Why is moderation so deeply unsexy?

Back in 2017, I wrote a book called Mindful Drinking. The idea was that there are lots of books out there about how to stop drinking, but many people don’t want to stop altogether, they just want to cut down. The book was a guide for anyone who wants to drink a bit less. Pretty uncontroversial, you might think? I certainly did.

But I faced criticism from both sides: drinkers thought it was sanctimonious and dull to cut down, and I had just as many angry comments from the sober community, who thought it was irresponsible to suggest that any amount of alcohol is acceptable.

Just to be clear, I have never told a heavy drinker that they should cut down, just as I’ve never tried to pressure a sober person into drinking. The point of the book was to support anyone who wanted to cut back, with tools and techniques to make it easier. The book is there for you if you want it but, if you don’t like it, don’t b…