384. Defining problematic drinking with sommelier turned sober coach , Ted Gibson384. Defining problematic drinking with sommelier turned sober coach , Ted Gibson
How I quit alcohol
Former sommelier and current sober coach Ted Gibson talks about his shift from professional drinking to alcohol-free living, and how he reframes what counts as a ‘problem’ with alcohol. The conversation highlights identity, values, parenting and the power of taking a structured break from booze.
49:57•29 Aug 2026
From Wine Expert to Sober Coach: Ted Gibson Rethinks Problem Drinking
Episode Overview
- Problematic drinking isn’t just rock bottom; it can be any pattern that pulls someone away from their values, relationships or sleep, even if life seems ‘fine’.
- Alcohol is often used to mask social anxiety, low self-confidence and appearance worries, which can hide just how dependent someone feels on drinking.
- Time away from alcohol is a powerful tool; a clear commitment (such as a year off) reduces constant negotiation and lets people truly feel life without booze.
- Alcohol-free options, like non-alcoholic beers and wines, can make social events easier and help people feel included while maintaining sobriety.
- Structured breaks, such as a guided 60-day pause, give space to examine beliefs, identity and goals so any future decision about drinking is genuinely informed.
“Life on the other side is pretty fucking sweet.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This chat with sober coach and former sommelier Ted Gibson gives a refreshingly real answer. Ted shares how a pretty average, loving childhood in Massachusetts eventually collided with social anxiety, early hair loss and the seductive buzz of alcohol. He jokes that he liked feeling “mildly fucked up”, but he also admits booze quickly became the shortcut to confidence, connection and, later, his entire professional identity.
As he says, “In any given room, I was the expert on booze.” Working in hospitality, getting certified as a sommelier and spirits specialist, travelling the globe for tastings – drinking didn’t just shape his social life, it defined who he was at work and at home. Yet he never thought he had a “problem”, even while blacking out, drink driving and getting hurt on wild nights out.
That’s why this episode digs into what “problematic drinking” really means, far beyond the stereotype of rock-bottom. Ted and host Danni Carr talk about the quieter red flags: needing alcohol for social ease, relying on it to manage stress, snapping at loved ones, or letting it get between you and the parent, partner or friend you want to be.
Ted now sees a problem as “anything that pulls me out of the present moment or away from my values.” You’ll also hear how becoming a dad during COVID led him to take a one-year break from alcohol—originally just to cope with nappies and night feeds—and how that year quietly turned into almost six. He still works in the bar industry, leans heavily on alcohol-free options, and helps clients take 60-day breaks to see what life feels like without booze.
His verdict? “Life on the other side is pretty fucking sweet.” If you’ve ever thought, “Things aren’t that bad, so I can’t have a problem,” this conversation might have you asking much better questions about your own drinking.
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