Episode 511 - How to Market Alcohol

Today we have Arlina. She is 55 years old from Boise, ID and took her last drink 30 years ago.

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[03:09] Thoughts from Paul:

When Dr. David Nut, a British researcher was tasked by the government to put a harm score on 20 of the world's drugs, it wasn't crack, heroin, meth or cocaine in the number one spot. It was alcohol. Especially when looking at the economic impact.

Paul says that when he becomes president, he would not attempt prohibition, which was an epic fail in the early 20th century. But he would promote education about the effects of alcohol early and often focusing on the fact that NONE is the healthiest amount to drink.

Also up to be reformed would be taxes, advertising, labeling and taking responsibility for it's trash and recovery for those affected by their product.

[08:02] Paul introduces Arlina:

Arlina has been sober since April of 1994 when she was 25 years old. Arlina was also a guest on Episode 232 five years ago. She grew up in California but now lives in Idaho. Arlina spent time working as an account executive for both large and small companies, but now enjoys crafty things and making soap. She is married and they have two grown sons and an English bulldog.

Early childhood was difficult for Arlina. After some traumatic events, the idea that something was wrong with her was instilled in her. Arlina began to feel like if she couldn't be good, she could be good at being bad. Her first drink happened when she was around 9 years old when she had the urge to escape her feelings. Drugs and alcohol anesthetized her pain. Binge drinking was what Arlina did most of her drinking career and says that it was fun at first, then became fun with problems, and finally it was just problems. She says she didn't have connection with herself, so she was seeking external validation through her drinking.

Two years before quitting, Arlina knew she had a problem and didn't want abstinence to be the solution, so she tried moderation for a while. Eventually she was able to quit drinking, but it was a few more months before she realized that marijuana caused the same issues for her, and she quit that as well. Arlina shares some concepts from the book What Happened to You? The main concept being that our coping mechanisms used when we are young are repurposed when we are older. She says she has done and continues to do a lot of work to help her stay away from the default.

Arlina has recently written a book called The 12 Step Guide for Skeptics. She hopes with this book that she will show others that the 12-step process is a worthwhile process for everyone.

Arlina still goes to AA meetings even after thirty years of sobriety because it fulfills several things for her. The need for connection, the need for service, review of the information that got her sober and it gives her a place to process her feelings

Arlina's parting piece of guidance: all the answers are inside of you. Be kind to yourself and just be patient.

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[49:58] Outro:

This podcast isn't about demonizing alcohol, but we also don't want to keep our head in the sand. And if we have an opportunity and platform to speak our mind to make positive change, then we have to do it.

Keep showing up, I love you guys.

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We took the elevator down; we got to take the stairs back up.

We can do this.

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