#6: How the Alcohol Industry Got Us Hooked Before We Even Noticed

Your relationship with alcohol may not be something you chose. It may be something that was chosen for you through decades of targeted marketing, cultural saturation, and an industry that spent $7.7 billion in a single year making sure drinking felt like the most normal thing in the world. If you have ever wondered why questioning alcohol feels so uncomfortable, this episode explains exactly why. Kristin Horstman, certified gray area drinking coach, traces the deliberate path alcohol took from 13,000-year-old fermented grain water to mommy wine culture. She covers alcopop products designed to target young women, alcohol appearing in 47% of children's films, and why "drink responsibly" is a meaningless disclaimer. This episode is for anyone navigating gray area drinking, anxiety, burnout, or any habit quietly dimming their light and who is ready to stop relying on willpower and start healing through nervous system regulation. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:34) How Drinking Gets Normalized Before College (03:01) Alcopops Targeting Young Women (04:57) The $7.7 Billion Ad Machine (07:58) Gen Z Is Breaking the Pattern (10:46) Making a Genuinely Informed Choice 47% of kids' movies show alcohol. What moment made you first question why alcohol is everywhere? Comment below. If you're ready to feel better, think clearer, and brighten your life, you're in the right place. SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every week. As always, I'm rooting for you. 🌅 WORK WITH KRISTIN HORSTMAN 1:1 Gray Area Drinking Coaching: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/gray-area-drinking-coaching Private Health Coaching: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/health-coaching FREE RESOURCES Substack: https://substack.com/@kristinhorstman Brighten Your Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/865785648653696 6 Tips To Brighten Your Life: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/6-tips-to-brighten-your-life Resources for Loved Ones of Those Struggling with Substance Use Disorder: https://www.kristinhorstman.com/resources CONNECT WITH KRISTIN HORSTMAN Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunsetsarethenewhappyhour Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachkristinhorstman Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachKristinHorstman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-horstman-43001280 Website: https://www.kristinhorstman.com LISTEN TO SUNSETS ARE THE NEW HAPPY HOUR Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7HL6A1o2USWQuJ2lRPoplk Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sunsets-are-the-new-happy-hour/id1896762635 AFFILIATES & DISCOUNT CODES Zero Proof Experiences: https://zeroproofexperiences.com/?aff=4 Bookshop.org storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/kristinhorstman ARMRA: https://tryarmra.novel.com/login?referralCode=de9ddb1e-9f9d-4c8a-ba43-21a30abb552e Jolene Park NOURISH Coaching Program: https://healthydiscoveries.mykajabi.com/a/35865/ihLPoJPC Jolene Park Ultimate Sober Bundle: https://checkout.grayareadrinkers.com/ultimate-sober-af-bundle/?affiliate=kristinhorstman Cured Nutrition: https://curednutrition.com/collections/all?referral\_code=KRI2L0STF Loose Leaf Tea Market: https://looseleafteamarket.com?bg\_ref=nwruvHn7oD Use code TEAKRISTIN10 for 10% off (no minimum, enter at checkout) Some links above are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend things I genuinely love.