After quitting alcohol, Michelle Righini has dedicated herself to championing the wellbeing and skills of hospitality staff.

On The Next Round podcast, we dive into life after quitting drinking—especially for those in hospitality, where alcohol is often center stage. What’s next if you love the industry but not the booze?

Michelle, founder of We Recover Loudly, joins us to share her mission: creating a supportive space for drinks professionals who’ve ditched alcohol but not their passion for hospitality. Let’s talk change, advocacy, and keeping talent thriving!

You can find Michelle instagram @werecoverloudly.

“The thing that we put down is alcohol, but we don’t put down our creativity, our minds, our drive to make great drinks.”

This is a rallying cry for the hospitality industry to rethink its relationship with alcohol from Michelle. Creativity and skill are at the heart of what makes this industry thrive, and neither depends on the presence of alcohol. Removing it doesn’t mean losing artistry—it means opening up new possibilities.

Hospitality Culture: Why Is Addiction So Prevalent?

“What we’re not doing yet is going, why are we an industry that has such high levels of addiction? To be a good manager, you have to be able to drink? Like, what? What other industry does that make sense in?”

The hospitality sector has long celebrated a culture of drinking, but this norm raises significant questions about its impact on mental health and job performance. Changing these outdated perceptions is crucial to creating a more sustainable industry.

Sober Weekends and Smug Mornings

“Weekends are my favourite time to be sober because I get to do the thing I love the most, which is be smug. I get to wake up very smug at about eight o’clock and look at my life and go, this is a great choice.”

Sobriety transforms weekends from blurry recoveries to opportunities for enjoyment and reflection. This shift underscores the profound personal benefits of a life without alcohol.

The Cost of Industry Norms

“I slowly started to realise that alcohol was becoming the thing that was holding me together.”

For many in hospitality, alcohol becomes a crutch rather than a tool for connection. The realisation that it’s holding people back rather than propelling them forward is a pivotal moment in the journey toward change.

Addiction and the Industry’s “Throwaway” Culture

“When that line is crossed, so many of us just get thrown away, and that, for me, just never sat right.”

The industry’s tendency to discard talent once addiction becomes visible is a tragic waste. Recovery and reintegration need to be prioritized to retain valuable employees and demonstrate compassion.

See the full blog here.

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