The Awkward Bits

The Awkward Bits

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? In this candid solo instalment of *Sober Awkward*, Vic takes the mic for "The Awkward Bits" and offers a funny, sharp and sometimes painfully honest look at the question: "Am I drinking too much?" You'll hear her share the subtle warning signs she ignored for years – from constantly googling "am I drinking too much" to topping up her wine glass halfway and still calling it "one drink".

She talks about turning red flags into "cheerful bunting" and admits, with trademark comedy, that lying in a London gutter at 3am with "penis" written on her head somehow felt normal at the time. Vic breaks down official UK and Australian drinking guidelines, but makes it clear that "it's really about how it's affecting you and your mental health" rather than numbers alone.

She highlights the hidden side of alcohol use: the mental space booze takes up, the secret relief when you know you can drink, and the growing fear of both drinking and living without it.

As she puts it, "Managing alcohol can become a part-time job with terrible hours and absolutely no pension scheme." This short episode is aimed at anyone quietly wondering if their drinking is getting out of hand, especially those who don’t fit the stereotypical image of an "alcoholic". Vic gently suggests swapping judgment for curiosity: writing down personal red flags, asking whether alcohol is making life smaller, and trying a longer alcohol-free stretch to see how it feels.

There's humour throughout – from her "gulper" nickname to her smug pottery-class self – but it’s wrapped around practical ideas and a clear message that you don’t need a dramatic rock bottom to question booze. If you're starting to suspect that alcohol has more power over your life than you’re comfortable with, could this be the nudge to get honest with yourself?