period of abstinence, drawing parallels to modern abstinence movements. The pair ponder the temperance movement and its impact on society, as well as the legacy of prohibition.
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast
#sobermovement
#sobercurious
#sober
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Pour away the sickly grape juice! Amanda Thomson made it her mission to create a range of great-tasting non-alcoholic wines, including a sparkling Chardonnay – which co-hosts Ollie and Cess can confirm is exquisitely good.
It took a long time, as Amanda tells Ollie, to create the "perfect liquid", but now you will find NOUGHTY, the AF range of wines of her company Thomson & Scott, in Michelin-starred restaurants. In a wide-ranging interview, the pair discuss the global trend for "blended" drinking – imbibing non- or low-alcohol drinks during the week, and perhaps having a glass or two at the weekends, or on special occasions – and how having grown-up AF options increases inclusivity at celebrations (for example, for Muslims) and health benefits.
There are three linked items of booze news, all around hangxiety, and reducing alcohol intake, and Cess discusses his newfound passion: hiking!
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast
#sobermovement
#sobercurious
#sober
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Taking a break from interviewing guests, Ollie and Cess discuss their experiences with alcohol and the life-threatening situations they have found themselves in while under the influence.
The hosts share personal stories of risky behaviour and regrets, highlighting the need for self-reflection and growth. Are boys / men more reckless with (and without) alcohol? They also explore the human desire for wildness and the role alcohol plays in accessing – and gaining a shortcut to – that state.
And there is a fascinating item of booze news about why hangovers really do become worse the older you get.
#sobriety
#UpperBottomPodcast
#sobermovement
#sobercurious
#sober -
Ahead of St Patrick's Day, Ollie and Cess speak to three Irish people to better understand what it's all about.
Catherine Doogan offers some historical context, Melissa Kelly discusses going sober in Ireland, and Terry – a barman in the Blythe Hill Tavern – provides some words of wisdom to complete the unholy trinity.
Whether you decide to drink a pint of Guinness or not, know that, on average, it will cost you 37p more than it did this time last year.
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Ollie and Cess speak with Bethan Higson, Founder of Mother Root, an alternative – and delicious – grown-up "switchel" drink, and the trio discuss society's expectations of women and drinking habits.
Bethan offers some advice to sober curious listeners, and Cess offers a brief history lesson on Mothering Sunday, while Ollie has a confession his own mother might not like ...
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Ollie and Cess ask two friends of the pod, Natalie and Ryan, who have been sober for two months, to discuss their experiences with extending Dry January and their motivations.
The guests explore the effects of sobriety on sleep, physical health, and mental well-being. They also discuss the challenges of social situations, the reactions of friends and family (for Nat, everyone wrongly assumes she is pregnant!), and reflect on the cultural expectations around drinking and the changing attitudes towards sobriety.
As always, there are some items of booze news. And – having learnt from listeners – Cess and Ollie have re-recorded the intro.
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Stuart Elkington, Founder of drydrinker.com, the UK’s top-rated independent low-alcohol and non-alcoholic drink specialist, joins Ollie and Cess for a deep dive into being a “dry drinker”. He discusses industry trends and – praise be! – serves up some passable 0-ish% wine recommendations. In booze news, the hosts consider some of the 546 words Britons have for drunkenness, and – put those beer googles away – how alcohol doesn’t make other people appear attractive after all.
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