Ep 115: When Alcohol Is the Backdrop

About this episode

This episode explores the societal expectations surrounding alcohol and its impact on social interactions.

What happens when we question alcohol’s role as the backdrop to almost every social moment? In this powerful episode, Anna Donaghey is joined by Ry Gavan from DRiNKLiNK, a Scotland-based charity supporting families affected by someone else’s drinking, for an honest conversation about the ripple effects of alcohol in our lives. Rather than focusing solely on “extremes,” Anna Donaghey and Ry explore why alcohol’s real power lies in its expectation: its presence at celebrations, commiserations, sport, family gatherings, and so much more. They explore the underlying fear of social disruption when someone opts out, the tension between belonging and authenticity, and the surprising reality that our imagined social fallout rarely materialises. This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the social script around drinking, the underestimated impact of alcohol, and what actually changes (for the better) when you step outside the expectation. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Intro: Exploring alcohol as the expected backdrop 01:04 The tension of opting out 02:08 Ry’s story 05:24 Social rituals, identity, and the anxiety of changing your “role” 09:50 Alcohol is woven into Scottish…

People in this episode

Host: Anna Donaghey

Guest: Ry Gavan

Topics covered

• alcohol
• social rituals
• identity
• belonging
• mental health
• family

Keywords

• alcohol
• social moments
• family gatherings
• belonging anxiety
• Scottish life
• grey area drinking

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: DRiNKLiNK

Places: Scotland

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