In ACF and I CARE IF YOU LISTEN’s Casting Light #7, Hugh Morris asks: who does classical music’s alignment with alcohol culture exclude? According to a 2016 survey by Help Musicians UK and Westminster University, of the 2,211 performers surveyed, 90% drank; over half said they drank regularly and nearly 20% said it was an almost daily or daily occurrence. For many musicians, this dependence on alcohol culture results in exclusion from networking opportunities, feelings of alienation, and long-term struggles with mental health. Read on as Morris speaks with alcohol-free musicians and examines pathways to fostering more empathetic and inclusive spaces. #newmusic #classicalmusic #castinglight #artists4equity