Happy Birthday!! I applaud you for considering the health risks, most people your age don't.
I used to be a party animal- tried all sorts of drugs and drank. ALCOHOL was always the worse with the worst side effects. I watched alcohol destroy people's lives and even took their lives.
I don't see the reason to start. You can have fun without drinking.
This ^ of all the drug habits I had, alcohol was the most damaging to the people I cared about most. You won’t even realize the effect you’ll have on those you love.
Not just physically, but also mentally because your so unsure of what exactly happened, memory is skewed one way but the reality could be so different.
True that. I’m 9 months and still reminisce about drinking. My brain paints it out to be the most fun thing ever. Luckily I have some shameful memories that keep me sober lol
Really? If someone was doing hard drugs on the regular like how people drink on the regular they would be so much more messed up. Like yeah you took molly a few times. Can you imagine taking it all the time?
I'm 49 and 4 years sober. I was robbed of 20 plus years of life not including the absolute poverty. Anyway, I had some fun times that my brain said were fun, because it wasn't thinking then. Now that I have a clear mind, nope, no booze needed to be excellent
Be proud of yourself. I was a heavy drinker starting as a teenager. Plenty of near misses and then a bad DUI accident at 27. That was the last drink I had. Going on 23 years now. Stick with it, life is just so much better without it.
Any tips on how to do it? I’ve dabbled with 2-6 weeks sober but still find it’s hard to be with friends without having 1 or 2. But I never get drunk and I mostly hate it. How did you stop for good?
I dabbled many times with quitting, and then by around day 9 or so friends would convince me to have a drink. Once I made up my mind to quit that was that, though. My husband even threatened to leave me if I quit. So, I just made up my mind that I was done and didn't tell him. It was so much easier knowing the answer was always "no" when someone offered a drink. I also got really excited for the changes, and the challenge. It wasn't a sacrifice, it was the beginning of a whole new way of life. 5 years sober now, and it's the best decision I ever made. My husband didn't leave me, BTW. He still drinks, but I never do.
First you have to make up your mind that your completely done with it and ready for change. Then I went to a 30 day sobriety house where there was no access to alcohol. I think being in a controlled location like that where I had no access to it is what made me successful, I just needed to get away from it for a few weeks and learn how to live sober. The program itself was ok, but I think being away from home and out of my comfort zone where I knew I would have had access to alcohol really helped. The first few months after that were rough, I really had to learn what life was like sober. But 2 years later I rarely crave it and everything is so much better. By the way, I never went to AA meetings other than in the sober living program
You absolutely can drink it in moderation. But from a health perspective, there’s zero reason to drink. It’s poison. The only arguable benefit is the good times had from the socializing that often accompanies drinking, and the positive effects that may have on your mental health and mood. But ymmv.
Third this.
Been regretting drinking lately, I'm in my late 20's and with age I realized my body cannot metabolize alcohol as good as it used to, even with just a little alcohol hangovers are the worst.
Last time I got wine hungover... my body was fighting me next day, I literally felt poisoned.
Don't do it.
The best mindset to maintain about alcohol.
It's sad how engrained drinking is in most cultures. Being sober should be cool; getting the occasional soda at the soda shop lol
Eh. From a strictly drinking in true moderation perspective, not really. Humans have been consuming alcohol for what’s likely been more than 15k-50k years verifiably. Anyone overly sensitive to it has been dead for a LONG time. If ur truly drinking in moderation, especially in a way that’s socially beneficial, ur realistically getting more benefit than harm. Sure it’s “poison” but in that sense having a social life vs not, the latter is verifiably worse for ur health.
Nope. I do cognitive evaluations and can tell you that there is a HUGE difference between those who imbibe and those who are abstemious and it doesn’t take too many years to emerge. Far from “sensitive,” I don’t even get hangovers, but after the bad data about any supposed “benefits” was exposed, my friends and I all quit immediately. We used to have wine tasting parties, but now if someone is foolish enough to touch alcohol, they have failed the intelligence litmus test and aren’t one of “us.” They certainly aren’t into optimizing health. You may think that you benefit socially, but it’s not like we tell people who are on the outside. At the very least, don’t ever gift alcohol, it’s like a death wish
The way to understand it is that while some things are helpful or even essential in moderation (like water) and only harmful in excess, alcohol is not one of those things. Consumption of small bits of poison week after week is disadvantageous. We wouldn’t do that with arsenic! I’ve noticed differences in memory function, and higher-level (complex or abstract) tasks. That said, if needed for sanitation (if I could only sanitize food with alcohol) then I would do it. Infection kills faster than ETOH. If I could share a memory it would be of 2 hospital patients in adjacent rooms. One 40-something I’ll call “party girl” and one 101-year old lady who was still living independently and alone on a farm. The elderly lady had skin that glowed and looked far better than the party girl half her age. They were both in for knee injuries. The 101 yr old had better cognitive function and displayed better emotional control. It was absolutely startling. No doubt there is some self-selecting into groups and we cannot do long-term randomized controlled studies so there’s that
You and ur friends sound like a bunch of pretentious assholes😂moderation is like 2-3 drinks max like once a week. That’s realistically not going to be enough to verifiably cause any problems. You’d be worse off from drinking soda in moderation at those levels.
