Addiction to Advocacy

In July 2015, I was standing on the stage at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas accepting the prestigious James S. Cogswell Outstanding Industrial Security Achievement Award for General Dynamics. Four days prior I was informed that, after seven years, my colon cancer had reoccurred, and I would require immediate surgery upon my return.

Still remembering the uncontrollable shaking of my hands as I reached out to accept the award and my feet sweating so profusely, I feared I would fall off the stage as they were slipping right out of my newly purchased shoes.

Well…slip and fall I did - straight down the dark slippery slope of depression and anxiety which ultimately led me to self-medicating. Repeatedly drinking alcohol to an oblivious state to escape the darkness, along with taking prescription drugs, I ultimately found myself as an addict.

After being admitted in the emergency room thirteen times, three times taken in an ambulance, it was continually vocalized by medical professionals that my rate of survival was rapidly deteriorating with every relapse and overdose my body endured…not including the moments of driving my car drunk onto a sidewalk and barely missing a pillar, or falling down drunk splitting my head open on the corner of our fireplace and ultimately having my head closed up with 14 staples.

After completing rehab in July 2018, I have spent the last several years, with the support of my friends and family, rehabilitating and reengaging myself back into society. The lack of non-alcoholic options is consistent throughout restaurants, bars, and other social environments. For example, I enjoy meeting my girlfriends for happy hour, but my only options seem to be soda, water, tonic & lime, tea, or coffee in a boring glass……this continues to not only be frustrating but also disappointing.

Now is the time to create a unique MOVEMENT where non-alcoholic cocktails are on the fast track into the new way of society. This MOVEMENT is not just for addicts…it is also for those who fear drinking and driving, or women who are not ready to reveal they are pregnant. It is also for someone who does not want to drink alcohol due to personal circumstances or obligations without having to explain themselves. Lau-Lee Tale's vision is to provide a refreshing and anticipated alternative that is ready to come to fruition.