AlcoLog: Track Smarter-Drink Better With Dean ChewAlcoLog: Track Smarter-Drink Better With Dean Chew
The Alcohol Minimalist Podcast
Molly Watts talks with Dean Chew about his journey from heavy drinking and hospitalisation to using naltrexone and creating the AlcoLog app. The discussion focuses on mindful drinking, practical guardrails, and using nonjudgmental tracking to support moderation and alcohol‑free days.
1:00:01•12 Oct 2026
Track Smarter, Drink Better: Dean Chew on AlcoLog and Mindful Drinking
Episode Overview
- Early social acceptance of heavy drinking can mask growing problems until serious health issues appear.
- A hospital stay for alcohol withdrawal and dehydration pushed Dean to reassess his drinking and health anxiety.
- Naltrexone and The Sinclair Method can help reduce alcohol’s pull, especially when combined with consistent tracking.
- Clear personal guardrails, such as limiting drinking days, support moderation for those who struggle to stop at one drink.
- AlcoLog offers flexible, nonjudgmental tracking of drinks, medication and alcohol‑free days, helping users see patterns and make more intentional choices.
“One drink is too many, 20 is not enough.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation between Molly Watts and guest Dean Chew speaks directly to people who want a calmer, more intentional relationship with alcohol, whether that means moderation or more alcohol‑free days. Dean shares how growing up in British pub culture led to heavy drinking from his teens, and how life in Manila, with bars between his office and home, fuelled a routine of 18 beers on weeknights and even more at weekends.
The turning point comes with a frightening collapse in a bar and a five‑day hospital stay for severe dehydration and alcohol withdrawal. From there, you’ll hear about years of health anxiety, learning mindfulness and meditation, and the slow realisation that, as Dean puts it, “one drink is too many, 20 is not enough.” Rather than swearing off alcohol entirely, Dean experiments with naltrexone and The Sinclair Method, finding them helpful but frustrated by clunky tracking tools.
As a lifelong programmer, he decides to build the alcohol app he wishes he had, leading to AlcoLog – an alcohol tracking app designed for habit drinkers, people using naltrexone, and those working on moderation or sobriety. The chat walks through AlcoLog’s flexible, nonjudgmental design: detailed drink and medication logging, an "Alco score" showing trends, hydration reminders, optional sober mode for alcohol‑free stretches, and privacy‑friendly data kept on the device.
There’s also mention of a free Sober October challenge, which fits neatly with Molly’s focus on “more sober October” and prioritising alcohol‑free days. You’ll get a mix of candid personal stories, practical tools, and a realistic take on what changing drinking habits can look like over many years. If you’re wondering how tracking might help you drink less without feeling deprived, this episode offers plenty to think about and a concrete option to try.
What small shift could you make this week towards a more peaceful relationship with alcohol?
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