Meet Andy. She's as sparkly as the ETCH AF drinks that she and hubby Jase have developed for the #sobercurious #Alchoholfree or simply humans who want to feel better and live better through healthy choices.
A woman with passion and drive, Andy (& Jase) celebrate Australian native ingredients in a socially inclusive fusion of sparkling and flavour - a sensory experience for the tastebuds.
This week, she offers up some sage advice for those who may be sober curious, and for those who want to change the narrative of their habits.
Take a read, and perhaps take a break BADASS!
📷Image @katherineandcamera
Australians love a drink. We are socially conditioned from a young age to believe we NEED an alcoholic beverage to celebrate, commiserate, relax, and unwind. From weddings to baby showers to funerals, there are very few occasions that having an alcoholic beverage is not encouraged.
While having a few drinks in moderation is perfectly fine for many of us, there is no denying that taking a break or moderating our drinking can prove beneficial to our overall health. The Australian Drug and Alcohol Foundation offers some guidelines to reduce the risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury:
For healthy men and women, it is recommended they drink no more than 10 standard drinks per week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day.
*Note the serving size when you are calculating your alcohol consumption.
*It’s important to note there is no ‘safe’ level of alcohol consumption.
We can hear all of the warnings and health statistics but often it doesn’t sink in until we reach the point of having a health scare and are forced to make a change.
If you find yourself reaching for a bottle to unwind after a stressful day at work, or to help you get to sleep at night it might be a good time to check in and have a break. Let’s talk about the benefits!
Improved Sleep
Even though many people believe alcohol helps them to sleep at night, the truth is that when alcohol is consumed, you typically fall straight into a deep sleep, which can mean you are missing the crucial rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, essential for deep, restorative sleep.
We all know that everything is better with a good night’s sleep and it’s rewarding to learn that even moderate drinkers will experience the benefits of quality sleep along with improved clarity of thought, better decision-making, lower anxiety, and better choices around eating.
Improved overall health
There are many benefits for your overall physical health, including reducing your risk of stroke, heart attack, and cancer (alcohol is linked most commonly to breast and bowel cancers, but also to liver and oesophageal cancer).
Your liver plays a role in over 500 vital processes in the body such as helping to fight infection, maintaining hormonal balance, and removing contaminants. In the absence of alcohol, the liver can focus on other jobs, such as breaking down other toxins produced by the body, metabolizing fats, and regulating the balance of hormones in the body.
Alcohol is a diuretic. It causes your body to remove fluids from your blood through your renal system at a much quicker rate than other liquids.
Clearer skin and complexion
Cutting back on your alcohol consumption will mean improved hydration, which leads to clearer skin and the whites of your eyes will be whiter.
Aside from the many mental & physical health benefits, there are so many wonderful benefits such as being able to drive home any time you’d like! There is no better feeling than being able to leave the party whenever you feel like it, always being available to jump in the car at a minute’s notice not having to stop and check if you might be over the limit. While social anxiety can be a challenge if you have relied on alcohol to mask this in the past, being present at the moment pushing through these moments and having genuine connections with people is truly worthwhile.
Tools
Enjoy the ritual
Continue the ritual of enjoying a sophisticated drink, just skip the booze. Pour yourself an alcohol-free drink into a fancy glass, add a garnish, and join the party.
Connection
Enlisting a buddy or support crew around you can increase your chances of success and help to keep you accountable. There are so many wonderful online communities available and apps that can help support you in your goals to drink healthier….whether that be cutting back or cutting out booze such as:
Apps:
Get active
This may be obvious if you are a part of the Holistic Hikes community, but movement is instrumental to our mental health and relieving stress. At times when you know you will feel triggered, use exercise as a circuit breaker…you will be surprised how quickly the craving will pass.
If you’ve been wondering what taking a break from booze might look like for you, now could be the perfect time to give it a go and find out just how strong empowered, and badass you can feel sans booze!
Andy x
ETCH Sparkling is a family-run, proudly 100% Australian-owned business based on the beautiful Boon Wurrung /Bunurong Country - Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. Read about how founders Jase & Andy came to develop ETCH.
ETCH Sparkling was created by Andy and her husband Jason to provide delicious grown-up options for people looking to moderate or cut out alcohol for a period of time (or for good) without the feeling of missing out. The all-natural range is alcohol-free, sugar-free (with no nasty artificial sweeteners either!) and crafted using native Australian fruits and herbs.
ETCH = Every Time Choose Health
A word (okay a few) from Me.
As a subject close to my heart, alcoholism is a pressing issue in our society. Consider your own habits and how they impact not only your health but the well-being of the people around you. When we chase an active, outdoor lifestyle we are choosing our health and the crutch of a drink falls away as too our anxiety and stress. Being outdoors, in the natural environment provides a natural high, one where we are present in our thoughts and have the ability to work through to a solution.
Holistic Hikes Retreats feature a range of ETCH sparkling drinks for our guests as an alternative. We believe in balance and moderation however understand that this isn't a realistic path forward for some.
If you feel you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol, the ADIS support line is a free service for support.
Alcohol Drug Information Service (ADIS): 1800 250 015 (24 hours/day, 7 days/week) ADIS provides a free service for those who are having issues with alcohol, are concerned about someone else’s alcohol use, or just have general questions about alcohol.
Mands x