New Year’s is a time to make resolutions to improve ourselves. For many, that means quitting drinking for at least Dry January. For some, this means committing to long-term sobriety.
Scott Burton, an Alaska filmmaker, is working on a documentary about Alaska’s relationship with alcohol. He will also be celebrating three years sobriety in January.
Burton’s film project, ” Earnest Drinker“, is called. He says that it will be a hybrid documentary. It will feature interviews with experts, advocates, and people in recovery. Burton claims it will also feature many of his personal stories about alcohol.
Listen:
This transcript has been lightly edited to improve clarity.
Scott Burton : I was a prolific alcoholic for over 30 years. I began when I was 14. It’s about alcohol and relationships. I want to challenge the normalization and abuse of alcohol in this country. I would like to examine the effects alcohol has on our country. I’m interested in stigmas associated with words such as “alcoholic,” sobriety, recovery, and many other things. Casey, that might have been too long for your elevator pitch.
Casey Grove – That was awesome. First, I was curious if you would consider a documentary about alcohol and the negative associations people may have with it.
Scott Burton : That’s a great question. It’s true, for over 30 years I drank. It was a lot of fun, and I did drink. However, there were also a lot of bad choices. Another part of this is that people have asked about my audience for the film. Sometimes I think of my audience as myself, 10 years ago when I was 35. It wouldn’t have been possible for me to see a documentary that vilified alcohol abuse. Just, “Whatever. “I have no interest in that.” However, if I watched a film that tried to give an equitable view of the spectrum of alcohol abuse, sobriety, and recovery, yes, it might have had an impact on me.
Casey Grove – Gotcha. In the promotional video for this, I noticed that you had already spoken to experts. What were some of the things they shared with you? It’s not about alcohol, I guess. It’s about how people relate to each other. What were their thoughts on that?
Scott Burton : I got an official doctor when I was 42. When you sign up to see a new physician, one of your questions is “How much alcohol do you consume?” I lied on the forms. I also lied to her. You know what? I said, “Oh, you’re right, one, one to three beers.” That was a complete lie. I was probably drinking at least three times as much. We interviewed and talked about those first interactions. She said that Scott was drinking was dreadfully harmful for her. It can lead to cancer, high blood pressure, weight gain, and anxiety. There are many other things alcohol can do to your body. So it was quite funny to hear her say this. It’s funny. Then, she says, “Oh yeah, in medical profession, we multiply every word someone says by three.” So I was like Dana, “Oh Dana, maybe I was drinking one to three beers on a Thursday or Friday.” But if you multiply that number by three, you’ll get more like nine. It could be even more. That was quite funny.
Casey Grove – It seems that there is an aspect to this. When you talk about people’s relationships with alcohol, it’s so much a part our culture that people might not even admit that about themselves. That it might be such an important part of their lives until they stop and think about it.
Scott Burton : That’s right, that’s what I’m trying for. At the age of 14, I began to drink. My high school friends drank. Everyone drank. James Bond was known to have drank in movies. It would have been unusual, in a certain sense, for me to not drink. This is the question in the documentary. For me, a documentary is a research project. These are all my questions. These are the questions I hope to answer over the next year. One of those questions is: Why is alcohol consumption in America and Alaska more common than non-consumption?
Casey Grove : Yes. Do you think there is a part to this? As you are still putting it together, you reach out to people and hope to interview them more about their alcohol-related relationships.
Scott Burton – I am still seeking input for this documentary. I am open to hearing from people who might find meaning in the conversation you and I have.
Casey Grove – January is a month when many people think about sobriety. Are you able to offer any advice for those who are on the brink of quitting drinking or even taking January off? Do you have any tips for anyone?
Scott Burton : That’s a great question. January was when I stopped. Jan. 4, 2020. I decided to take a week off. After that week, I thought, “Oh, why not I set another mini-goal for another week?” Then, it was two weeks and then three weeks and one month and I kept going with these mini-goals. Then, I was here, three years later. From a practical standpoint, soda water is my favorite. Stock up on Spindrift, or any other soda water you like. You can find every type of tea you’ve ever dreamed of. This is what I realized after a long time of drinking. It’s a wonderful feeling. I love taste. I enjoy tasting liquids and beverages. Make sure to have as many options as possible. People enjoy non-alcoholic beers. Beers like Coors Edge. Coors Edge is a beer that’s great for people who used to drink Rainier. It’s a pilsner, and it’s super easy. Lagunitas produces an IPNA. This is an India pale, non-alcoholic ale. So that’s it. It also has all the hops, if you like higher-end beers. Athletic Brewing is a Brooklyn-based company. They make a lot of delicious, non-alcoholic beers. These are just a few ideas of different strategies.
