Drink Like a European —Why Italians Don't Get Drunk (And What We Can Learn From Them)

Erica is back after a little break — and she's got a lot to unpack after 11 kid-free days in Italy with her husband. In this episode, she dives into what makes European drinking culture so different from American drinking culture, and why that difference matters for anyone trying to drink less or drink more mindfully.You'll learn why Europeans always pair alcohol with food, how lower-ABV drinks like the Aperol Spritz were designed to help people drink socially without overdoing it, and why "one drink per hour" is the number to know if you don't want to end up chasing a buzz you can't catch. Erica also gets honest about her own drinking on this trip — including the first time in years she drank daily on vacation — and what that taught her about how easily old patterns can creep back in, even for someone who coaches this for a living.Plus: Erica shares two free and low-cost resources to help you drink more intentionally, including her free drink-tracking app and details on her 4-week Reset program.In this episode:Why alcohol is always served with food in Europe — and why that mattersThe cultural difference between American "party to get drunk" drinking and European "drinking as experience"How perimenopause and menopause change the way your body handles alcoholWhy lower-ABV drinks (like the Aperol Spritz) are a built-in harm reduction toolThe "one drink per hour" rule and how to actually use itErica's #1 personal rule: never drink for negative emotionsWhy "sober" isn't a label Erica uses — and how she thinks about moderation insteadWhat her free drink-tracking app can teach you about your own patternsA look at her 4-week Reset program and the new Drink Less Accelerator add-on (2 private 1:1 sessions + the Reset)Be kind to yourself, to others, and most of all — drink on purpose.Timestamps:00:00 — Welcome back + Erica's 11 days in Italy01:00 — Why Europeans always serve food with alcohol02:26 — American vs. European drinking culture (and what TV gets wrong)03:45 — How perimenopause/menopause changes alcohol tolerance04:48 — Drinking daily on vacation for the first time in years05:40 — Lower-ABV drinks, the Aperol Spritz, and why they exist07:03 — Long European meals and drinking for connection, not speed08:10 — The "one drink per hour" rule explained09:27 — Free drink-tracking app + what Erica still learns from her own data10:30 — Erica's #1 rule: never drink for negative emotions11:00 — The Reset (4 weeks) + new Drink Less Accelerator add-on11:51 — Why Erica doesn't use the word "sober"12:45 — Closing: be kind, drink on purpose