The Alcohol Experiment

Click the "Register Now" button to sign-up for this 30-day guided experience.

The Alcohol Experiment is a 30-day guided experience that invites participants to explore their relationship with alcohol and better understand how it affects sleep, stress, focus, and overall well-being.  This program is not a lecture-style webinar. Instead, participants move through the program together by reading short daily entries from the book The Alcohol Experiment by Annie Grace and joining weekly interactive Zoom discussions facilitated by Shift Happens wellness instructor Melissa Byers. The daily readings are brief—typically just a page or two—and explore topics such as the science of alcohol’s effects on the brain and body, the impact of alcohol on sleep and anxiety, and the social and cultural dynamics surrounding drinking. The weekly group discussions provide an opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and reflect on what participants are learning throughout the 30-day journey.

Importantly, this is not a “white-knuckle” abstinence challenge. The Alcohol Experiment simply invites participants to take a step back and observe their habits. If someone drinks during the experiment, that’s okay—it’s an opportunity for reflection and learning. Many participants report meaningful insights during the experiment, including improved sleep, clearer thinking, reduced stress, and a better understanding of how alcohol affects their daily lives.

Participants will need a copy of the book The Alcohol Experiment by Annie Grace, which is widely available through local bookstores and online retailers. Participants should begin reading day one on April 1, and the weekly discussions will focus on insights from the daily readings.

Whether you are curious about reducing alcohol, improving sleep and focus, or simply learning more about how alcohol affects the brain and body, this program offers a supportive and thoughtful environment to explore those questions alongside colleagues.

PROGRAMS
All sessions in the series will take place on Thursdays from 4:00–5:00 p.m.

• Thursday, March 26
  This is an optional informative webinar discussing alcohol's emotional and physiological effects and is helpful background for the 30 day program. It covers the same information as the ISBA March 10 Shift Happens webinar.
   
• Thursday, April 2 (interactive group discussion)
• Thursday, April 9 (interactive group discussion)
• Thursday, April 16 (interactive group discussion)
• Thursday, April 23 (interactive group discussion)
• Thursday, April 30 (interactive group discussion)

WHY WE ARE DOING IT?

• 36% of attorneys qualify as problem drinkers
• To support your health
• To benefit you, your clients, and your family
• To create a cultural shift

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

• Increased energy
• Better sleep
• Reduced cancer risk
• Decreased risk of stroke
• Reduction in inflammation
• Improved memory function
• Decrease in anxiety and stress
• Stronger immune system
• Improved metabolism

SPEAKER
Melissa Byers, Executive Director, St. Petersburg Bar Association 

Melissa Byers, an experienced wellness consultant, has served 12 years as the Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Bar Association, a voluntary bar association of 1,200 members. During her tenure she introduced the wellness theme “Healthy, Happy, Holistic Attorneys” to combat the staggering statics associated with the high rates of suicide, depression, and substance abuse in the legal profession. 

CLE CREDIT
No credit of any kind is available for this series or its individual events.

REGISTRATION FEES
ISBA Members - Free
Non-ISBA Members - $30
Law Students - Free
ISBA CLE Pass Holders - Free

Contact the ISBA's Membership Department at 515-697-7870 to join the ISBA.

MATERIALS
Participants will need a copy of the book The Alcohol Experiment by Annie Grace, which is widely available through local bookstores and online retailers. Participants should begin reading day one on April 1, and the weekly discussions will focus on insights from the daily readings.

DISCLAIMER
Please be advised The Alcohol Experiment is not recommended to replace medical treatment for alcoholism. Anyone with concerns about alcohol or substance use should seek professional counseling and/or medical treatment. The Iowa Legal Assistance Program, an ISBA partner, is a free option available to Iowa's legal community. Anyone participating in The Alcohol Experiment does so at their own risk.

Sponsored by The Iowa State Bar Association Well-Being Committee