This post discusses both my new venture and some thoughts on alcohol culture here in the UK.

Yesterday, the other half and I travelled to the North of England to visit the offices of the franchise I am about to invest in.

What a great day! It was great to see them all in person and, through the spin, there was real clarity on where I could go and options I might have to scale my business in the future.

What’s great is that, the image proposed to me previously was quite a centralised operation – which it still will be. However, they are hoping to create regional hubs as well and my full intention is to become one.

Previously, I’d been concerned that I would essentially be just a freelancer operating a franchise. However, I began to see a clear picture of a scalable business which is ultimately what I want to do.

Feeling very positive about it. Indeed, at some stage, I’ll probably reveal who I am and what my franchise does – but I’m not there yet.

Moving on….now….this was a meeting full of sales people, we’re all in sales and that’s what the franchise does.

Therefore, it wasn’t long before the mention of “beers” was brought up…”oh, this place is good for a beer” – “oh, we’ve spent many a night in there” – “oh, we’ll have a few beers when you come up for training” – “oh, we’ve had a few beers with clients here, there and everywhere”

Not saying that they were wrong to do this. British culture is centred largely around alcohol and the pub. It’s a way of bonding, of showing you’re alright, of being social and I understood why it was brought up. They wanted me to feel at home and comfortable and that they were approachable people considering the massive life-leap I’m about to take.

However, I must admit, it caught me off guard a bit. I’d forgotten how much conversation revolves around drinking which you only notice when you’re actively not drinking. I got used to it when I was previously abstinent, but it’s the first time I had encountered it in my new phase of sobriety.

I’m not really looking forward to the point where I have to explain that I don’t drink.

People are just simply flabbergasted, it’s rarely just an “oh right, cool”. You end up spending so much time talking about the fact that you don’t drink, why it is you don’t drink, what it is you do drink and the various merits of alcohol free drinks.

Quite often you end up dealing with people justifying the amount that they drink (If I had a pound for somebody feeling the need to tell me “oh I don’t really drink that much nowadays”). I just want to say. “listen, mate, I really don’t care how much you drink”.

Sometimes you have to put up with the people who’ll swear blind that a glass of red wine is good for your heart. I used to challenge them and say; “yes, and the studies that found that were commissioned by the alcohol industry” but I now don’t engage with it and simply nod and go “oh, right”.

Frankly, it’s tiresome, and I don’t really enjoy it. There are far more interesting things to talk about (although the irony is that I’m writing about it).

But that’s where we are and I’ll go through it all again until people are used to it and stop asking.

To be quite honest, I was actually really craving a beer by the end of yesterday. I’d have quite happily gone to a nice warm pub and had a pint, which would have ended up in 2 pints, then beers on the train etc. etc. etc., it’s the sort of habitual thing I’d do after a long day and a very intense meeting, especially when I have to wait for a train.

But, I didn’t.

So, the positives are that I didn’t embarrass myself going for drinks with my new business associates, I didn’t roll home pissed as a fart, I have a potentially very exciting new business and I woke up this morning with a clear head and a sense of optimism.

Gotta be better than the alternative!