Derryn Hinch recently commented that in our society non-drinkers are treated "like criminals", and it got me thinking. Why is it that alcohol consumption is so ingrained in our society?
We use alcohol to celebrate, to wind down after a long day, as an accompaniment to a nice dinner, as a way to escape our problems and as a way to reduce our inhibitions. But is it the best way to do these things?
Did you know that the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine has stated that "because of the many obvious health hazards of alcohol, and because the benefits of alcohol are small and ill-understood, the recommendation to be a light drinker is not only meaningless but also irresponsible"?
Hinch was speaking at the Alcohol Related Brain Injury Australian Services (ARBIAS) forum in Melbourne and it is worth remembering that even low-to-moderate alcohol intake has been associated with brain atrophy in middle aged men. So it is not just binge drinkers that need to be wary.
As someone who used to really enjoy a drink but have now decided that I would rather be fit and healthy, I can tell you that 'non-drinking' need not be a pleasureless existence. In fact, I am able to celebrate a special occasion as well as anyone (I am perfectly capable of making a fool of myself when sober) and yet wake up in the morning without a hangover and with a whole bunch more money in my pocket.
I have also found better, healthier ways to wind down and to deal with issues as they arise, rather than relying on an external solution such as alcohol. In fact I have even found that I am able to lose my inhibitions and dance the night away in a way that I never thought possible. It seems that it was more a psychological effect of believing things were ok because I was drunk, rather than a physical change.
So lighten up on those non-drinkers out there. It is a perfectly legitimate choice, a healthy choice, and it certainly does not mean that they cease to be fun! In fact you may find that once you get used to them not drinking, you will find that they are even more fun and energetic than before.
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