Upper Bottom

With the festive season in full swing, Cess – now a marathon runner – and Ollie explore how norms are changing regarding Christmas drinking. And it seems that really boring lot, Gen Zzz, is to blame (according to the Daily Mail). A new trend for "Dry Christmas" is gathering pace, quicker than a behind-schdule Rudolph. This movement is being helped by more low- and no-alcohol options. The hosts welcome Emma Newman (@emma_sobersocial on Instagram) to discuss Christmasy alternatives to traditional drinks, plus her sobriety journey, which started over nine years ago. Booze News Items Mirror: Nearly half of Gen Z embrace a sober festive season as 'Dry Christmas' gains traction (https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/nearly-half-gen-z-embrace-34225345 [https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/nearly-half-gen-z-embrace-34225345]) Daily Mail: Gen Zzz kills off the Christmas party: The VERY different face of the festive bash now mistletoe is out, Band Aid is banned and 'sober curious' guests are home by 9pm (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14136625/The-new-Gen-Z-Christmas-party-Mistletoe-Band-Aid-teetotal.html [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14136625/The-new-Gen-Z-Christmas-party-Mistletoe-Band-Aid-teetotal.html]) Financial Times (via MSN): Is this the year of the sober office Christmas party? (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/topstories/is-this-the-year-of-the-sober-office-christmas-party/ar-AA1v3CbC [https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/topstories/is-this-the-year-of-the-sober-office-christmas-party/ar-AA1v3CbC]) The Independent (via MSN): New low-alcohol beer launched to cut boozy train passenger accidents (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/news/new-low-alcohol-beer-launched-to-cut-boozy-train-passenger-accidents/ar-AA1vhFmW [https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/news/new-low-alcohol-beer-launched-to-cut-boozy-train-passenger-accidents/ar-AA1vhFmW])  #soberjourney #sobercurious #soberadvice #sobriety #upperbottompodcast #christmasdrinking #drychristmas

What was your relationship with alcohol like when growing up? To what extent did how your parents' drinking habits shape your own? And what do today's youngsters think about boozing? Ollie and Cess – who both gave up alcohol at least in part to set a better example for their children – try to answer these big questions. And to assist with the last puzzler, the co-hosts' offspring offer their words of wisdom (partly in the hope of becoming world famous, more fool them). The short interviews are sweet and revealing. In other news, Ollie's latest column for Low No Drinker Magazine [https://www.lownodrinkermagazine.com/] about the slow descent to a boozy Christmas (and how to avoid it) has been published. The lovely editor, Denise, has offered Upper Bottom listeners a 20% discount using the code UPPER20 (expires Dec 31). Finally, well done (and thank you) certified superfan Tom Bowen for sharing the podcast with the most people! A mug will find its way to you very soon. X Booze News items: The Wall Street Journal: Why Is Everyone ‘Sober-ish’ All of a Sudden? (https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/why-is-everyone-sober-ish-all-of-a-sudden/ar-AA1uxccX [https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/why-is-everyone-sober-ish-all-of-a-sudden/ar-AA1uxccX]) BBC: ‘I had no idea being a social drinker would damage my liver by 31’ (https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/articles/c30pre660mzo [https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/articles/c30pre660mzo]) Metro (via MSN): I watched my mum wreck her life through alcohol, then I did the same https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/i-watched-my-mum-wreck-her-life-through-alcohol-then-i-did-the-same/ar-AA1ufFLU [https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/i-watched-my-mum-wreck-her-life-through-alcohol-then-i-did-the-same/ar-AA1ufFLU]    Evening Standard: Denise Welch was 'in denial' about how her drug and alcohol use affected son Matty Healy (https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/denise-welch-was-in-denial-about-how-her-drug-and-alcohol-use-affected-son-matty-healy/ar-AA1urin8 [https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/denise-welch-was-in-denial-about-how-her-drug-and-alcohol-use-affected-son-matty-healy/ar-AA1urin8]) #soberjourney #sobercurious #soberadvice #sobriety #upperbottompodcast #childrenandalcohol

