I AM PISSED
It makes me so angry to see the trivialisation of something that people die trying to achieve. I think social media is more often hurting rather than helping the No & Low Industry. I certainly don’t think it’s helping people get sober that really need it, people that would otherwise die. As an addict I never saw getting clean as “cool” or “Trendy” I didn’t do it because someone posted about it on LinkedIn. I did it out of fear for my life.
Today I can go online and see dozens of people stating why sobriety is so amazing and how it helped them to change their lives but if they had a beer tomorrow it wouldn’t change anything. Sobriety today is seen as a little challenge to take on in January after making your liver work overtime, Sobriety isn’t a game. This portrayal minimizes the difficulties some people go through, and I believe it is a dangerous like to walk. Telling someone “It’s easy” or “I can’t believe I didn’t do it sooner” is shit to hear and often makes people who really need to quit think they are unable to do that because it’s so much harder for them.
The offerings available for those not drinking is gargantuan and in places across Europe the selection not even questioned. In Poland the variety of 0.0 Beer is astonishing and it’s just on the shelf, no frills, but you go to Waitrose and there a fucking banner around all of it?! Why can we make amazing products, but the marketing still tastes like Becks Blue (no offense but it’s been gross forever)?
No one likes being told what to do, what to drink, how to live, why they should GO SOBER, in flashing fucking lights and banners. Make marketing more natural. The industry is a bunch of people blowing smoke up each other and telling them how good they are doing. No more. Stop making non-alcoholic wine from just grapes, it doesn’t work and doesn’t taste good. Stop putting capsaicin in drinks for the “alcohol burning sensation” its fucking disgusting and makes me think I’m having an allergic reaction. The current state of No & Low is a cesspit of wankers making products for other wankers who are getting all the publicity but programs and outreach to people who need help is still thrown by the wayside.
Brands that want longevity in this space need to sort their shit out, get the values right and understand that addicts and alcoholics can smell bullshit from 12 steps away. I help people in the rooms, I’ve help friends battle relapse, I’ve lost friends to this disease we call addiction. Don’t pretend to care so you can make money off us, we will make sure you don’t make it past Q1.
Do better!