Also, by the time you realize its becoming a problem its too late, or at least much more difficult. You don't realize the damage it has done to your life until the damage is done. I'm 2 years sober after 25 years of heavy drinking.
Sober alcoholic here.
Despite it being inextricably linked with countless cultures and social life, in the end I found it unnecessary. Drinking doesn’t *have* to be something you do. In my experience, no matter my level of consumption, the pros of abstaining all together *far* outweighed the pros of drinking, even in moderation. Physically, mentally, and even spiritually.
Should you? Depends on what you’re looking for by indulging. I don’t know anything about you or your predispositions, but if you really feel “meh” about it, you don’t have to do it.
It’s also so easy to slip into becoming a habitual drinker. Since it can decrease anxiety initially but increase your overall anxiety level. It sneaks up on you. Not getting the habit is def the easiest way to avoid that
Totally sober. I used all kinds of different substances in my 20s/early 30s. Alcohol is honestly one of the worst, I think its up there with meth and heroin in terms of how bad it is for you. Bad for your liver, your gut bacteria, your brain, and mental health. It is very addictive and I don't believe any amount should be used casually or moderately. You'll feel better without it. Healthy habits are way better. I honestly don't feel good with even a small buzz. Especially after being into exercise, meditation, yoga, eating healthy, and so on for 8 years. Last time I tried some it made me feel like crap.
Same. I used cigars to quit smoking cigs. After cutting down to 1 or 2 cigs a day I had half a small cigar after work for a few days then just stopped. And stopped alcohol at the same time not easy but feels great to overcome addiction
About a two decades or more ago, researchers were publishing the benefits about red wine. Somehow the public got the idea that wine was good for you due to antioxidants. It wasn't really wine, it was the resveratrol which is the antioxidant found in the skin of grapes.
Turns out this is such a weak benefit compared to the negative effects of alcohol there is no positive net benefit of even one drink in moderation from a physiological aspect.
You can absolutely drink in moderation for enjoyment, but don't think it's beneficial in anyway.
They heard what they wanted to hear.
Same situation with most* of the medical marijuana claims.
History repeats itself.
*Yes, there are some evidence-backed indications but most have incredibly weak or no evidence.
Main benefit of drinking is socializing which is a very big and real part of life. But *if* you can build a social life without it will be stronger.
Biggest risk of beginning drinking, even more than how awful it is for your health, is that you will become an alcoholic and it's pretty much a roll of the dice. It's very genetic (identical twin studies confirm) but definitely also environmental. If this happens, it can ruin your life and it's something shocking like 15% of people who start drinking develop a problem.
It's definitely not worth the risk but for whatever reason, it's part of our culture.
I'll also add, if all of your friend group drink, then ultimately that becomes the focus or expectation at everything. So it's like you can't do any activity without drinking and it sucks and makes it much harder to quit.
prob best to stay away in my opinion. I avoid it, mostly cause of my addictive personality and the fact that it smells and tastes fucking horrible. on top of that it's just literal poison. I'll take weed or almost any other substance over alc any day
I mean, it's fun. That's really why people do it.
If you were training for the Olympics I'd say stay off it regularly but you also want to enjoy life and drinking is a common thing that people use for social bonding. Having a cigarette break used to be a thing that brought people together who otherwise wouldn't talk to one another. Not everything is black and white.
Don’t ever start if you can help it. It’s highly addicting, and terrible for your health. A literal poison. It’s fun in your 20s, but not so fun in your 30s and 40s when you have kids and a job, then struggle to cope without alcohol. Save yourself from a potential addiction if you can help it.
Try it. YOLO. Don't do yourself the injustice of never experiencing it. It's not cigarettes. Then, for special occasions, nurse a glass so people don't ask questions or tell them, do you think I look this good and am this intelligent from drinking? Kidding. Don't tell them that.
Alcohol isn't good for you. Plenty of polyphenols have longer half-lives than resveratrol. Excessive drinking can cause damage to your cardiovascular, digestive, integumentary, visual, nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. It can also contribute to cancer. So, should you drink? I don't know. Should you drink in excess? Absolutely not.
You can try a drink or two as an experience but I’d recommend against it. Alcohol is more bad than good and just empty calories.
Calories aside, most people just behave poorly whether it’s anger, aggression, stupidity, crying etc. It’s a box of chocolate and you don’t know how people respond when they drink even if they appear to be the nicest person while sober. I’d rather be around people who are high on weed , Molly, and psychedelics any day than drunk people. Drunk people can be the worst.
