This week, Vic and Hamish dive headfirst into one of the most common and dangerously convincing excuses in the drinking world:

“I’m not alcoholic enough to stop.”

It’s the idea that if you haven’t hit rock bottom, you haven’t earned your sober stripes. That unless you’re swigging whiskey at 10am or shouting at a toaster in a wine-stained dressing gown, your drinking “isn’t that bad.”

In this episode, Vic and Hame finally get to be the experts—sharing their own experiences of going sober before things totally fell apart. They explore why people cling to this excuse, the outdated stereotype of what an “alcoholic” looks like, and how the stigma, denial, fear of change, and cultural acceptance of booze all play a part in keeping people stuck.

There’s also some fascinating research, a bit of self-deprecating truth telling, and yes—a shame-prevention schemes, and an Australian slang battle that proves even ChatGPT might be an alcoholic.

By the end of this one, you’ll be asking:

– Do I really have to wait until everything breaks to make a change?

– What if I just skip the crash and start feeling better now?

Packed with laughs, science, stories, and serious wake-up calls, this is the episode for anyone who’s ever said:

“I’m not that bad.”

🎧 Show Notes

💛 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

🎧 Listen to more Sober Awkward episodes

👉 www.soberawkward.com

🫖 Join The Cuppa Community

Our private, supportive online space for sober folk

👉 www.cuppa.community

📘 Get the Sober Awkward Guide

Our downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way.

👉 The Sober Awkward Guide

📱 Follow us for daily sober fun:

Instagram: @soberawkward

TikTok: @soberawkward

Facebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women

🚨 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

🇺🇸 USA

– SAMHSA National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

– AA USA – www.aa.org

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