Let's Talk About Alcohol: Reflections on the Growing Popularity of Zero Alcohol

Our social media platforms seem to be filled with an increasing number of high performing media personalities saying goodbye to alcohol. They have started to ask the simple - yet seldom asked, question: Why do we drink? & is it helping us to build the lives we want? See how I have started to make sense of this conversation.

Our British culture loves a beer. It is at the center of pretty much everything we do. I too love a good pub. However, how many of us have truly asked ourselves why we drink?

The majority of us aren't clinical alcoholics, but feel that sense of anxiety bubble at the prospect of going alcohol free!

'I'm not an alcoholic, but I enjoy a drink' is the justification we ALL give ourselves.

Take it away from a social event, & watch how quickly the mood disintegrates into depressive boredom.

However, with the rise of the human productivity movement, scientific wizards like Andrew Huberman, & health & fitness powerhouses like Mike Thurston, the conversation of alcohol consumption has shifted significantly.

The shift in conversation has got many people - including myself, rethinking why they drink! & wondering what life could look like if alcohol was no longer a part of their lives.

Why Do We Drink?

'Alcohol is the only drug on the market where if you express that you don't drink, people assume that you have a problem', Chris Williamson.

I have been thinking for some time about this question, as well as reading / listening to recent conversations on the topic. Dissecting it to the core of the question, there are only really a few reasons we all drink alcohol.

1. We enjoy the taste: at a superficial level most of us enjoy to try different beers, wines, or spirits because they taste nice. After a hot day's work there is nothing like a freshly poured beer, a good quality wine, or a cocktail.

Yet, we all know that taste accumulates to a very small portion as to the question of why we drink!

2. We increase our courage: whether we are on a date, at a wedding, or simply out with friends, we have all recognised how the mood relaxes when the drinks start flowing. What starts as a somber, awkward atmosphere, rapidly gets louder & louder as people interact.

The question asked by the likes of Thurston & Williamson, that if alcohol is needed to make the event socially manageable, should you even be at the event?

Moreover, if on a date or out with friends, & the conversation requires alcohol to start flowing, the question is asked whether they are the right people to begin with?

3. We escape the boredom of our lives: when the weekend lands, or after a stressful day at work, alcohol has been said to be 'an adults way of coping with life'. Alcohol becomes a great tool to decompress from the stresses of everyday life.

When we don't have much else to look forward too other than a night out or sinking another bottle of wine when the kids go to bed, we end up building a life surrounded by alcohol to numb the monotony of family or work life.

The question asked of this ideal however is do you need alcohol to bring enjoyment and meaning to your life?

4. Because everyone else does: the pressure to follow the crowd is most difficult when the crowd are just about everyone in our lives that we know.

Whether it be corporate events, family occasions, catching up with friends, the peer pressure to conform to having a drink - even when you say you won't - is not easy. Which is why most people choose not to resist & simply join the party.

To not drink when everyone else is can be an isolating experience.

The question asked however is do you really want to be a sheep?

How is Alcohol Helping to Build Your Potential?

I use to say of Olympic athletes that I was impressed by their commitment to training, but then questioned whether they ever truly enjoyed their lives. What did I mean? Did they ever let their hair down & enjoy a party - i.e. have a good drink!

However, it was only as I started training hard myself did I realise that my old assumption was not only naïve, but also hugely misguided.

The question of whether they found enjoyment & relaxation in something other than beer is nonsense, because, through training myself, I have learned that the greatest enjoyment & fulfilment is working hard toward a particular goal.

Do you really think an Olympic athlete is worrying about not having time to get in the pub for 4pm after training? Absolutely not!

1. Optimising our time: there has been a cultural shift in that more people than ever - thanks to social media & podcasting platforms, with the likes of David Goggins etc inspiring a generation of people to stop wasting time, & optimise the short life we have here on this planet.

There has been a massive increase in the popularity of 10km races on New Years Day. Whereas historically the focus was to get as drunk as possible the night before, the shift is that people much prefer the feeling of waking up fresh & early to do something positive & healthy with their time.

2. Negatives outweigh the reward: the older we get the more the intense the hangover. For me, a full day on the beer = 2-3 days recovery. My appetite, sleep, strength, focus etc is simply not the same for multiple days following the session.

The reward of going out to have a good time is outweighed heavily by the negatives. The question must be asked, is it really worth it?

3. Building a life for tomorrow: When productivity & performance are high on the agenda alcohol raises a number of issues. When you are committed to building a life that you want, the question must be asked to what purpose does alcohol play in our lives?

The question I am asking myself is whether my relationship to alcohol is helping me to build my potential. Is it helping me build the life I envision for tomorrow?

Summary

Am I not an alcoholic? No! I don't even have a problem with alcohol.

This is said to be the worse kind of person to make changes, because by not being forced to stop drinking because of extreme hazard to health, I could just as well float through life not really questioning why I do what I do.

Am I saying I am going to be completely sober? Not sure!

Do I enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer? Absolutely!

But I am curious about the conversation regarding the reason why many of our generation are removing the excessive, un-intelligent, impulsive, sheep-like mentality from their relationship with alcohol.

I ask myself a simple question. Why do I drink? Is it helping me to build the life I want?

I feel I am getting closer to the answer. We will see what the future holds.

Have you ever honestly asked these questions of yourself? I dare you!

You might not like what you find, but it will be worth it. I assure you of that.

Let me know what you think.

Much love,

Rossi