Swapping “Why did you stop drinking?” to “Why did you start?”

This sober thingymijig is not about why you stop drinking - It's all about why you started in the first place!

It's a croaky episode today. Vic sounds like a frog after a week in bed but pushes through to join Hamish in asking a big question. Instead of always being asked why they gave up booze, they flip the script and try to figure out why they started drinking in the first place.

Was it just about trying to fit in, copying older kids, or chasing confidence in a bottle? Or was there something deeper going on that neither of them understood at the time? They both go back to their teenage years to try and pinpoint the moment it all began, and reflect on how those early choices shaped the way their drinking developed later in life.

To help them understand what it’s really like to grow up in an alcohol-free house, Vic invites on a very special guest - her own teenage son George. He offers an honest perspective on booze, having an alcohol free house, why talking about it openly makes a difference and what could entice him to take his first drink.

This episode is funny, thoughtful and a little emotional. It’s about looking back at where it all started and realising that maybe the most important question isn’t why you stopped drinking, but why you ever felt you needed to start.

🎧 Show Notes

For more information on Clean Slate just head to www.cleanslateclinic.com

💛 Resources & Links

📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted Sundays

A brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze.

👉 Buy the book here

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🚨 Helplines & Support

🇦🇺 Australia

– Alcohol & Drug Foundation (ADF) – 1300 85 85 84

– Lifeline – 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)

– Hello Sunday Morning / Daybreak App – hellosundaymorning.org

🇬🇧 UK

– Drinkline (NHS) – 0300 123 1110

– Alcoholics Anonymous UK – www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

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