Holly Whitaker

Holly Whitaker offers information about the deleterious effects of alcohol and provides practical advice on how she quit drinking. She believes people should do what works for them, and that there is no one right way to go about it. Alcohol is a toxic substance that pervades our culture. We are “supposed” to be able to consume alcohol, but not supposed to become addicted to it. One of her primary questions is: “Why is it considered normal to be able to consume an addictive substance with ease and abnormal not to?”

She likens the alcohol industry to the tobacco industry. She does not care for the term “alcoholic” and provides ten reasons the term should be eliminated (she views it as akin to blaming the victim). She also has strong opinions that AA is not the only way to stop drinking, especially for women. It was not a viable alternative for her personally, which she explains in detail. Much of it has to do with its patriarchal origins.

She still encounters pressures to drink even when she tells people she is a non-drinker. Her observations on human nature and the reasons for this behavior are fascinating. I am interested in studies of addiction, as it is so pervasive in our society. This book offers alternative viewpoints on alcohol that are especially pertinent to women.

Memorable Passages:

“Although the alcohol industry insists… that it is focused on getting existing drinkers to switch brands and not on generating new recruits, there is evidence to the contrary.”

“I never have to drink again, and life is quite suddenly filled with possibility.”

“What made the label non-drinker downright magical was that it wasn’t synonymous with drunk, inebriate, junkie, addict, lush, wino, liar, or cheat.”

“To be clear, I believe that alcohol is addictive, that alcohol addiction is progressive, that some people are wired a bit differently and are more vulnerable to alcohol addiction. In fact, I don’t just believe these things, science tells me these things.”

“People are going to say awkward and awful things about your choice to not drink…Friends and strangers alike will think you owe them an explanation for why you stopped imbibing or try to pressure you into drinking.”… (more)