Upper Bottom

After a one-week break for the festive holiday, co-hosts Cess and Ollie return to discuss how their sober Christmas Days went – Botivo was a big hit for Cess! Ollie, meanwhile, shares a story about being sozzled in front of Princess Catherine. Oops! And, with the news that a record 15.5 million Britons (29% of the adult population in the UK) are planning to participate in Dry January, the pair have plenty of tips to help those giving up booze for a month ... or perhaps longer. Happy New Year to all our listeners. Good luck. Here's to a healthy and prosperous 2025! Booze News Items: Daily Mirror: Guinness shortage update issued after stocks run dry and pubs ration drinks (https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/guinness-shortage-update-issued-after-34351484 [https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/guinness-shortage-update-issued-after-34351484]) Daily Mirror: Almost a third of Brits sign up for biggest Dry January yet - 5 top tips for success (https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/dry-january-2025-success-tips-34346465 [https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/dry-january-2025-success-tips-34346465]) The Guardian: The Swedish sobriety secret: dry December – and off-licences shut on a Saturday night (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/18/the-swedish-sobriety-secret-dry-december-and-off-licences-shut-on-a-saturday-night [https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/18/the-swedish-sobriety-secret-dry-december-and-off-licences-shut-on-a-saturday-night]) Gloucestershire Live (via MSN): 'I'm a GP and this is how Dry January you can reset your sleep in four weeks’ (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/im-a-gp-and-this-is-how-dry-january-you-can-reset-your-sleep-in-four-weeks/ar-AA1wqipp [https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/im-a-gp-and-this-is-how-dry-january-you-can-reset-your-sleep-in-four-weeks/ar-AA1wqipp]) # [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/soberjourney/?hl=en]dryjanuary #soberjourney [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/soberjourney/?hl=en] #sobercurious [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/sobercurious/?hl=en] #soberadvice [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/soberadvice/?hl=en] #sobriety [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/sobriety/?hl=en] #upperbottompodcast [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/upperbottompodcast/?hl=en] #christmasdrinking [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/christmasdrinking/?hl=en] #drychristmas [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/drychristmas/?hl=en]

In the final episode before Christmas – the hosts will take a break on December 24 – Cess and Ollie consider embarrassing drinking tales from work dos in the past. They also contemplate how to ensure a sober person can enjoy themselves during the especially boozy party season, and offer some tips and tricks. Given the time of year, there is also a reflection on the last 12 months – and the pair have crammed a lot into 2024. Needless to say, this would not have been possible had they been still drinking. Happy festive season to all Upper Bottom listeners – the next episode will run on December 31, focusing on preparing for Dry January. Bonus Link: A runner in Toronto has fun: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDPe-lgsEHH/?igsh=MTE5ZzdzOHJkZ2l3ZQ== [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDPe-lgsEHH/?igsh=MTE5ZzdzOHJkZ2l3ZQ==] Booze News items: BBC: Nightclub stickers over smartphone rule divides the dancefloor (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gpn44pyz9o [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gpn44pyz9o]) i: I save £7k a year not drinking – how I do party season sober (https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/save-7k-year-not-drinking-party-sober-3410475?ico=most_ [https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/save-7k-year-not-drinking-party-sober-3410475?ico=most_]) Guardian: ‘I’d always enjoyed alcohol – but my mother’s sudden, violent death made me a heavy drinker overnight’ (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/dec/08/id-always-enjoyed-alcohol-but-my-mothers-sudden-violent-death-made-me-a-heavy-drinker-overnight [https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/dec/08/id-always-enjoyed-alcohol-but-my-mothers-sudden-violent-death-made-me-a-heavy-drinker-overnight]) #soberjourney [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/soberjourney/?hl=en] #sobercurious [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/sobercurious/?hl=en] #soberadvice [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/soberadvice/?hl=en] #sobriety [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/sobriety/?hl=en] #upperbottompodcast [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/upperbottompodcast/?hl=en] # [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/christmasdrinking/?hl=en]christmasparty #christmasdrinking [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/christmasdrinking/?hl=en] #drychristmas [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/drychristmas/?hl=en]

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