Should I quit drinking when I don’t have a problem?

In this episode of Unconditional Norbie Schickel shares his honest experience of quitting alcohol after more than 20 years of low-to-moderate drinking, and what changed over two years without it. This is not a conversation about addiction, shame, or moral judgment. It’s about effectiveness, clarity, and intentional living in a culture where alcohol is deeply woven into social life.

If you’re considering Dry January, curious about sobriety, or questioning whether alcohol is subtly holding you back — mentally, emotionally, or physically — this episode offers nuance, personal insight, and a practical framework for change. Norbie explores why he chose to quit without being an alcoholic, the science-based ideas that challenged his assumptions, how alcohol impacts stress tolerance and habit formation, and what he gained — and lost — by removing it.

No preaching. No purity tests. Just an honest audit of alcohol, culture, and personal growth.

SHOW NOTES

Are low to moderate levels of alcohol consumption safe?

Should I quit drinking even if I don’t have a problem?

Dr. Andrew Huberman’s podcast shifted Norbie’s perspective

Alcohol’s impact on chronic stress, anxiety, and confidence

Why alcohol can make new habit formation harder

The “strategic replacement” method for breaking habits

Social life, relationships, and identity without alcohol

Health changes after quitting (sleep, recovery, hormones)

Two-year results: upsides, downsides, and trade-offs

Will Norbie ever drink again?

Chapter:

00:00 Introduction: Quitting Alcohol & Dry January

05:45 Stakes & Context: Why The Subject of Alcohol is Difficult

07:52 Challenge #1 - Alcohol Serves An Important Social Function

08:48 Challenge #2 Alcohol Feels Good & Has Many Benefits

09:49 There Is A Sea Change On The Topic Of Alcohol

10:31 Why I Quit Drinking When I Didn't Have A Problem

12:42 The Catalyst for Change: Dr. Andrew Huberman's Influence

18:20 Why Huberman's Alcohol Podcast Was So Effective

25:21 The Truth About Alcohol - Explained Clearly

31:45 The Two Reasons I Personally Quit Drinking

38:44 How I Stopped Drinking - Ending A 20 Year Habit Cold

44:26 Get The People Close Onboard (If Possible)

47:42 The Most Powerful Way To Quit Alcohol - Strategic Substitution

56:54 Treat Sobriety As An Experiment, Not A Religion

59:05 Going Sober - My Results At 2 Years

59:35 The Downside of Cutting Alcohol

01:00:53 The Mixed Blessing Of Going Sober

01:03:36 The Significant Benefits of Sober Life

01:03:43 Life Without Alcohol Became Way More Interesting

01:04:34 Quitting Alcohol Improved My Sleep

01:05:17 Here's What Quitting Alcohol Did for My Testosterone

01:07:39 Raising Your Testosterone Naturally Is Incredibly Beneficial

01:09:19 Sobriety Reduced Anxiety & Chronic Stress

01:12:21 Final Words & Conclusion - Will I Ever Drink Again?

Resources Mentioned:

Huberman Lab Podcast On Alcohol Function Health

Anthem Athletics

Keywords

Dry January, sobriety curiosity, quitting alcohol, mindful drinking, alcohol and anxiety, habit change, mindset, personal growth, men’s health, intentional living, fatherhood, entrepreneurship

Hastags

#DryJanuary #SobrietyCurious #QuitDrinking #Mindset #PersonalGrowth #IntentionalLiving #Men’sHealth #HabitChange #UnconditionalPodcast