🗣️ To drink or not to drink

🌎 THE CULTURE CODE 🕵🏻‍♂️

Remember those resolutions we talked about in the last issue?
Was “stop drinking” on your list? (Next to ‘start yoga’ and ‘cancel Netflix?’)

If you did, you’re not alone.
You’ll be joining the millions of people who take part in Dry January every year, and the number is increasing.
Let’s take a closer look at this growing trend - maybe it will help next time you reach for the bottle (or the can if you’re cheap like me) 😜

The Lowdown - Dry January 🍺🚫

• What is it? One month. Zero alcohol. Trade your wine glass for a water glass. That’s 31 days without what my kids call “Daddy’s medicine.”

• Why torture yourself? Because it’s healthy! Christmas and New Year is a week of over-drinking for many, so your liver needs a break.

• When did it start? In Finland in 1942, to help the war effort against the Soviet Union, called ‘Sober January.’ So, blame the Russians.

• Who takes part? Gen Z is leading the charge, with 75% in the US planning to do it. It turns out TikTok dances are easier without a hangover.

• So, is this an official thing? Alcohol Change UK officially launched the campaign in 2013. Since then, it has spread to 184 countries.

• Really?! Yup, even Europe is sobering up! Have you been to Europe? Beer and wine are considered food groups!

• What are the benefits? Better sleep, more energy, fuller wallet. But you’ll still have to deal with your kids…

Now you know the facts - turn them into conversations 🗣️

Try the following:

• 🤔 Start the conversation
  - “So, I hear you're doing Dry January...how’s it going? More of a Damp January?"
  - "Is it just me, or does Dry January seem way more popular this year?”

• 🔄 Ask follow-up questions
  - “If you’re off the alcohol, what’s your replacement?”
  - “Do you think you’ll make it the whole month?”

• 😆 Say something funny
  - “I read about the evils of drinking, so I gave up reading.”

• 💡 Drop trivia 
  - “Did you know Finland started it in WWII to fight the Soviets?”

Your turn 🎤
Are you reading this while drinking tea or clutching your wine bottle? 😉
Hit reply and tell me how you’re doing. 📩

💬 FAMOUS WORDS 🧐

“In wine, there is truth.”
- Pliny the Elder (Roman philosopher, ages ago) 🇮🇹

Can you name the film? 😉 
(One of the funniest British comedies ever) 🇬🇧🤣
Answer at the end of this issue ⬇️

📚 WORD WISE 🧠

Fun fact: Our ancient ancestors were literally the first party animals. 🐵
They got drunk on fermented fruit and invented the world’s first drunk texts - have you seen those cave paintings? 😵‍💫
Alcohol has shaped everything from society to language, but more people are now saying, “No thanks.”

Sober Speak - How to talk about NOT drinking alcohol

• teetotal - the OG of saying no. From people who just don’t like the taste to those who once woke up in a different city…😳
  - “I’m teetotal now. Ever since…the incident.”

• sober - a person who says no to alcohol because of problems with drugs and alcohol. Like a reset button for life.
  - “I’ve been sober for three years now. No more hate mail from my liver.”

• sober-curious - when you’re not ready to finish with alcohol completely but still want to see other drinks.
  - “Gen Z is the most sober-curious generation. Their student loans already give them headaches.”

• mocktail - a zero-booze cocktail. Proof that you don’t need alcohol to pay $15 for a drink.
  - “This Virgin Mojito has everything except the promise of sweet oblivion.”

• on the wagon - taking a break from alcohol, but keeping its number on your phone…
  - “I’m on the wagon until my medical. The day after, though…”

Did you know, famous non-drinkers include:

The Good:

• 🇮🇳 Gandhi (led a revolution fuelled by peace and chai)

• 🇺🇸 Abraham Lincoln (went from selling whiskey to saving democracy)

• ⚽️ Christiano Ronaldo (abs, not abs-inthe)

• 🧙🏼‍♂️ Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter said goodbye to Butterbeer)

The Bad:

• 🫤 Adolf Hitler (evil doesn’t need a happy hour)

• 🍊 Donald Trump (Though his tweets often seem otherwise…)

• 🇷🇺 Vladimir Putin (already drunk on power)

Everyone else:

• See a long list here.

Your Turn to Spill (the non-alcoholic tea) 🫖 
Got a mocktail recipe that doesn't taste like sad juice?
Proud of your teetotal lifestyle? 👏
Drop me a message - my inbox is always thirsty for stories! 📩

🗣️ SPEAKEASY SECRETS 💪🏻

Picture this: You're making small talk, and someone asks:

- "What's your favourite drink?" 

The conversational equivalent of a flat beer.
These general questions are everywhere - from textbooks to first dates - and are about as interesting as a vegan’s fridge.
My favourite drink? Well, that's like asking about my favourite mood - it depends! Are we talking:

• ☕️ Morning brew to make me human? (Always coffee! Guatemalan, please.)

• 🍺 After-work stress eraser? (Give me a cold one - Ebisu, thanks)

• 🥂 Fancy anniversary dinner? (Bubbles!)

• 🥴 Friday night with friends? (Everything on the menu)

Here's your conversation pro tip: Get specific! 

