The Good Drinker: How I Learned to Love Drinking Less

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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Adrian Chiles has consumed absolutely eye watering, Churchillian quantities of alcohol throughout his life. Only recently someone reported, in hushed and shocked tones, that a relative going through a trauma had drunk a litre bottle of vodka – and I asked ‘over what time period? Over the last few years he has cut down significantly though, as he tells in the personal chapters of the book which cover his whole drinking life, from his first teenage beers to today. Just as everyone’s got a different idea of what constitutes moderate drinking, there’s plenty of disagreement as to what heavy drinking looks like.

But it is well written, and has some interesting things to say about how we see addiction and recovery, especially for American readers. One of the many benefits was that it was yet another stupid excuse not to curtail my drinking – ‘I do all this running, so I’m sweating all the booze out anyway’, and so on. Personally I think he’s consumed such large quantities of alcohol in the past stopping altogether rather than drinking in “moderation” as he likes to describe it would be more sensible. More shocking than that, though, was the figure I got to when I considered how many of those drinks I could have done without.but as he was born with a facial abnormality he has been homeschooled by his parents his whole life. It’s a really good mix of being informative, factual – but not preachy – and most definitely not ‘it’s my way or the highway’.

It wasn’t so much the social interactions I struggled with; the laughing and chatting were no problem. Love Your Sober Year builds on their previous Love Yourself Sober book, set around the annual cycle of nature. The “soul” of the book’s title doesn’t refer to a religious idea by the way, but more to an internal essence we all have. I've occasionally been asked why it is that I need to go for a drink before watching the Albion play. In this book, she explores how we find meaning and peace in these loud and frantic times; where we start again after personal and public devastation; how we recapture wholeness after loss; and how we locate our true identities in this frazzled age.I can always recite the quadratic equation formula to prove I’m sober (this was my party trick during sixth form and uni – I did a maths degree, so can be excused for being a total geek!

Adrian is honest and transparent about his own alcohol journey, and the challenge in cutting down, whilst still enjoying a drink. Adrian Chiles presents a different proposition to heavy drinkers wanting to do something about it; instead of abstaining, how about drinking in moderation? This extraordinary debut, full of unexpected humour and emotional truth, marks the arrival of a thrilling and significant new talent. Join the inimitable Chiles as he sets out around Britain and plumbs his only slightly fuzzy memories of a lifetime in pubs in a quest to find the good drinker within. It turns out that all my life, without realising it, I’ve been sure to surround myself with other drinkers.Whether this is a good or bad thing is beside the point; the reality is that this is what my life looks like, and this is what I must work with. What is unique to New Mocktails Bible, are recipes provided by many alcohol-free drink producers, using their own products. So, if you’re a heavy drinker, even if you’re experiencing (as I did) no noticeable ill effects, think about moderating while you can.

I wouldn’t be disowned, and I’d still be in touch with my friends and have good times with them, but it would be different. These poetic prescriptions and wise words of advice offer comfort, delight and inspiration for all; a space for reflection, and that precious realization - I'm not the only one who feels like this. The long subtitle of this book is All Occasion Guide to Alcohol-Free, Zero-Proof, No-Regrets, Sober-Curious Lifestyle. As for actual strategies to cut down, there are an assortment littered throughout the book some of which may be useful. Whilst I admire his efforts I really got the feeling that Adrian is kidding himself when he says he has drinking under control.

There is some practical advice here, but it is more about presenting an alternative to giving up completely. But the thing is this: I love drinking and want to be able to do it without destroying my life in the process. Again, I would stress it’s a personal opinion but if you are looking for inspiration to stop drinking I don’t think it’s this book. Always consult a suitably qualified medical professional in a timely manner before undertaking any medical-related decisions.