"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.
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 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?
Blah, blah, blah. 🤣
Just kidding. This can be very serious stuff. More than 1 or 2 standard drinks per day can lead to Alcohol-related Liver Disease (ALD), but that’s nothing (statistically) compared to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) 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, which also makes you hungrier the next day.
The bigger question is, Why are we drinking?
If you need to wind down or calm your nerves, exercise and warm baths 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 to nurse a beer while hanging out with your friends, cheers!
Blue Zones 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, but the “with friends” part has solid evidence 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.
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. 🍾🥂🥳