TL;DR. Everything in moderation 
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PS: I can’t imagine having to ‘submerge’ myself in podcasts and literature about how to drink less.
It’s not rocket surgery. You just… drink less, overall 
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This is both simplistic and tautological. The same thought on weight loss is often expressed–you just eat less. Obviously, one succeeds by “just” eating or drinking less, but many try and fail. I applaud people who educate themselves and others to implement strategies that increase successful outcomes.
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Except that ingesting food is necessary for survival. Drinking alcohol is not, so that’s a flawed comparison.
And then there’s sudden withdrawal and other public health/social impact.
"[C]hief among considerations for many governors and healthcare officers in each state are the dangers associated with detoxing from regular alcohol use without medical supervision. What’s more, there is strong evidence that alcohol-related domestic violence can worsen if access to alcohol is denied or limited.
In short, liquor stores are often considered essential businesses because they prevent additional healthcare emergencies."
IMO simplistic judgements about “just” doing X to solve a problem – whether in health, parenting, relationships, poverty, or whatever – might sound common sense and straightforward, but they lack nuance and curiosity.
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I read this article to not be about hardcore alcoholics or addicts, just regular folks who might do a Dry January, like several of our fellow HOs are. If people need to listen to podcasts to motivate them, by all means — more power to them. I don’t 
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My point was that some people, in fact, do need alcohol to live and it’s not just a simple matter of willpower.
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Yes, addicts. This article is not about that crowd. My father was a hardcore alcoholic, so your point is not one I’ve not been confronted with throughout my entire childhood and adolescence.
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And those people are addicts. Podcasts won’t likely help them, only professional help will. If they want it.
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I read the entire article, and view it as more about and/or for the “regular occasional drinker” - such as I guess I am. Hence the term “Soberish” in the subject line.
WHEN I’m drinking “regularly” (if you want to put it that way), I only do so on weekends: Thursday (almost weekend) I might have a glass of wine with dinner; perhaps a second glass on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, unless I go out to eat with friends.
But I don’t need to drink every day, as addicts or alcoholics do. More recently, I’ve been drinking a LOT less, still enjoying a glass of wine on the weekends on occasion. I wouldn’t, however, call myself “soberish”. I’m just drinking less voluntarily, without podcast help. 
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NPR had a story yesterday about people forming accountability partnerships to keep them on track with everything from healthier eating and exercise to staying on task with work or attaining long-term goals. Food for thought. Group exercise classes have a similar function for me personally – effectiveness might depend on how responsive one is to extrinsic motivators or social pressure.
Having trouble reaching your goals? Try working with an ‘accountability group’ https://www.npr.org/2025/01/15/nx-s1-5217975/the-secret-to-doing-hard-things-and-getting-stuff-done
This was also interesting:
Researchers find new ways to make habits stick - https://one.npr.org/i/1264621519:1264621521
Changing habits permanently has never been all that easy for me, but I agree that some combination of creating routine, removing barriers, and identifying strong underlying motivation can help.
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Whatever works! Different strokes, eh?
Many people who are addicts do not realize it or cannot admit it.
There’s a reason so many Dry Januaries don’t last through January.
And why there are so many Dry / Sober / Sober-curious / Sober-ish and similar articles.
There’s also a reason there are interventions.
And why Alcoholics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and similar groups exist.
“Just” doesn’t work for more people than one might imagine. Easier said than done for all kinds of addictive substances. There is also a scientifically proven genetic component to addiction – not just the hardcore variety, but the predilection.
What @kaleokahu said. A little empathy and support goes a long way.
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Many years ago, I had a friend that worked at a Rehab Center. His particular facility focused on individuals that had already been through rehab, at least once before.
They defined “success” as an individual staying sober one year after rehab/treatment. They had a 4% success rate. He claimed their “success rate” was higher than most rehab facilities. (I had no way to verify this claim and took it at face value.)
I really do think there is little hope for the “hardcore alcoholic”. They are destined to remain alcoholics for the rest of their lives.
@linguafood I am sorry your were forced to deal with that situation. It must have been a very difficult trauma for a child to go through that.
I (briefly) dated a woman that was a “hardcore alcoholic”. Once I figured out she had this problem, it was quite easy to walk away.
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Thank you kindly for your empathy. It was difficult, very much so — which is also why I may just possibly have a little bit more insight into the topic than folks who discuss this from a rather generalized, abstract perspective.
And good for you for taking care of yourself and walking away.
PS: I also count my blessings that I am one of the many folks mentioned in the article I posted, who are not alcoholics, despite having a possible genetic or familial disposition.
Like the people in this article, I can make the decision to drink, or not.
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My friend’s aunt recently died of side effects of lifelong alcohol misuse disorder. According to my friend she lost all will to live or eat after she was moved to a nursing home for her own safety. There were problems with theft of non-drinkable alcohol products in the care home, etc. Really, really sad and sobering, if you will. Life can be really hard. 
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It seems like a lot of people online think Self Help Articles and podcasts can fix people.
It’s hard for professionals to help people get better. It’s sometimes close to impossible.
I don’t know why so many people think there are easy fixes, whether we’re talking about addiction or eating disorders.
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All alcoholics are alcoholics for the rest of their lives. Some of them are able to stay in recovery. I have several friends who fall into that category, and a few others who have not been able to stay sober.
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I have had them in my family and among close friends, but with support and meetings, many managed to change their lives. (I learned the serenity prayer young, long before I knew AA existed.)
However, they always call themselves alcoholics, as they know the addiction is only at bay, not cured.
But there are also those who cannot admit it, or can hold it at bay until the next stress event triggers a binge, or the functional alcoholics.
It’s tough.
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I’m sorry for your friend’s loss.
…
I remember witnessing a crash when I was in college. A car plowed into 2 parked taxis, right near 2 very popular bars.
After the police arrived and the drunk driver was arrested, one cop held up a bottle he found under the driver’s seat. It was an empty mouthwash bottle. That’s what the driver has resorted to drinking, maybe because he wasn’t allowed to buy alcohol or that was all he could find.
Very sad.
