Inspiring Women Who Are Rethinking Drinking Volume 21

Meet Joanna

The journalist, consultant and Some Good Clean Fun contributor shares why giving up alcohol wasn’t a loss, and more.

Tell our readers about yourself!

I'm Joanna. I will be 67 soon, which is appalling, but am happy to be the mother of 5, step-mom of 2 and grandmother to 6 (and counting). I morphed my radio and television journalism career into a consulting and training business for anyone who must improve how they communicate on-camera, on the stage, at work, in interviews, and so on.

What was your relationship with alcohol prior to rethinking drinking?

I’ve always enjoyed wine but at some point noticed all my birthday gifts from friends were wine related: accessories, glassware, fridge magnets, throw cushions, cutesy signage, you get the picture. During COVID I, like many others, drank more and in my case, enjoyed it much less.

Was there a moment you decided to rethink drinking?

After a few too many “Irish exits” and picking arguments which I couldn’t recall in the morning I decided it was time to take a break, maybe forever. I’m not someone who can have a glass of wine in February and not touch the bottle again until April. One turns into 15. I’ve made other dramatic changes in my life, health and diet so tried to see this as just one more healthy tweak. I’ve been a non-drinker for almost a year and a half now.

Has it been easy or difficult to give up alcohol, and what do you think contributed to that for you?

I’ll say it’s been easier than I expected, although not easy. Like quitting smoking many years ago I tried to position not drinking as something positive I was doing, i.e. I’m a non-drinker, rather than a loss or negative, i.e. I can’t have anymore wine! Both my step-son and my second oldest son have quit drinking and while they weren’t the catalyst for my decision, they’re both an inspiration to the process.

Have you learned anything about your health in relation to alcohol that was surprising or you wish you had known earlier?

I knew alcohol was a depressant, but I didn’t know it was toxic. I didn’t know about the hormonal peaks and valleys that create a self-fulfilling need for that next glass. I didn’t understand the etiology of addiction, that you don’t have to be an alcoholic to be addicted to alcohol. For me, not being able to stop after one or two meant an addiction was likely in place.

What kind of tools/prompts/books/podcasts did you use?

I found the Naked Mind 30-day experiment helpful in that it demystified all those things we believe: that alcohol helps you have fun, make meaningful connections and have interesting conversations. I also have a friend who finally succeeded inquitting drinking after many stops and starts and went on to become an Annie Grace certified coach. Her insights and suggestions were super helpful in staying the course and understanding the science.

What are some benefits you have experienced since cutting out alcohol?

It’s great to wake up in the morning without having to craft an apology for what you said or did the night before! It’s great to wake up clear-headed and energetic. I’ve also found an exploding community of people re-thinking drinking, whether that means quitting altogether or cutting way back. I’ve also had great fun watching all the new RTD mocktails in a can and great AF wines that are showing up on the market, both home-grown and imported. It’s great that quitting drinking is now a badge of honour and not something we have to lie about (I’m on antibiotics) or hide from others.

What were some common triggers you noticed that caused you to want to grab a glass of wine and what are you doing now to surge the urge when it hits?

The trigger was really the clock. By 4 p.m. it was time to wind down work, crack open a bottle of wine, or recently, indulge in a dirty dry martini, while preparing dinner. My crutch is AF wine. I’ve tried the AF beers and they’re good but I never was a beer drinker and the faux spirits I’ve tried haven’t been worth the money – for me! Now, when the clock says it’s time to wind down I pour a glass of lovely AF wine from South Africa or Spain. Interestingly, one or two glasses are quite enough; I don’t go through a bottle or two every day!

How did removing drinking from your life contribute to your role as mom/caregiver/partner, etc.?

My kids are grown so I’m no longer an active care-taker but my sense is they’re happy to see me not drinking, even if it takes away a mutual activity that used to be fun. My partner has, maybe coincidentally, taken to buying alcohol-reduced wine so he’s cut his consumption dramatically. His favourite is Kim Crawford’s Illuminate Sauvignon Blanc, which is only 7% alcohol, compared to the 13.5% more common in white wines. I’m sure he’s also relieved not to be fielding crazy provocations out of a clear night sky any longer.

What is the top piece of advice to someone who might want to rethink drinking?

Don’t go into it thinking, I’ll never have another drink ever, ever, every again; that’s too daunting. Tell yourself you’re taking a big break, you’ll educate yourself about the effects of alcohol on your body and your brain, and you’ll take it a bit at a time. There’s great value in the idea of one day at a time.

What do you wish you had known before you started this journey?

No regrets. The decision came at the right time for me, at a time when the AF alternatives on the market make the transition so much easier, and a time when it’s cool to not drink. I wish all that had happened earlier in my life but am grateful it happened post COVID when I really needed the boost.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your rethinking drinking journey?

It’s tough to share these ideas without sounding preachy or judgy. I’m not yet at the point where I can fully participate in cocktail hour, or a night out where others are drinking. There’s no temptation to drink but as the evening progresses, the conversation gets messier and I get bored. That’s something to prepare for as you may find, at least in the early going, that you decline invitations because the new you isn’t quite sure how to show up and stay engaged. It’s okay to have a bit of FOMO and take your time getting back to being social on your own terms. Maybe that’s the biggest piece of advice: no journey is the same, do it the way you want to do it and remember not all advice is sound and even if it is, it may not be relevant to you. The other great thing is there’s tonnes of support out there and a community that’s easy to find.

Check out Joanna’s website at www.joannapiros.com.