Surely I Can Just Have One?

Surely I Can Just Have One?

Get ready to be moved by real-life accounts of trying, failing, and finally quitting the fantasy of "just one". This Sober Awkward instalment follows Vic and Ulrika as they pick apart one of sobriety’s trickiest questions: why can some people stop at a single drink while others wake up with twigs in their hair and a kebab in their top pocket?

You’ll hear Vic describe years of bargaining with herself, promising to have "only two" or to "drink water between wines", and then ending up on the dance floor, shirt ripped open to Blondie. She admits, "Failing at moderation was part of my identity. It proved I was fun, spontaneous, and a reliable drinking buddy," until motherhood made that identity feel unbearable.

Ulrika, meanwhile, talks about drinking mostly at home, hiding her real consumption behind lines like, "Oh, I only had two rums," while knowing the bottle rarely survived the night. Rather than blaming character flaws or weak willpower, they look squarely at alcohol as a drug.

Ulrika explains how the first drink sparks dopamine and makes the brain crave more, asking, "Why am I expecting myself to moderate a drug whose primary effect is making me want more of it?" That question cuts through years of shame and self-blame. The pair also joke about dog addictions, traffic cones in hallways, and labradors in sausage factories, keeping things light while talking about something many people quietly struggle with.

For anyone stuck in the exhausting merry-go-round of rules, broken promises and Sunday dread, this chat shows how giving up on moderation can feel less like losing something and more like walking out of a self-built prison. Vic describes finally realising "the door had never been locked" and how that moment of taking responsibility was pure relief.

If you’ve ever wondered whether trying to be a "moderate drinker" is actually keeping you stuck, this episode might be the nudge to question that tiny voice saying, "Surely I can just have one?"