Instead of throwing out vague questions that make people's brains buffer like a bad WiFi connection, try these:

• "What's your go-to drink for surviving Monday mornings?"

• "Got a favourite weekend brunch drink?”

• “What do you like to drink with big, fat, juicy burgers?”

See the difference?
Specific questions get specific answers. 

And specific answers? They're the rocket fuel of good conversations. 🚀

Trust me - the more specific you get, the less likely you are to hear "Uh... water, I guess?" 🙄

Time to practice!
Drop me a message with your most specific drink question. The more specific, the better 📩

😎ICONIC - AN AMERICAN CRUSADER 🇺🇸

Martin Luther King Jr: Beyond the Dream

January 20th marked MLK Day in the US, honouring a man whose words still echo through history.
While his "I Have a Dream" speech might be his most famous legacy, Dr. King's life was filled with remarkable moments that rarely make the history books.

The Making of a Legend:

• 🎓 Child Prodigy: At age 15, he was already in college - proving you can fight the system while acing it. By graduation, he had earned two bachelor's degrees and a doctorate.

• 🎤 Natural Orator: His "I Have a Dream" speech was improvised! Those world-changing words weren't even in his prepared notes.

• 🏆 Youngest Winner: In 1964, he became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner at just 35. The same age I was finally figuring out how to build IKEA furniture…🫤

• 📖 Historic First: He was the first Black person to be named Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" in 1963.

Lesser-known chapters

• ✊ Civil Warrior: He was arrested 29 times. Each one was a deliberate act of civil disobedience. As he said, "One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."

• ⭐ Space Fan: He was a serious 'Star Trek' fan (a Trekkie!) and personally convinced Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura) to stay on the show, understanding the importance of Black representation in media.

• 🪦 Tragic End: He was assassinated in 1968, and his mother was assassinated six years later.

The Surprising Connection

• 👶🏻 Baby Help: He paid for the birth of Julia Roberts (yes, that Julia Roberts.) Her parents couldn't afford the bill, and the Kings stepped in because they knew Roberts' parents, who had opened their theatre school to Black children during segregation. Pretty Woman? Pretty amazing.

Your turn 🗣️
What surprising fact about MLK caught your attention?
Or share a civil rights leader from your country whose story deserves to be better known.
Drop me a message - history is better when we share it. 📩

🗣️ DID YOU SEE…? 👀

Lunch break or Happy Hour - Stories that stick.

• 🔥 LA Fires: They continue to burn, with 28 now dead and 15,000 buildings destroyed.

• 🐔 New Pandemic? First human death from bird flu in the US. Millions of chickens have already been destroyed, and it has spread to cats.

• 🎾 Tennis fan? Watch the Australian Open for free! The catch? It’s live-streamed on YouTube with animated tennis players (it actually looks pretty good.)

• 📈 Trump bump: Bitcoin hits $100,000 as Trump enters the Whitehouse.

• 🎮 Switch 2: Nintendo gives a first look at the new Switch, which launches later this year. (My kids will love that one.) 😮‍💨

Reactions? What story sticks the most? 🤔

Hit ‘reply’ and share your thoughts! 📩 
I'm always up for a chat. 🗣️

🤖 BECAUSE THE ROBOTS ARE COMING 🌎

Breaking News: Only 26% of US teens are using ChatGPT for homework - which means 74% are still doing it the hard way.
(Come on, Gen Z, I thought you were supposed to be the tech-savvy ones! 😉)

This number has doubled since 2023, proving that even teenagers eventually learn to work smarter, not harder.
Though let's be honest - between TikTok tutorials and AI homework helpers, what exactly are they doing with all that saved time? 🤔

Confession Time! This week's poll is all about your AI adventures:

Click to answer- your secret's safe with my neural network! 📩

🤖 TALKING POINT

It was Donald Trump’s inauguration this week (expect more about that from me next week.)
But one of the biggest talking points has become Elon Musk doing this👆🏻

Some believe it looks like a nazi salute. Others believe not, calling it an “awkward gesture” or “Roman salute.”
Musk himself calls all the criticism “so tired". 🥱

But here's what's really interesting: How a single gesture can create such different interpretations based on who is watching.
It's a reminder of how body language and gestures can carry vastly different meanings across cultures and contexts.

Your thoughts?
Have you ever experienced a culture clash with body language?
Drop me a message! 📩"

🤔 ANSWER 🧩

The movie title:
Withnail and I (1987.) I think I watched this film every week with my friends when I was at university.
It’s a classic of British cinema, and one of my all-time favourites. 😊

Have you seen it? 🎥

👋🏻 THIS IS THE END✌🏼

That's all for this week, folks!
I hope you enjoyed this issue of SpeakEasy.

I’m here to make Speak Easy even better for you, so your feedback means the world to me.
Got questions or comments? Hit ‘reply’ - I read every email!

Let me know:

• What you loved 😄

• What you want more of 😆 (or less of 😕)

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Until next time, keep speakin’ easy 🗣️🌎

P.S. Missed an issue? 🫤
You can read them all in the archive 😃

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But I hope you stick around - the world is too big for small talk.