Advice on drinking & nights out.

How can you guess which wine is more expensive without knowing the brand?

Swirl the wine and see how it falls off the glass — wine that sticks more to the glass (more 'legs') tends to indicate higher alcohol content, which can correlate with being the cheaper bottle.

How should you tell a kid that a big planned event is cancelled?

Tommy suggests not giving advance warning—take them out and keep things normal beforehand, then deliver the news all at once rather than dragging it out, similar to how you'd end a relationship.

How can a team fairly decide on a group activity like a Christmas party when there are disagreements?

Tommy suggests everyone submit a few ideas and then vote on them, or pull a chosen idea out of a hat, to reduce the need for extended debate and reach a decision more efficiently.

What's a lower-stress alternative to a big pub crawl for group bonding?

Josh proposes smaller-scale, structured activities like golf (starting with a driving range), bowling at Strike, or a winery bus tour as alternatives to chaotic big pub crowds.

How do you drink shots or champagne without hating the taste?

You need to already be sufficiently drunk from more pleasant-tasting drinks before moving on to shots or champagne, which otherwise taste bad.

How can we make Friday night drinking shows go smoother?

Start drinking later (e.g. 3:30 instead of 3pm) so there's a buffer of sober show time, and switch from shots/red wine to something lighter like gin and tonic to avoid getting too sloppy on air.

How should you pace drinking before a big event or show?

Don't drink a whole bottle of wine before going on; have a glass or at most half a bottle around 15 minutes beforehand to get into a tipsy mode without overdoing it.

How do you choose between cocktail, black tie, and black tie optional for a formal dress code?

Jess Lucas explains that black tie requires a specific black suit, black tie optional still requires a dinner suit but allows navy, grey or burgundy, while cocktail is less dressy, allows a knee-length dress for women, and gives everyone the most freedom—so she recommends cocktail for inclusive formal events.

What should I eat or drink to cure a hangover?

Cold milk and peanut butter toast is the go-to; if feeling a bit better, poached eggs on toast also works. The key is getting something fatty/carb-heavy into your stomach.

What makes a good pub crawl route?

Josh suggests starting at one end of a train line (e.g., Sandringham), walking through scenic areas like gardens between venues, having a plan for when to move on (e.g., after 2 drinks per venue), and wearing comfortable walking shoes.

I rely on alcohol to feel comfortable having sex — what's the first step to change that?

First acknowledge the pattern by reflecting honestly on past situations (unsafe sex, regret, etc.) to understand how drinking has been affecting you, rather than trying to simply 'flick a switch' and stop.

Is it worth bringing back large amounts of wine from overseas trips?

Not really worth it logistically given import allowance limits (around 2.25 litres per adult); better to treat wine as simply 'another thing to do' while travelling rather than stockpiling to bring home.

What should you do about food/dietary needs when out with a group?

Tully advised that if someone brings food out in a group setting, you should generally try it, but if you have allergies or specific dietary requirements, don't eat it just to be polite.

Is alcohol or porn inherently bad to consume?

Josh argues that lumping all forms of a behaviour (e.g., all alcohol consumption, all pornography) into one category is flawed, and that context and individual differences (e.g., drinking at home vs at a nightclub) determine whether it's harmful.

How can you limit your drinking with a rule?

Peter's brother uses a rule of only drinking outside Australia—so no drinking at home but a wine when on holiday. Tommy considered an 80/20 rule, working out to roughly ten drinking occasions a year or drinking only on weekends. Having a clear rule or habit removes the constant decision.

What should you do when giving up something like alcohol?

Expect to need to fill the void left by quitting with something else (for Tommy, that became the show, exercise and work focus) rather than relying on an external source to manage internal feelings.

How do you memorise an arbitrary list of 10 items in order?

Tommy explains assigning a fixed shape-based image to each number 1-10 (hammer, snake, boobs, boat, man with hat, padlock, boomerang, racetrack, possum, plate/cutlery) and then forming a vivid mental image combining that shape with each new item to recall them by number.

How can a non-drinker handle social pressure to drink?

Tommy suggests it's fine to simply say your friend group isn't into drinking rather than feeling pressured to invent elaborate excuses.

How do you navigate a crowded, rowdy venue safely?

Tommy advises getting 'handsy' and physically shifting people out of the way when walking through a dense crowd, rather than passively being jostled.

Is it risky to drink unfamiliar alcohol while travelling?

Josh notes that drinking abroad as a cultural experience carries more risk since you don't always know the strength or quality of what's being served, as happened with his strong limoncello.

When choosing between a free/included option and a higher-value option at a restaurant, which should you pick?

Choose the thing you actually want to consume rather than the option with higher perceived monetary value, since the goal should be enjoying what you get, not maximising value for its own sake.

How do you stay grounded after achieving financial success?

Chase purpose, not money—money should follow purpose, not lead it; avoid status purchases and comparison, since the 'disease of more' kills joy and fulfillment.