“Alcohol-free for president” - Interview with Toyah Diebel

“Alcohol just isn’t cool,” Toyah Diebel states unequivocally. Toyah has held this conviction since November 2018. Back then, she suffered from her last hangover and hasn’t wanted to be drunk since.

Her attitude towards alcohol changed radically after her pregnancy and the resulting abstinence. She's been diligently exploring the wide world of alcohol-free alternatives. No more hangover days for Toyah. Instead of being drunk, she prefers to throw herself into one of her many projects.

Through her sometimes ruthless and satirical content, she has managed to gain popularity on her Instagram channel “toyagurl“to build a fan base. The initiated campaign #NeitherYourChild The campaign against the thoughtless publication of children's pictures online has caused quite a stir.

Toyah critically examines socially relevant topics not only in this context. She also does so in her book “Women - From spelt mothers, power women and other feminists“She holds up an unfiltered mirror to herself and society through small, shamelessly told stories – feminist, clever and with a wink.

The wink is also present in her cosmetics line “MILF"Not too short, under which she launches skincare for the belly, perineum, and nipples. Thanks to her, women don't have to forgo high-quality, sustainable beauty products and beautiful design, even during pregnancy. She literally gives new luster to the topic of body image and women's sexual self-determination. This can even be worn on the chest or finger with the right statement jewelry."

Toyah has also entered the podcast game. In her own podcast “Toyah but cheap“She chats with guests like presenter and musician Jan Köppen, comedian Ines Anioli, and journalist Visa Vi in her entertaining and honest Toyah style. A new episode of her podcast is also released every Monday.”Women"with Leila Lowfire. Between job, self-realization and playground, questions such as the role of misogyny in the media are addressed."

We also had tons of questions for the multi-talented Toyah. She spoke to us about her relationship with alcohol and once again made her position crystal clear. If you're not already a Toyah fan, you will be after this interview. Enjoy!

Laori: You wrote to us saying “Alcohol-Free for President.” Therefore, we hereby officially appoint you President of Alcohol-Free and ask you: What would you do to bring about change in society regarding alcohol?
Toyah: The first step would be to reduce or de-glorify alcohol consumption in the media, just as has already happened with tobacco advertising. People used to smoke in films and TV series. That's been stopped. A completely new attitude towards tobacco has emerged. It's simply no longer part of the "social party." It's the same with alcohol. As long as we watch beautiful people happily getting drunk on Instagram and in films, nothing will change. We've been brainwashed from a young age into thinking that drinking alcohol is normal. A good glass of wine goes with dinner, and a party definitely includes Prosecco and a shot of schnapps – that's what we've been taught. Getting that out of our heads is a long road.

Laori: You definitely have our vote! What's your current relationship with alcohol?
Toyah: I can count on one hand how many glasses I've had in the last year. Getting drunk is out of the question for me. I have absolutely no desire to be drunk anymore. Not even tipsy. There's no interest in it. I try to abstain from alcohol as much as possible, but I wouldn't say I've completely given up every glass of Prosecco. I would never drink anything during the day. And if I have an alternative, I try to choose the alternative to alcohol.

Laori: Speaking of which, where do you see good alternatives?
Toyah: Actually, living largely alcohol-free was always a very difficult thought for me because it meant I had to drink cola. A soft drink, and I don't like soft drinks at all. I was fascinated when the world of non-alcoholic alcohol was opened up to me because I wasn't even aware that it existed. Sometimes you just fancy a good drink. I can understand not wanting to drink a Coke at a party while everyone else is having a great one. Gin and Tonic or Gin Basil Smash I have a drink I absolutely loved. Giving it up is difficult. But if you can have the same experience without getting drunk, that's great. And now I have it. I'm really amazed by how many small producers there are these days. You always think, "Cool, then I'll have to drink non-alcoholic Rotkäppchen or Jever Fun." But there's such a wide range, and in Berlin Kreuzberg there's even a Späti (late-night convenience store) that only offers non-alcoholic drinks – awesome! It really annoys me that I was previously brainwashed into thinking that abstaining from alcohol was supposedly uncool. Drinking non-alcoholic beer or wine, for example – that's not it. I find it sad that people, including myself until recently, still hold this view. Also, the idea that someone who doesn't drink alcohol is a party pooper, has a boring life, and no sense of humor. Someone who doesn't even know how to have fun. It's actually quite shocking.

Laori: When you don't drink alcohol, what do you reply to classics like: "Just make an exception once - once is no big deal" or "Really, seriously - why?!"?
Toyah: I find it most disarming when someone says, "I don't feel like drinking alcohol." Speaking frankly. Or, "I can't handle alcohol well, so I don't drink." What more can you say to that? What I want to convey to others is that you don't have to let yourself be pressured into making up an excuse like, "I'm taking antibiotics." These simple things like, "Look, I don't like the taste," or "I don't feel like getting drunk," aren't valid arguments for people who like to drink because they don't want to accept it. They want to justify why they drink. No one would say, "I have a drinking problem and I can't help myself."

Laori: To put it objectively: what is your newly acquired superpower?
Toyah: Thinking clearly. It sounds so banal, but only since I stopped drinking alcohol have I realized how fundamental it actually is. Only now do I notice how unclear I was before. Not just when I was drunk, but also in the days that followed. You only really feel that alcohol damages your nerves after you've abstained for an extended period. You notice how your body and brain regenerate.It's not just about feeling fitter and getting up more easily in the morning; it can also have a significant mental impact. For example, I used to struggle with depression. That's completely gone since I stopped using drugs. Because of this, I can't even begin to describe how valuable a clear head has become to me. Having a good memory, being fit, and quick-witted wasn't possible to the same extent before.

Laori: You mentioned a longer period of time. How long do you think one has to abstain to feel these effects?
Toyah: I think you should try it for more than a week, so two to four weeks. You can gradually increase the duration and see what happens to your body. I find that very fascinating. To be clear: Everyone should drink alcohol if they want to. However, I believe everyone should seriously consider why and how much they drink. And if you're thinking about abstaining from alcohol for a month, pay attention to the feelings that arise. Is it fear, panic, or fear of loss?

Laori: When should the alarm bells ring?
Toyah: If you find it difficult to abstain from alcohol, you should give it some thought, because that indicates a problem. If you can't abstain, and perhaps even allow yourself to be tempted, then you should consider whether your own consumption might be problematic.

Laori: Do you think alcohol-free has the potential to become the new vegan?
Toyah: It's difficult. I simply wish that alcohol consumption wasn't taken for granted anymore and that excessive drinking wasn't accepted in society. Everything is trivialized. Look at "day drinking when the sun comes out." That's portrayed positively. But it isn't. During the day Drinking an alcoholic spritzer, sorry, that's pretty extreme. If you stick to one, then congratulations. I certainly never did. There are so many other substances, for example, THC, marijuana. Why is that demonized while alcohol is accepted? I don't understand it. You just need to think about it a little more.

Yummy non-alcoholic drinks Want some?

Do you feel the same way as Toyah and have you developed a thirst for non-alcoholic drinks? Then try our Laori Lemon – the non-alcoholic cocktail with bitter lemon. It's quick to mix and impresses with its citrusy freshness. You can find the recipe here. here.

Photos: Delia Baum