The first digital guide · In development
A plan for the part that comes after deciding.
You already know you need to leave. Now the question is how. You don’t need another argument for leaving—you need a clearer way to think through what comes next, and how to get there without ignoring the realities of money, work, and identity.
The promise
Less vague courage.
More useful clarity.
The Exit Plan is being developed as a practical career-transition resource for people working in wine, beer, spirits, hospitality, sales, marketing, and other alcohol-adjacent roles. It is designed to help you assess your options, not tell you what your life should look like.
This is for you if
You know your work no longer fits your sobriety or the life you want, but income, professional identity, or uncertainty about the next role keeps you stuck.
This is not
Addiction treatment, a recovery program, or a substitute for medical, mental health, legal, or financial advice.
The questions it answers
How do you leave an alcohol-centered career?
These are the questions people tend to carry quietly. Here’s how the guide approaches them.
How do I leave the alcohol industry when I already know I need to?
Start by separating the decision from the timeline. Knowing you need to leave doesn’t mean leaving tomorrow. A workable exit usually begins with your financial floor—the minimum income you need—and a realistic window for getting there.
What if my job constantly exposes me to alcohol and I’m trying to stay sober?
Daily tastings, client dinners, and after-shift drinks make sobriety harder to protect. Some people create boundaries within their current role while they plan; others need to move faster. Your recovery support is the right place to weigh that risk—the guide focuses on the career side.
What transferable skills do I actually have?
More than a job title suggests: sales and relationship management, operations and logistics, hospitality and customer experience, production, compliance, inventory, events, and leading teams under pressure. Most of these translate directly to other industries once they’re described in plain terms.
How do I survive a temporary loss of status or income?
Plan for it rather than hoping to avoid it. A bridge job can buy time and stability without being the destination. Knowing the difference—and setting a time frame—makes a step back feel like a strategy instead of a failure.
How do I separate my identity from my career?
When your work is also your community and your expertise, leaving can feel like losing yourself. It helps to name what you valued about the work—craft, people, curiosity—and look for where those can live next.
Inside the guide
A working outline.
Name the decision
Separate what you already know from what still needs a plan.
Map your financial floor
Understand the income, obligations, and runway your transition has to account for.
Take inventory of your work
Find the skills, experience, and relationships that can travel with you.
Explore possible paths
Evaluate adjacent and entirely new directions without forcing a premature leap.
Design the transition
Turn your thinking into a sequence of realistic next steps.
Planned companion tools
Worksheets for a financial floor, transferable-skills inventory, opportunity comparison, and first-steps plan. Contents may evolve as the guide is completed.
Get the release note
The guide is on its way.
The Exit Plan isn’t available to purchase yet. Join the list for an update when the guide, final contents, and price are ready. Start with the free checklist today.
See the free checklistFrequently asked
Common questions.
What is an alcohol-centered career?
Any work where producing, selling, serving, marketing, or promoting alcohol is central to the job—wine, beer, and spirits production, distribution and sales, bartending and restaurant service, beverage marketing, and events.
Do I need to leave my job to stay sober?
Not necessarily. Many people stay sober in these roles; others find the environment incompatible with their recovery. That is a personal decision best made with your own support network. This guide is for those who have decided, or are seriously considering, a change.
Is The Exit Plan addiction treatment?
No. It is a career-transition resource. It does not replace medical care, addiction treatment, therapy, or recovery support. If you are physically dependent on alcohol, withdrawal can be dangerous and may require medical attention.
Who is The Exit Plan designed for?
People working in wine, beer, spirits, hospitality, and alcohol-adjacent sales, marketing, or operations who want a structured way to plan a career change.
What is a bridge job?
A role that provides income and stability while you build toward your next career. It is a means, not an end—and having a plan for how long you’ll stay makes it easier to use well.
When will the guide be available?
It’s still in development. There is no price or checkout yet. Join the list to hear when it’s ready.