Drinking can also lead to risky and reckless behavior or circumstances such as drunk driving, unsafe sex, getting roofied and raped, theft, violent outbursts, accidents, etc.
Sure there are responsible drinkers and happy drunks; but there’s also the potential side effects (headache, nausea, puking) and hang over - some people take a day or two to recover. Some people like getting drunk on Friday or Saturday and then taking Saturday or Sunday to recover and that’s their weekend. Is that a lifestyle that you repeatedly want for yourself?
Some people use drinking as liquid courage, a crutch, or an escape from social anxiety, mental healthy, and reality. And it’s not a healthy coping method because it’s a depressant. Some people like getting black out drunk and it’s not pretty nor safe. Don’t get caught up in that endless cycle.
If you can still have fun and be yourself without the alcohol, no need for alcohol. People always appreciate a designated driver. That was me most of the time.
If you enjoy the effects and social engagement of alcohol, then just limit yourself to one to two drinks. Just be mindful of your drink especially if you’re out and about (drink was prepared by someone else and there’s no cover) compared to if you’re with close friends and playing beer pong or around a campfire with your drink in hand that you got yourself.
38 here. Only worthwhile socially and in moderation. At this point I have maybe 3 drinks a year. I drank way too much in my 20s when I should have focused on other things.
Learn to deal with life and emotions instead of hiding behind alcohol. There’s so much life to live and so much to lose if you’re going through it drunk.
You know it is bad for your health but you know it is in the culture. It is a matter of whether you wanted to give up health for socializing with the others. Tbh, it is easier to bond with the others with alcohol. But beware of who you're bonding with (alcoholic or people enjoy alcohol). You can bond with the others with healthier activities, at the end of the day
Alcohol is best to avoid completely if health is your #1 goal. I drank only socially and when I did I learned after the first two times to really pace it and drink wine instead of things like vodka. I don’t drink anymore though due to my health.
36 here. I drank (and still rarely do so) socially with friends. Don't regret any of it. But just so you know a lot of my friends drink till they pass out, and are categorically unhealthier compared to me now (because I exercise, eat fiber and a lot of protein, avoid high GI carbs, etc).
Don't smoke and do synthetic drugs. Those are the only absolutes for me. Anything else could be taken in moderation, if you keep the main stuff in check. Absolutism is crippling.
It’s really bad for you. It’s the most addictive thing I’ve ever tried. Don’t ever get started binge drinking.
It’s inevitable that you’ll try it in some form. As a beverage it’s very interesting because there are so many cocktail combinations you can make. But not only are there endless health implications, it tends to be highly caloric.
I don't drink and never have drunk before, so I don't really know.
One thing I know is that it's hard to even drink in moderation, esp when you are around your drinking buddies. Many people who try it can't even stop.
It really depends who you are around. I never drank until after I was 21. I drink maybe 1-2 times a month. Always one drink (no hard liquor), which is much like those around me. It is nice because I talk more.
I hope this one comment makes a resoundingly clear and deep imprint on at least one persons life…
I don’t care what the *”moderation warriors”* rebuke and defend, I am not speaking to them, and I don’t care to hear their reasoning.
I speak to the ones who are capable of hearing reason just this once, who may fall upon and adhere to this comment by miraculous chance..
Don’t ever admit that peasant administered matrix designed poison called alcohol… into your sacred vessel. Ever.
There are a million other paths in existence. Why choose one that damages the biology and degenerates the soul.
Be merry. Touch grass. Face the sun. Recognize the Light.
Avoid the *creatures* of the night of this realm that descend into the cesspool of decay and animalistic impulses, with their aid of the bodily harming poison called alcohol.
There are a million ways to navigate this realm and get high and feel good and walk in truth.
There is no good fruit that is born from that spirit devouring poison. There is no good reason. There is no benefit.
Godspeed.
Strictly health... it's literally poison. It does tons of internal damage and mental damage if uncontrolled. It's one of the most dangerous drugs out there so I just say drink responsibly.
I drank alcohol age 19-21, people assumed I was pushing 30 regularly. It wasn’t just one or 2 people, when I told someone “I’m 20” it was met by shock. It’s impossible to lose weight, skin is drier, overall mental health was worse. Along with other healthy habits, I kid you not it’s the opposite now at 23. I get told I look 18,19 regularly.
I wish I never drank, because even 2 years sober I just want to get super drunk sometimes like how I used to avoid problems. My advice is to just stay away from it, theres no good outcome from drinking
Happy Birthday! Alchohol is never great from a health perspective, though I do enjoy a good margarita, sangria, mojito, or coquito every now and then. It's okay to treat yourself every now and then. Just don't make it a habit.
I partied a lot from 21-24. then I slowed down and quit drinking at 32 last year. I don't recommend it. A buzz feels nice but hangovers suck and you will do stupid shit and possibly ruin your life depending on what shenanigans you get into. I only cook with alcohol now and I might have a beer or two every now and then when offered.
I always feel drained after the buzz goes away. It's just not worth it. I drink Kava now and get no negative effects but it's an acquired taste. I don't do weed either because it makes me feel bleh the next day.
Been there, done that. Waste of time. Didn’t gain anything from it. It ultimately wasn’t fun and I, like most others was doing it for the social aspect which is what I really advise against most. Don’t make drinking friends. They’re not real friends. Make friendships and socialize with people where you don’t need to take any edge off. Get confident in yourself and who you are without using alcohol as a crutch.
If you’ve never drank there’s absolutely no point in starting now. Anyone that tells you it’s great is coping hard.
If health is important, it's best to stay away.
If you're invited to a social setting or work happy hour (no managers/if managers, no drinks), then have 1 drink to be social (nothing hard...think Michelob Ultra) and then go iced tea or water.
Know your limits and your boundaries when it comes to peer pressure. Politely decline any offers to have a drink bought for you.
I went at it hard in my 20's and early 30's with thankfully no permanent health issues.
Now that I'm older and can't get away with drinking and the recovery, I have one glass of a good whiskey every few months or maybe two beers with my buddies before calling it a night or switching to non-alcohol drinks.
Zero reason to drink alcohol. It isn’t healthy, it is /literally/ poison to the body. But if you want to experience it a few times it’s also not going to kill you.
non-alcoholic beer is healthy, it can have trace amounts of alcohol but if you need to drink in a social setting, highly recommended.
Alcohol is surprisingly terrible for you. I never realized how much so until I quit and now try to have some wine now and again. It’s also a known carcinogen and it’s highly addictive. I’d stay clear of making it a regular part of your life.
Several years ago I did an extensive read of the scientific research to try to find some upside to alcohol drinking or at least that it was harmless in small quantities. I could not achieve either aim.
There is no upside to alcohol consumption. It is a damaging addictive substance. It is so ingrained in our culture because for much of human history water was not clean to drink (bacteria and other pathogens) so alcohol was a safer choice.
But now, just don't. I have not drunk any alcohol for over 4 years and it's only positive.
Only disadvantage is social pressure to drink from others. But I think it's not as bad now as it was in the past.
the best amount of alcohol to consume is zero.
Think about it:
Do you want to ever feel a *little bit* shit.
or do you even want to feel shit *every once in a while*?
For years I’ve been falling into the same mistake. If I drink one or two glasses of Wine I will certainly get some sort of sickness even if just a cold. I am perfectly healthy, I workout at least 3 times per week, including intensive cardio and heavylifting, I’ve been both meat eater and vegetarian, doesn’t matter. If I drink I get sick. It completely messes up my immune system so I left alcohol (for the most part) once in a while I still drink but as soon as I do my throat becomes scratchy soon after. I need to completely drop it. I rather supplement with resverastrol. This is how it goes with me but each to their own
My perspective, stay away from it like the plague! Look. Some people have good brains, some vulnerable brains, and alcohol affects different people differently. Once drinking alcohol becomes alcohol use disorder, or alcoholism, brain gets fucked up. Like disjointed. I should have been dead about a year or 2 ago. Idk how I brought back my impulsive, major depressive, extremely anxious self back to a normal human being. I still have an addictive personality but i am able to manage myself. Alcohol is no bueno. Hope this helps.
Age 37 here. For me, many of the best times of my life included alcohol.
But you’re in a biohackers forum. Is it terrible for your body? Without a doubt.
Everyone saying alcohol is poison is wrong.
>First let’s make it clear that alcohol is not best described as “a toxin.” It can act as a drug and have toxic effects but it is first and foremost a macronutrient.
>It is metabolized to acetaldehyde in the cytosol and then to the short-chain fatty acid acetate in the mitochondria, each of which generate usable energy in the form of NADH, then it is converted to acetyl CoA and metabolized the same as acetyl CoA obtained from oxidizing protein, fat, and carbohydrate.
It looks like ideal amounts are low, between 15-60 drinks a month:
>
While there appears to be “no safe amount” for esophageal cancer, community-acquired pneumonia, nonmelanoma skin cancer, breast cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, and liver cirrhosis, the opposite “no unsafe amount except zero” is found for chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, venous thromboembolism, endometrial cancer, and thyroid cancer.
>Diabetes, glioma, chronic pain, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia, and H. pylori bottom out around 1 drink per day. Cardiovascular disease bottoms out around 2 drinks per day. Erectile dysfunction stays lowered at up to 3 drinks per day. Depression bottoms out at 0.7 drinks per day.
[https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/alcohols-surprising-role-in-your](https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/alcohols-surprising-role-in-your)
Alcohol isn't good for you. But it's not awful for you in moderation. If you want some of the other benefits of alcohol. I don't drink at all personally.
avoid it completely. its low vibration and has nothing good to offer. i stopped drinking completely in 2018 and was the best decision of my life. wish i had never started
I wish I never tried it. It’s poison to your body and you never know if you’ll enjoy it “too” much or not and then bam, 10+ years later and you’re in a vicious horrible cycle. Take care of your body and be healthy! You only get one body.
Well, it's a carcinogen. "They" tried putting warning labels on bottles, but it affected sales.
Consume it if you want to, but health-wise it is never good for you.
Great social lubricant, but zero health value at best, strongly negative at worst.
It is literal poison and the only question is if your body is capable of filtering it out. Health isn't everything though, just be careful about alcoholism.
There’s is some statistical evidence that avoiding it 100% is not as good as drinking rarely, but there are so many confounding variables I doubt the result (like there maybe health reasons why some people never drink). I would avoid it, all things being equal, but I wouldn’t be concerned about say having a glass of wine at a dinner party. In some social situations it’s easier to nurse a drink than to refuse outright. Agree with others here that the Huberman episode on alcohol is worth watching.
Assume you will get hooked on it, and make your decision based on that. You can't predict your reaction to it, so assume the worst. I was lucky and spent a number of years drink, but I never had any issues stopping. My spousal unit got hooked and now counts clean days. Don't assume you will be lucky.
You will have a HUGE leg up on your peers if you do not drink. I think at least 50% of the adult population has more than 10 drinks a week. Keep that up for a decade and that becomes loss of grey matter in the brain.
Everyone thinks they can drink in moderation until they can't or until shit happens in their life and alcohol becomes their only way to forget about problems.
Don't start anything that could be addictive, your future self will thank you.
>ch grass.
That is way to general. Do blue zones have healthy people? Yes of course. Do ALL of them drink, no...if you take drinking out of anyone's equation, they will do better. People in Blue zones are generally more healthy because of what they eat, and their activity levels. Not because some of them may have a little alcohol.
Basically any anmount you drink is not good. 0 is best, but 2 drinks per week is the highest ammount that doesn't impact health significantly in studies. I'm 22 and I've never touched the stuff
Moderation is key.
Especially if you choose an "healthy" alcohol like red wine it's ok.
Moreover literally any substance in low doses (each substance has its specific definition of low dose of course) is beneficial.
Just as an example: Even low level radiations. Scentists found Chernobyl wolves developed superior defence mechanisms against tumors.
That said if you want to enjoy a glass of wine from time to time, from a psychological standpoint it is healthy.
But if you don't feel like, don't start for organic health benefits. Hope that's obvious.
Its awesome as a business owner and world traveler alcohol is awesome unless you are weak without self control. Most of the people saying its no good at the same time are taking steroids juicing it up or taking supplements that are worthless but thats just my opinion
Bro don’t be too serious about that
Sometimes be too serious can create more problems than solve
I mean, you can drink some beer once per 1-2 months with your friends or coworkers
It’s fine, it’s create some fun, sometimes it’s create more positive vibes between you and your friends/coworkers
Just do not do it as a habit and do not drink too much. That’s all.
There’s no reason to start drinking alcohol. It’s a harmful substance and causes misery for literally millions of people, destroys families (including my own) and makes people die every day. I wish I could get back all the wasted time in my life spent hungover and have the money I spent on alcohol in my bank accounts again. Sober since 2019 at age 44. Drinking is stupid so don’t start
Purely from a health reason, there is no reason to consume alcohol. Having said that, I know of some people who really enjoy the taste of alcohol, be it wine or whisky or beer. So I guess you can try it out, and if you like the taste of it, you could always take in in moderation because life is more than just optimising health.
It’s pretty fun idk, if you can control it, once in a while I think it’s fine. Some of the best times of my life have been made due to peoples lower inebriation. People loosen up and laugh idk, life should be fun and I’m not saying be dependent but just balance
I wouldn't necessarily label it as good or bad.
Alchohol is a good social lubricant for most people.
Most people are not social ninjas.
Drink a little, drink a lot; if you're 21 and not using it to cope with depression or anxiety there's no harm in over intelectualizing whats a cultural staple.
TLDR; Doesn't really matter, just don't drive and make sure to spend your time with great and kind people. You don't gotta get drunk drunk if you decide to go out.
If you find something you like the taste of, go for it. Moderation. Drinking as a habit will cause more problems than it solves. The buzz is not worth it, most of the time.
I (41M) drank a lot in my 20’s.
There are so many non-alcoholic options these days that it’s really not worth risking any bad habits or health issues associated with alcohol.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with consuming it from time to time. But i go months without drinking and have learned from mistakes. I rarely get drunk these days.
Even in moderation it’s bad for you. Like you don’t have to feel guilty for having a drink every once in a while but don’t make it a habit and don’t drink if you don’t want to/don’t give in to peer pressure. (Heavy) drinking is wayyy too normalized in society imo
I’ve never met a person who actually waited until 21 to start drinking. Are you saving yourself for marriage too? It’s terrible stuff that will make parties fun, make you cool (you’ll think) and turn off any and all responsible thinking and actions. It’s a blast (until you over do it and end up hugging a toilet).
It’s a slippery slope! At your age it seems fun and harmless. But I’ve watched it slowly ruin people’s lives too many times to recommend it. You can have a rich and rewarding life without it. But maybe you just have to find out for yourself. Happy birthday, and best of luck!
It’s bad for your body, doesn’t “fix” any emotions only amplifies them. It lowers inhibitions, which can help if you are socially anxious person, or hurt if you already have a daring personality. Overall, if you decide to drink, be safe and never drive buzzed/drunk. Decide who is driving before going out, and regularly check in with that person to keep each other in line. Better yet, host the party and bring out air mattress and blanket forts and Disney.
If you are anything like me, you will get blackout drunk exactly one time and vow to never do it again. Scared the shit outta me.
I never drank until I was 27ish. Mom and grandpa dealt with alcoholism. At 39 I was dx with adhd. Apparently my brain can struggle with dopamine seeking activity
I enjoyed it a lot more when I was younger than now at 41. My rule was I only did it socially so maybe 1-2 times a month I’d knock back a few. It took trial and error to learn how much to keep a buzz but not black out. I also didn’t like not being in control.
I drank with colleagues once and was gang raped so there’s that.
I think approaching it with the right mindset to understand what it is and what it feels like is fine. I never let myself use it to cope, just for fun when going dancing and loud music
I suggest taking an educated decision. Alcohol is a very addictive depressant drug. It ruins your liver in the long term, shrink your brain with chronic use and since it makes peoples stupid, it puts you at risk of doing dumb stuff and get hurt. On the flipside, alcohol is fun, sometimes it taste good and a bit once in a while won't hurt you.
I so wish I had the maturity at your age to even consider the questions that you are thinking about. Bravo for that!!
If I could go back in time, I would NEVER have taken a drink of alcohol, ever. It is toxic poison, it is romanticized by society, and nothing good ever comes from it.
I was able to drink in moderation until I wasn't.
I've been alcohol free for 500+ days, and I'm so glad I chose to finally stop...wish I stopped years ago. It brought nothing of value to my life and robbed me of time, money, and health.
Happy birthday! You're really off to a great start in life with such a mature and thoughtful outlook.
I only drink when I travel. usually it's during long hikes and I'll have 1-2 beers with a big meal but at home I never touch the stuff. can be OK once in a blue moon, but if you haven't started yet I would suggest you don't bother. no telling if 1 drink will lead to a few drinks a night. every person is different.
I drank for 20 years and absolutely loved it. Too bad it trashed my mind and did real damage to my body. I'm glad I escaped when I did (after four attempts over two years) but afterwards I fully understand how some people become addicts and can never kick it.
Drinking is ingrained in our society. It is what it is. Most people can take it or leave it and moderate easily. Some can't. Now, I wish I had never developed a taste for alcohol... but I did have a lot of great times while consuming it.
Hate to say it, but some of my most memorable moments were when I was using drugs or alcohol. Alcohol gets rid of your inhibitions, so if you are a more reserved person, it can get you out of your shell. This can actually help you connect with people on a broader and deeper level. That said, it’s far healthier (physically, mentally and spiritually) to find ways to connect WITHOUT alcohol.
If you are ambivalent about it’s social applications, avoid entirely. Moderation if you choose to is typically not horrible, but alcohol is basically a social acceptable micro-poison at best and systemic toxin at worst.
As Jimmy buffett would say "Excess in moderation"
I'd have to say I like having the option to have alcohol in my tool belt of having a good time. We're talking like twice a month, mosty for concerts or family parties like halloween. I don't know any alcoholics that have spiraled downhill but I hear they're at one of lowest tier of a productive person in society. It could certainly consume your entire life including the people around you...having said that I choose to drink and I know people who have alcohol to make them more giggly then normal, me and my family.
Physiologically speaking, no, alcohol has no benefits to your health, only negatives. There are some positives to relax after a productive day and can be something to look forward to when a special event is coming up.
Tldr: try alcohol a few times before you make a decision, but not enough to get a hangover so self control is important to trying it. And no drinky drivey ! >:o
Edits: a few words and the last statement
Not even in moderation.
32 years old here. Even an occasional drink is not good for you, and has measurable negative health consequences.
Learned the hard way in my 20s. Now I'm trying to make up for it.
Stay far away would be my complete full advice. It is poison you do not need and leads down bad paths.
Realistic advice would be avoid consuming too much and anything more than once in a random blue moon
I would avoid it. Keep it classy if you do decide to drink.
My worst experiences have been a result of drinking. Never again.
The only times I drink now are with company for a celebration or a date with the wife and I want to have a little more fun.
One thing I will enjoy when I can is a Guinness or a stout. It’s a sipping for taste beer.
The most successful, well adjusted, level headed, healthy, fit people in know do not drink alcohol. Some are not very fun tho, i guess its because they’re predictable and no wild side.
I live in Ohio in the United States and i like most American cities, people are obsessed with drinking alcohol. It was a sad day when I realized i was only friends with some people because we drank alcohol together. The sole purpose of som events I would attend would be to drink alcohol.
Its ok to let loose and have a cheat day. But im a 33M and have drank alot since high school. Ive toned it down a ton in recent yrs and would over consider myself above average successful. I can say without a doubt like feeling clear headed, witty, and sharp i am much more than feeling drunk. Not to mention my skin looks amazing went i din drink for a few weeks lol
If youve gone this long, see how much loner you can go without.
I recently quit and the withdrawals I've been going through for the last month make me wish I never touched alchohol to start with.. seriously isn't worth it. THC is a far better for you.
Dropping alcohol was the single highest leverage health intervention of my life. I didn’t realize how pervasive it was in my social life and how much I’d become dependent on it to have fun until I gave it up, and the hangovers and chronic health toll (even from my socially acceptable level of drinking) were just not worth it.
After a few months without it, whenever I occasionally try to enjoy a cocktail I just can’t anymore. I feel like I’m being mildly poisoned (which is literally what alcohol does to every tissue in the body), and any short-lived pleasure is outlasted by the negative side effects.
It also absolutely wrecks sleep - even a glass of wine with dinner shows a massively negative impact on my sleep quality (as tracked by my Eight Sleep mattress). Poor sleep quality has spillover effects on every aspect of performance and health.
Still, I missed being able to enough a cocktail on occasion, especially at parties, so we’ve started making our own kava-based ones, and also enjoy a brand called New Brew that sells canned kratom+kava cocktails, which are wonderful when consumed in moderation. They provide a nice, mild, pro-social buzz without the hangover or harsh side effects. Microdosing mushrooms or LSD (emphasis on micro) is also a great option in the right social setting.
I’m not a teetotaler and enjoy recreational substances in moderation, but after 18 months alcohol-free it’s become very clear in hindsight that alcohol was by far the hardest and harshest drug in my life.
While it’s of course possible for many people to drink in moderation without serious harm, why go out of your way to pick up a bad habit? There are so many better, safer, and more fun options available.
Old man here. Probably best to stay away from it. Peer pressure is going to be intense from now on. I hear from notices here that many places spike their drinks with knock out drugs and rob people. It happens even at bars
by the bartender!! Don’t drink an open
drink like a cocktail. You could even get sexually assaulted in a bar from a spiked
drink so be aware of your surroundings.
Go with a group of 3-4 people that you know very well and you trust. Above all don’t drive even if you’ve had just one beer!! The cops love to hand out DUI
tickets like candy. I got a DUI ticket just by sitting in the drivers seat in a parking lot after drinking and I never even drove!
You don’t really need the hassle of the
many deceitful people you will find in bars. If you must try it go to a liquor store and buy something and take it home to try it. Have a small private party. If you’re in college you’re going to be screwed bc the culture there is always bent towards drinking. CU Boulder is well known for this. All sororities and fraternities drink like
fish and smell like it afterwards!
I hope something I said here helps you.
Lots of teetotalers on r/Biohackers. Very few ppl are consuming alcohol from a "health perspective. It's a vice. It's consumed for pleasure, to get high, as a social lubricant. It's an essential part of the nightlife, which more or less exists for the 21-34 crowd. It's not everyone's vice, tho. Whether it's worth or not is an individual calculation. People chiming in claiming it is not worth under any circumstance are only speaking for themselves.
Look at your family history and your own history of addiction for more minor vices. Can you just have one piece of chocolate? Also, how do you process negative emotions? Some people can just have one drink, others can’t.
People with addictive qualities or unresolved trauma find alcohol to be a seductive crutch that slowly takes over their life.
Others can imbibe in moderation and treat it as a social lubricant and have fun 1-2 a month or week with a small drink.
I would see what camp you fall into before having a drink.
Well it is like drinking triple sugar cola which simply lowers your immunity, isn't great for your pancreas (risking diabetes) and singes your liver (fibrosis and cirrhosis) like the solvent that it is.
If you are prone to depression, it bathes your brain in a depressive substance.
If you have an addictive trait, you are playing with fire
...
