Being a sober warrior, I tend to fall into the trap of believing that the sober-positive bubble I find myself in reflects the majority of society. Unfortunately, after a quick Google, I see there are still plenty of pro-bevving voices out there.
In an article written this January for the drinks business, it is claimed that there’s ‘no science’ to support that having a month of the booze is good for your liver.
Let’s start by saying that the drinks business is an alcohol-focused magazine and company. The ads on their website are red wine ads; under ‘news’ they have the categories ‘bars’, ‘beer’, ‘restaurants’, ‘spirits’, ‘wine’, and ‘retail’; almost all of their content seems to be spreading a very pro-alcohol message. I think it’s safe to assume that it is the drinks business’ best interest to keep the public fixated on booze.
In the article, the writer references a gastroenterologist who explains that ‘the enzymes responsible for breaking down alcohol in the liver are created by our body when needed’ and this means that ‘those who drink regularly can metabolise more alcohol than those who drink occasionally, because daily imbibers have livers with more of these enzymes’.
First and foremost, I want to say that I am not a scientist with a background in a STEM subject. I am a sober student of philosophy and any knowledge I might possess leans more on the social, political, and philosophical side of things. I am sure that it’s true that those who drink a lot can process alcohol more easily, because they are more used to it. This fact isn’t my problem with the article; my problem is with its tone and underlying message.
The whole article is dissing Dry January and the sentiment behind it, even if it’s doing it in a roundabout way. It tries to create a false dichotomy:
DRY JANUARY VS SCIENCE -
implying you can only pick one.
By cleverly using long words and sciencey-sounding phrases, articles like these subtly impact our subconscious, teaching us that the break from booze we thought was worth having, isn’t actually worth anything at all.
In the latter half of the article, the writer has the audacity to turn to the ‘red wine is good for you’ argument. The writer talks about antioxidants called ‘polyphenols'. These micronutrients are extremely good for you. They improve the health of your heart, lower your risk of diabetes, have anti-cancer properties, raise your immunity, and more. And of course, red wine contains a lot of polyphenols.
But do you know what else has lots of polyphenols in?
Fruits, vegetables, teas, and spices
If you’re getting your 5-a-day, there are literally no added health benefits to drinking red wine. Instead, there are an abundance of physical and mental health issues that can come about from drinking. And yes, that includes having a glass of red wine with your dinner. It's not untrue that red wine contains antioxidants, but that doesn't mean it's a good reason to drink.
The article takes it even further, referencing a professor in Spain who claims that ‘new evidence shows that red wine can help you to burn calories in food when drunk during meals, while offering a range of health benefits too’. What these ‘range of health benefits' are exactly, remains unclear.
The danger of this narrative is that it reinforces the black and white alcoholic mentality, whereby people believe that you're either drinking to excess or your drinking habits are fine. This mentality suggests that if you’re a ‘moderate’ drinker of ‘healthy’ red wine, you couldn’t possibly have a drink problem. You couldn’t possibly benefit from trying Dry January or taking some time off. You are not the same as the rock-bottom alcoholics you see portrayed in the media, and thus you don’t need to give it up.
In reality, alcohol misuse is on a sliding scale. There is no such thing as ‘too much’ alcohol, only what is too much for you. If you think you’d benefit from a dry spell, I’m willing to bet you probably would.
The last, most infuriating sentence of this article reads ‘In other words, if you are a regular, moderate drinker, who enjoys red wine with food, then don’t feel that you have to give up your desired drop for health reasons’. This pro-alcohol narrative is trying to convince those who need a break from alcohol to give up on Dry January before they’ve even begun.
To close with a positive sentiment, I want to wish anyone who’s trying Dry January an amazing month. You don't have anything to lose, you only have things to gain. I will remind you of some of the (very real, consistently reported) benefits of Dry January:
- Better sleep (after the first week)
- Better sex
- More energy
- Better skin, hair, and nails
- Less negative emotion and agitation
- More time on your hands
- Less arguments
- Space from alcohol that allows you to reflect on your relationship with it
- More self-love, self-worth, and self-respect
- A sense of achievement for overcoming a challenge
- Lower risk of certain cancers
- A higher chance of reducing your alcohol intake for the rest of the year
- You start to smell better
- Less digestive issues (e.g. bloating, wind, diarrhoea, and constipation)
- An improved ability to socialise without drinking
I hope this has acted as a reminder for you to do what feels right for yourself, and to always question what’s in front of you.
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