I’m heading away on a school mum’s weekend in the Hunter Valley – which, if you’re not from Australia, is a well-known wine region.
And the itinerary is exactly what you’d expect. Arrival drinks and canapés, a long lunch the next day, then drinks and live music that night. The invite itself is covered in wine glasses and phrases like “and of course, more wine.”
For a lot of people, that can feel a bit off-putting. Especially if you’re trying to drink less or you’ve decided not to drink at all.
But here’s the shift that’s made the biggest difference for me.
Instead of focusing on the alcohol, I’ve stepped back and looked at the weekend as a whole.
It’s 50+ mums getting away together for a full weekend. It’s the drive up chatting non-stop with a friend. Sharing a room and gasbagging all weekend. Catching up with people I already know and finally connecting with ones I haven’t had the chance to yet.
It’s the food, the music, the beautiful surroundings. Slow mornings, included breakfasts, early walks.
When you zoom out like that, alcohol becomes the least important part of the experience.
And that’s the part I think often gets missed.
We build these events up in our minds as being “all about the drinking,” when in reality, that’s just one small piece of a much bigger picture.
So the question becomes – why would I miss out on all of that connection just because I’d prefer a Coke Zero over a pinot?
It doesn’t make sense.
Choosing to drink less doesn’t mean you have to completely overhaul who you are or how you socialise. It doesn’t mean opting out of weekends away, dinners, or celebrations.
You still get to go. You still get to be part of it. You still belong in those spaces.
And if anything, you’ll likely find you’re more present for it. More connected to the conversations, the people, and the experience as a whole.
Of course, if an environment feels unsafe, overwhelming, or unwelcoming, that’s a different story. It’s important to recognise those situations and honour what feels right for you.
But if you’re second guessing whether you still fit in these kinds of environments just because you’re drinking less, the answer is yes.
You do.
Written by Ange Chappel – Founder, Mind The Sip
What is Mind The Sip?
Mind The Sip is a mindful drinking network designed to help people drink less alcohol, reduce alcohol consumption, and change their relationship with drinking in a sustainable way. Whether you want to cut back on alcohol, reset your drinking habits, or explore an alcohol free lifestyle, Mind The Sip provides practical mindful drinking tools, education, and expert support to help you create lasting behaviour change.
The Mind The Sip ecosystem includes the Mind The Sip app, a mindful drinking and habit tracking app that helps you build awareness around your alcohol consumption, track drinks, set alcohol reduction goals, and stay accountable as you work toward healthier habits.
Our Coaching Academy includes the behaviour change programme Not Another 30 Day Challenge – The Mind The Sip Method, designed for people who are tired of short term resets and want a more sustainable approach to changing their drinking habits. The academy also offers the Accredited Award in Mindful Drinking and Life Coaching for those who want to professionally support others in the growing mindful drinking, sober curious, and alcohol reduction space.
If you are looking for practical ways to drink less alcohol, build healthier drinking habits, explore mindful drinking tools, or train as a mindful drinking coach, you can explore the full Mind The Sip network at Mind The Sip website.