Summer's Greatest Hits: Is What You're Doing Good Enough to Change Your Drinking Habits

What if the biggest obstacle to changing your drinking isn’t that you’re doing too little—but that you’ve decided anything less than a dramatic change doesn’t count?

In this revisited episode of the Alcohol Minimalist Podcast, Molly explores the all-or-nothing thinking that can make sustainable change harder than it needs to be.

You’ll learn why the Doable Drink Plan starts with meeting yourself where you are, how perfectionism can quietly undermine progress, and why small, repeatable changes can help you build trust in yourself.

Molly also examines the long-standing belief that abstinence is the only “real” way to change your drinking. Alcohol-free breaks can absolutely be helpful, but the thinking behind the action matters. Are you choosing a break because it supports your long-term goals—or because you believe anything less isn’t good enough?

In this episode:

Why perfectionism can sabotage progressHow “this isn’t enough” thinking keeps people stuckWhy small wins matterThe role of the Doable Drink PlanHow to think about alcohol-free breaks without turning them into a testWhy sustainable change is built through continuous improvementThe question isn’t simply, “Am I doing enough?”

A better question may be:

“Is what I’m doing helping me build the skills and confidence I need for sustainable change?”

Low risk drinking guidelines from the NIAAA:

Healthy men under 65:

No more than 4 drinks in one day and no more than 14 drinks per week.

Healthy women (all ages) and healthy men 65 and older: