--- title: "Alcohol is Toxic: Here’s When and Why You Should Drink Some" description: Explore the evolving relationship between social connections and alcohol in today's culture. Uncover the deeper impacts and choices. image: https://workwiseoffice.com/hubfs/alcohol.jpg --- [![Workwise](https://workwiseoffice.com/hubfs/WorkWise_Horizontal-Logo.png)](https://workwiseoffice.com) - [Offices](https://workwiseoffice.com/private-offices) - [Meetings](https://workwiseoffice.com/meeting-and-conference-rooms) - [Virtual](https://workwiseoffice.com/virtual-offices) - Resources - [Member Login](https://workwiseoffice.com/member-login) - [About Us](https://workwiseoffice.com/about) - [Contact Us](https://workwiseoffice.com/contact) [TAKE A TOUR](https://calendly.com/workwiseoffice/tour) Toggle navigation Toggle navigation - [Offices](https://workwiseoffice.com/private-offices) - [Meetings](https://workwiseoffice.com/meeting-and-conference-rooms) - [Virtual](https://workwiseoffice.com/virtual-offices) - Resources - [Member Login](https://workwiseoffice.com/member-login) - [About Us](https://workwiseoffice.com/about) - [Contact Us](https://workwiseoffice.com/contact)   [![Workwisely transparent](https://workwiseoffice.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Workwisely%20transparent.png?width=500&height=106&name=Workwisely%20transparent.png)](https://workwiseoffice.com/blog)   # Alcohol is Toxic: Here’s When and Why You Should Drink Some December 2, 2024 •[Eric Hinkle](https://workwiseoffice.com/blog/author/eric-hinkle) [Personal Development](https://workwiseoffice.com/blog/tag/personal-development) ![](https://workwiseoffice.com/hs-fs/hubfs/alcohol.jpg?height=630&name=alcohol.jpg) "Life is not about the quantity of friends you have. It's about the quality of your friendships.” When I was in high school and college, we couldn’t go anywhere without at least a 6-pack. Yes, I now know that was wrong, but read into what I just said. **“We”** means I was hanging out with my friends. And **“go”** means we did stuff. I wasn’t home alone on Saturday nights. Let me be clear. **Don’t start drinking alcohol if you don’t drink now.** My point is that humans are social creatures. We need to enjoy time with our friends. And right or wrong, in our culture, those good times often pair well with alcohol. [But that’s changing](https://www.profgalloway.com/firewater/)**.** Gen Z drinks 20% less than millennials did at the same age, which was already 20% less than my generation (Gen X). While this appears to be positive on the surface, the story isn’t that simple. They're drinking less because they're socializing less. **Too many “friends.” Not enough friendships. ** This [book title](https://www.amazon.com/iGen-Super-Connected-Rebellious-Happy-Adulthood-ebook/dp/B01N6ACK3B/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=) says it all, “Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, Less Happy--and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood.” iGen'ers (kids who came of age with an iPhone in their hand) spend half as much time hanging out with friends in “real” life (or IRL as they call it). That’s half as much time to develop social skills, negotiate relationships, and learn how to navigate their emotions. As a result, anxiety, depression, and loneliness are at all-time highs. Half of Gen Z'ers say their online image is always in the back of their mind; 42% of high school students report “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness”; and teen suicide rates rose 62% between 2007 and 2021.  **Should we drink?** - [No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health](https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health) - [Contrary to popular opinion, alcohol is not good for the heart](https://world-heart-federation.org/wp-content/uploads/WHF-Policy-Brief-Alcohol.pdf) - [Even moderate drinking can increase your risk of cancer](https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/moderate-drinking.htm) Blah, blah, blah. 🤣 Just kidding. This can be very serious stuff. More than 1 or 2 [standard](https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/How-much-is-too-much/what-counts-as-a-drink/whats-a-standard-drink.aspx) drinks per day can lead to Alcohol-related Liver Disease ([ALD](https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/alcohol-related-liver-disease)), but that’s nothing (statistically) compared to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease ([NAFLD](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354567)) from obesity. First diagnosed only 40 years ago, NAFLD now affects 25% of the world's population. But I digress, sort of. Alcohol increases hunger and cravings, especially for high-calorie or salty foods. Add in impaired decision-making ability and lower self-control and you are all but guaranteed to eat foods you're trying to avoid. It’s also terrible for [sleep](https://workwiseoffice.com/blog/better-sleep-makes-everything-better), which also [makes you hungrier the next day](https://workwiseoffice.com/blog/5-simple-swaps-to-lose-weight#Five). **The bigger question is, Why are we drinking?** If you need to wind down or calm your nerves, [exercise](https://workwiseoffice.com/blog/why-exercise-is-your-most-essential-supplement) and [warm baths](https://www.verywellhealth.com/favorite-ways-to-relax-before-bedtime-and-improve-sleep-3014977) are better solutions. If you’re drinking alone or trying to forget something painful, one of the mental health professionals in the Workwise Community may be able to help. But if it makes you feel less [socially awkward](https://psychcentral.com/health/socially-awkward) to nurse a beer while hanging out with your friends, cheers!  [Blue Zones](https://www.bluezones.com/2016/11/power-9/) claims “Moderate drinkers outlive non-drinkers. The trick is to drink 1-2 glasses per day with friends.” The "1-2 glasses” part has been [debunked](https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/want-a-healthier-heart-seriously-consider-skipping-the-drinks), but the “with friends” part has [solid evidence](https://longevity.stanford.edu/lifestyle/lifestyle-pillars/lifestyle-medicine-social-engagement/) to support it. We need to spend time with people who care about us. People who would take care of our cat while we’re away. **![friends](https://workwiseoffice.com/hs-fs/hubfs/friends.jpg?width=250&height=187&name=friends.jpg)**I've been friends with these two guys for more than 50 years. We don't drink nearly as much we did before, but there's still usually some alcohol involved when we get together. Life is a series of tradeoffs. Pros and cons. Alcohol is bad. Social isolation is worse. If your friends want to get together for a drink, say Yes! Even if you’re on a diet. Make time to celebrate your friendships and all the good things in your life. **🍾🥂🥳** Share This: [mailto:replaceme@please.com?&subject=Thought%20you%20might%20like%20this&body=https%3A%2F%2Fworkwiseoffice.com%2Fblog%2Falcohol-is-toxic-heres-when-and-why-you-should-drink-some](mailto:replaceme@please.com?&subject=Thought%20you%20might%20like%20this&body=https%3A%2F%2Fworkwiseoffice.com%2Fblog%2Falcohol-is-toxic-heres-when-and-why-you-should-drink-some) - - - [mailto:support@workwiseoffice.com](mailto:support@workwiseoffice.com) 4860 Cox Road #200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 © 2026 Workwise Inc. | [804-217-8300](tel:8042178300) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Eric Hinkle", "url" : "https://workwiseoffice.com/blog/author/eric-hinkle" }, "dateModified" : "2024-12-30T14:14:50.776Z", "datePublished" : "2024-12-02T15:55:00.000Z", "headline" : "Alcohol is Toxic: Here’s When and Why You Should Drink Some", "image" : [ "https://workwiseoffice.com/hubfs/alcohol.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://workwiseoffice.com/blog/alcohol-is-toxic-heres-when-and-why-you-should-drink-some", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://workwiseoffice.com/hubfs/Images/Logo.png" } } } ```