From addiction to great success with an alcohol-free drink...
How do you successfully overcome your (alcohol) addiction and still enjoy life? Maybe you recognize this: you've just decided not to drink alcohol, then you arrive at a fun party, and before you know it, you're holding a glass of wine again.
While inside you might be thinking, "Hmm, do I really have the energy for this? Do I really want to feel so hungover again tomorrow?" But peer pressure wins, and off you go again.
Lecture
Yvonne Kok, owner of Paulies Ginger, artist, and speaker on addiction, wants to take you through all the taboos and shame surrounding addiction and show you that an alcohol-free life can still be fun. And especially, that addiction is nothing to be ashamed of.
Who is this lecture by Yvonne suitable for?
People who want to stop or reduce their alcohol or substance use themselves. But also for prevention in schools and mental healthcare institutions. It's also suitable for entrepreneurs: how do you deal with addiction in the workplace? Yvonne especially wants to wake people up, saying, "Hey, addiction is nothing to be ashamed of."
What goes wrong?
There are over 2 million addicts in the Netherlands, of which 1.6 million are addicted to legal substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and gambling. Feelings of guilt and shame cause a lot of hidden suffering; not talking about and denying the problem makes the addiction worse. In addition, ignorance and taboo surrounding addiction also play a major role. The addiction continues to simmer in the dark. Society also plays a big role; you're quickly seen as a boring person if you don't drink alcohol.
What is the solution?
By sharing experiences and knowledge, we can talk about it and bring the addiction problem into the light. In the light, addiction can shrink, and you can seek and receive help. Only then can you solve this problem. Away with shame and guilt, welcome help, communication, and openness.
Yvonne's story:
Since 2021, Yvonne Kok has been co-owner of Paulies Ginger, a wonderful ginger drink, alcohol-free with a kick, an explosion of flavor. It is already sold at over 100 locations. Besides being an extremely healthy drink, it is also embraced as an alcohol-free alternative. Paulies Ginger is appearing on more and more alcohol-free menus in catering establishments and at festivals. Due to its enormous flavor explosion, it feels like a strong drink with a kick, but without the hangover.
Yvonne was addicted for years, without anyone noticing. There were periods when she had to start her day early with half a bottle of vodka, if only to appear at work without shaky hands. On the outside, no one saw anything amiss; she was incredibly good at keeping it a secret. When she ended up in the hospital a few times and truly saw no way out, Yvonne sought help.
From 2013, Yvonne has lived clean and sober. But once she successfully stopped her addiction, she realized she was still trapped in a cage of shame and taboo. Yvonne was still ashamed of her addiction past and found it very difficult to be honest about it, especially in the workplace. After the Paulies Ginger brand grew larger and larger, she finally decided, "I not only stopped my addiction, but I'm also going to stop hiding myself."
Origin of Paulies Ginger
Paulies Ginger was born from Yvonne's search for the perfect alcohol-free drink, as she was fed up with liters of cola and tea. Her husband Paul came out of the kitchen with a rough version of this ginger drink, and from that moment on, Yvonne was on fire. "We have to do something with this; it's so delicious, I've been looking for this for years, this is amazing." And so, things started rolling.
Together with her husband Paul and her brother Eric, she launched the Paulies Ginger brand. Paulies Ginger is a tasty and healthy drink and has a mission to break the taboo surrounding addiction.
Yvonne: I have been able to inspire many people with my story; weekly we receive emails from people who have also stopped drinking alcohol, or reduced their intake, or sought help. By putting my own vulnerability out into the world, I can help other people, which is wonderful.
Would you like more information?
Send an email to info@pauliesginger.com