Does a sunny day spark a craving for a cold alcoholic drink? Do pub gardens, barbecues, and outdoor gatherings feel like booze is suddenly everywhere, making it harder to stick to your goals? If the sun is your biggest trigger, this episode can help.

Join Anna as she unpacks why sunshine is such a powerful cue for drinking, especially in UK culture, and how our brains build deep associations between warm weather and alcohol. She explores the neuroscience of habit (hello, Pavlov!), the biology of sunshine-boosted serotonin, the pull of “holiday mode,” and the classic FOMO that comes with social summer events.

Anna introduces the SUN Framework, a quick, empowering tool to help you spot old scripts, update their meaning, and truly nourish the real needs beneath your cravings. 

Whether you’re sober-curious, cutting back, or living alcohol-free, this episode will help you rewrite your summer story.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction

05:26 Sun can trigger a Pavlovian response for drinking

07:33 Old habits echo like Pavlovian responses, but you can learn new ones

09:40 Sunlight boosts serotonin, enhancing mood, focus, and sleep

17:36 Sunshine triggers a holiday mindset, linking relaxation and indulgence with alcohol

21:31 Belonging feels safe, while standing out feels risky

25:31 We don't crave beer, but the feelings of happiness, belonging, and relaxation we associate with it

31:52 Identify and meet your needs by creating new, enjoyable rituals

33:59 Reflect on your "new summer story" by journaling about it.

🏆Please vote for The Big Drink Rethink in the ITV bCreator Awards 2025

1. Click on the link below

2. Pop in your email

3. Select I’M A SUBSCRIBER / FOLLOWER

4. Select CREATOR SHORTLIST

5. Hit SUBMIT YOUR VOTE

6. Scroll down to the Podcast bCreator category and vote for THE BIG DRINK RETHINK

Here’s the link:🔗 https://www.bcreator.co.uk/awards/

🔗 Get the free SUN Framework toolkit and all our resources from: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com

If you’re a mum wanting to explore your relationship with alcohol, join ‘Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mummydoesntneedwine

Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:  https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Mentioned in this episode:

To pre-order my book, What Are You Thirsty For on Amazon select here: https://amzn.eu/d/3v3T6Mq