Worried that summer will not feel “right” without an icy cold drink?
In this episode of The Alcohol Myth Podcast, coaches Jonathan Ball and Ellen Biggs tackle one of the biggest seasonal fear stories: “My perfect summer won’t be perfect if I don’t drink.” From grilling and lake days to golf, weddings, vacations, and patio happy hours, we break down why it feels so daunting, and how to build real confidence through first times, simple planning, and self-compassion.
If you keep telling yourself, “I’ll do it after this event,” this conversation is for you.
In this video, you’ll learn:
- Why there will always be a reason to drink if you wait for the “perfect time”
- How to handle summer rituals: grilling, beach days, golf rounds, weddings
- Why first times feel weird, and how new neural pathways form fast
- How to reframe the experience: what you are allowing, not what you are losing
- A practical experiment: try one event alcohol-free and record what you learn
- How mocktails and alcohol-free options can keep the ritual without the aftermath
Connect with us:
Email: thealcoholmyth@gmail.com
Jonathan: https://livecreativeaf.com/
Ellen: https://ellenbiggscoaching.com/
Subscribe for more episodes on pulling back the curtain on the alcohol myth.
Chapters
0:00 Stop waiting for a “quiet season”
1:36 The summer myth: “I need a drink for this”
2:46 Why summer feels like a boogeyman
6:15 The key realization: there will always be events
8:13 Busy seasons can build your sober muscles faster
9:52 First times and new neural pathways
13:27 The golf example: disentangling the fun from the beer
19:20 Glamour vs reality: alcohol math, dehydration, distraction
22:13 Try it without booze: camping and beach trips
29:37 Plan ahead: fun summer drinks without alcohol
35:16 Practical takeaway: pick one challenge, bring an alternative, journal the results
38:08 Compassion, curiosity, and email us your “summer fear list”
#SoberSummer #QuitDrinking #AlcoholFree #SoberCurious #AlcoholMythPodcast #ThisNakedMind #Mocktails #HabitChange
