As we close in on the completion of these 30 days, I think it’s important to discuss moderation. It will be up to you - and only you - to decide what you will do next. You may choose to hang up your drinking hat for good. You might decide to see if you can extend this experiment another 30, 60, or 90 days to see how it feels. Perhaps you’ve gained the tools and the knowledge to moderate your drinking and that is that. But if you choose to moderate your drinking, it’s important to reiterate some of what we’ve already learned so far.

Moderation should come with a sign that says ‘enter with caution’. While I do believe that for some, it is possible to achieve a controlled relationship with alcohol, it’s key to remember that alcohol is addictive - nobody is immune - because it has nothing to do with you. It’s addictive to any breathing being. Multiple studies done on lab rats will tell you that. To choose moderating your drinking ultimately means you’re signing up for constant decision making. There is always an internal dialogue happening that will keep you on a slippery slope. Should I drink tonight? And if I do, what should I drink and how many? We all know that we lose our ability to make good decisions as we drink, so we’ve already put ourselves in jeopardy of losing control once we have that first drink. You might find that your intention was to have 1 glass of wine, but wake up the next morning realizing you polished off the bottle (ask me how I know).

I want to stress the point that what you do next is 100% your own decision. It’s up to you. And that is powerful - you are responsible for you. But I would not be doing anyone any favors if I didn’t highlight the points that we’ve already discussed that make moderation difficult to achieve. Take a moment to really examine moderation using the ACT technique. You have been educated on the various physiological and emotional risks of drinking. Now it’s time for you to decide if moderation is the right avenue for you.