To answer this massive question, Ollie and Cess draw upon their own insights and the straight-talking wisdom of interviewee Gary Mairs – aka sobernsound ("sweary sobriety mentor") on Instagram. Gary's catchphrase for his 33,000+ followers is "get to midnight and go again". He attended AA in April 2014, but struggled with the idea of supplicating to God, or a higher power. Yet, through meditation and no small amount of determination, Gary beat the booze. Here, he discusses the difference between "survival sobriety" – which is when, in the early days, you just try and get through the days and weeks without a drink – and "emotional sobriety", and that comes later. There is plenty of excellent advice for Upper Bottoms – and those who might be falling deeper. Booze News items: The Independent via MSN: Denzel Washington opens up about past struggles with drugs and alcohol: ‘I’ve done a lot of damage’ (https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/denzel-washington-opens-up-about-past-struggles-with-drugs-and-alcohol-i-ve-done-a-lot-of-damage/ar-AA1uoBrA [https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/denzel-washington-opens-up-about-past-struggles-with-drugs-and-alcohol-i-ve-done-a-lot-of-damage/ar-AA1uoBrA]) Wales Online: 'I turned my addictions from drugs to furniture and made a thriving business’ (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/i-turned-my-addictions-from-drugs-to-furniture-and-made-a-thriving-business/ar-AA1ul3I8 [https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/i-turned-my-addictions-from-drugs-to-furniture-and-made-a-thriving-business/ar-AA1ul3I8])    The Caterer: Customers are drinking less – how can I balance the booze on my menu? (https://www.thecaterer.com/indepth/how-can-i-serve-up-a-sober-christmas [https://www.thecaterer.com/indepth/how-can-i-serve-up-a-sober-christmas]) #soberjourney #sobercurious #soberadvice #sobriety #alcoholicsanonymous #addiction #UpperBottomPodcast #sobermovement

Dr Fiona Dowman, a clinical psychologist and addiction specialist, joins Cess and Ollie and shares many illuminating insights for Upper Bottoms – and those who have dropped lower. What are the signs of addiction? Are some people more predisposed to addiction than others? What are drinkers hoping to gain from boozing hard? And what are the tools and tips to gain better control over one's "relationship with alcohol", as Fiona, Founder of Purple Bridge Psychology, calls it? These puzzlers and more are answered. You'll also discover the benefits of establishing personal values, mindfulness, and acceptance and commitment therapy. This episode is packed with great, timely advice, given we are nearing the start of the indulgent festive season. Booze News items: London Review of Books: La Chasse au Pinard (https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/n21/julian-barnes/la-chasse-au-pinard [https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/n21/julian-barnes/la-chasse-au-pinard]) Good Housekeeping (via MSN): "We're a 'half sober' couple - I drink but my husband doesn't" (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/foodanddrink/news/we-re-a-half-sober-couple-i-drink-but-my-husband-doesn-t/ar-AA1tJC7P [https://www.msn.com/en-gb/foodanddrink/news/we-re-a-half-sober-couple-i-drink-but-my-husband-doesn-t/ar-AA1tJC7P]) Psychology Today: Reframe Addiction: Why Sobriety Is Not Just Recovery (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sober-curiosity/202411/reframe-addiction-why-sobriety-is-not-just-recovery [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sober-curiosity/202411/reframe-addiction-why-sobriety-is-not-just-recovery]) Lad Bible: Man breaks sobriety after 18 months and shares 'surprising' impact it had on him (https://www.ladbible.com/news/health/what-happens-to-the-body-when-you-break-sobriety-958032-20241114 [https://www.ladbible.com/news/health/what-happens-to-the-body-when-you-break-sobriety-958032-20241114]) #soberjourney #sobercurious #soberadvice #sobriety #addiction #UpperBottomPodcast #sobermovement

Is a rock-and-roll lifestyle a shortcut to hitting rock bottom? Cess invites his musical pals Louis Brennan and Tom Bowen, who both stopped drinking during the pandemic, to explore the dangerous dance between sonic creativity and intoxicants. It's a wild jig – and a level lower than usual for Upper Bottom listeners. Indeed, Tom reveals that he was shocked into giving up boozing after a doctor said he had only a year left to live if he didn't change his lifestyle. However, the episode is timely, given the tragic premature death of musical megastar Liam Payne. RIP. Booze News items: UK Addiction Treatment Centres: Liam Payne: A talent lost – Alcoholism, struggles, and tragic death (https://www.ukat.co.uk/blog/celebrity/liam-payne-a-talent-lost/ [https://www.ukat.co.uk/blog/celebrity/liam-payne-a-talent-lost/]) The Independent: Donald Trump reveals real reason he doesn’t drink alcohol (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/donald-trump-reveals-real-reason-he-doesn-t-drink-alcohol/ar-AA1t5Lzt [https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/donald-trump-reveals-real-reason-he-doesn-t-drink-alcohol/ar-AA1t5Lzt]) BBC: Pub garden smoking ban dropped from government plans (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c79ze8gv1w4o [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c79ze8gv1w4o]) The Independent (via MSN): ‘I wish I’d never taken it’: More young people seeking rehab as ketamine addiction spirals in the UK Story by Holly Evans (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/i-wish-i-d-never-taken-it-more-young-people-seeking-rehab-as-ketamine-addiction-spirals-in-the-uk/ar-AA1tqBwF [https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/i-wish-i-d-never-taken-it-more-young-people-seeking-rehab-as-ketamine-addiction-spirals-in-the-uk/ar-AA1tqBwF])  #soberjourney #sobercurious #soberadvice #sobriety #rockandroll #sobermusicians #UpperBottomPodcast #sobermovement