By Claire Matthews
A new online platform is available to support Australians looking to reduce their drinking and lead healthier lifestyles.
Tapped In is a website founded by Queenslander Sarah Connelly, which provides resources and tools to encourage and educate Aussies to consume less alcohol.
Many Aussies have recently reconsidered their drinking habits, with a fifth either not drinking alcohol in the past year or limiting their intake to less than one beverage per month.
Plus, more people have been embracing ‘Dry’ months and alcohol-free alternatives. The low-to-no alcohol beverage sector is also growing.
Despite this, Ms Connelly says that more work needs to be done to challenge the culture of not drinking and ensure that people’s choices to reduce or remove alcohol are not met with judgement.
“I created Tapped In in order to promote and encourage AF choice, whilst also challenging the old attitudes and negative connotations associated with quitting booze.”
“Choosing not to drink was often seen as an annoyance to others. For the first time, I felt happy and confident in myself, yet I was met with caution, cynicism, and condescension,” Sarah says.
“I found that any time I told people I was cutting out booze, I was judged, even labelled an ‘alcoholic.’ And it’s this type of assumption that can be a significant barrier for everyday people, who might not have a serious drinking problem, but just want to live more mindfully.
“I realised very quickly that society was not going to meet me where I was because drinking culture was, and still is, so deeply ingrained in everything – from family gatherings to business events. I decided it was time to act. People needed the freedom ‘not’ to follow and not have to explain it to others.”
Tapped In will launch in time for Dry July to encourage more mindful drinking habits. There will also be Tapped Incorporate training programs for organisations looking to review the way they perceive business drinking.
For further information about Tapped In and how you can get involved, please visit: www.tappedin.com.au or join the Tapped In Facebook community here.