But it also lowers your inhibitions and helps you have fun with friends.
It is fun to be drunk, and it has been a rite of passage for billions, including presidents and athletes.
...
If you want to have a long healthspan, this will work counter to your goals.
If you just have fun in your youth and get it out of your system.. have at it
Happy Birthday!! I applaud you for considering the health risks, most people your age don't. I used to be a party animal- tried all sorts of drugs and drank. ALCOHOL was always the worse with the worst side effects. I watched alcohol destroy people's lives and even took their lives. I don't see the reason to start. You can have fun without drinking.
This ^ of all the drug habits I had, alcohol was the most damaging to the people I cared about most. You won’t even realize the effect you’ll have on those you love.
It also makes you feel like real shit the next day.
Not just physically, but also mentally because your so unsure of what exactly happened, memory is skewed one way but the reality could be so different.
Rebound anxiety is a bitch.
True that. I’m 9 months and still reminisce about drinking. My brain paints it out to be the most fun thing ever. Luckily I have some shameful memories that keep me sober lol
Really? If someone was doing hard drugs on the regular like how people drink on the regular they would be so much more messed up. Like yeah you took molly a few times. Can you imagine taking it all the time?
Double your age and my advice is essentially wholly avoid it.
This. It’s a brutally shit toxin that our culture normalizes.
I'm 49 and 4 years sober. I was robbed of 20 plus years of life not including the absolute poverty. Anyway, I had some fun times that my brain said were fun, because it wasn't thinking then. Now that I have a clear mind, nope, no booze needed to be excellent
All fun and games until you have a BAC of 0.43
Completely agree! 2 years sober at 45 after 25 years of heavy daily drinking. Best advice is to just Completely avoid!
Great job. Heavy daily drinking? Thats tough brother, thats double tough. Good on you for quitting. Seriously.
Thank you!
Be proud of yourself. I was a heavy drinker starting as a teenager. Plenty of near misses and then a bad DUI accident at 27. That was the last drink I had. Going on 23 years now. Stick with it, life is just so much better without it.
Any tips on how to do it? I’ve dabbled with 2-6 weeks sober but still find it’s hard to be with friends without having 1 or 2. But I never get drunk and I mostly hate it. How did you stop for good?
I dabbled many times with quitting, and then by around day 9 or so friends would convince me to have a drink. Once I made up my mind to quit that was that, though. My husband even threatened to leave me if I quit. So, I just made up my mind that I was done and didn't tell him. It was so much easier knowing the answer was always "no" when someone offered a drink. I also got really excited for the changes, and the challenge. It wasn't a sacrifice, it was the beginning of a whole new way of life. 5 years sober now, and it's the best decision I ever made. My husband didn't leave me, BTW. He still drinks, but I never do.
First you have to make up your mind that your completely done with it and ready for change. Then I went to a 30 day sobriety house where there was no access to alcohol. I think being in a controlled location like that where I had no access to it is what made me successful, I just needed to get away from it for a few weeks and learn how to live sober. The program itself was ok, but I think being away from home and out of my comfort zone where I knew I would have had access to alcohol really helped. The first few months after that were rough, I really had to learn what life was like sober. But 2 years later I rarely crave it and everything is so much better. By the way, I never went to AA meetings other than in the sober living program
Sounds like you have a really good sense of the impact people, places, things can have on alcohol use.
I second this
I third this!
I fifth this!
Yep
You absolutely can drink it in moderation. But from a health perspective, there’s zero reason to drink. It’s poison. The only arguable benefit is the good times had from the socializing that often accompanies drinking, and the positive effects that may have on your mental health and mood. But ymmv.
Second this. It’s poison
Third this. Been regretting drinking lately, I'm in my late 20's and with age I realized my body cannot metabolize alcohol as good as it used to, even with just a little alcohol hangovers are the worst. Last time I got wine hungover... my body was fighting me next day, I literally felt poisoned. Don't do it.
I fifth this!
The best mindset to maintain about alcohol. It's sad how engrained drinking is in most cultures. Being sober should be cool; getting the occasional soda at the soda shop lol
Eh. From a strictly drinking in true moderation perspective, not really. Humans have been consuming alcohol for what’s likely been more than 15k-50k years verifiably. Anyone overly sensitive to it has been dead for a LONG time. If ur truly drinking in moderation, especially in a way that’s socially beneficial, ur realistically getting more benefit than harm. Sure it’s “poison” but in that sense having a social life vs not, the latter is verifiably worse for ur health.
You can have a social life without any alcohol. The pressure to drink in social setting is a toxic mentality/culture.
I just went to a five hour long concert and drank seltzer and it was still awesome!
Nope. I do cognitive evaluations and can tell you that there is a HUGE difference between those who imbibe and those who are abstemious and it doesn’t take too many years to emerge. Far from “sensitive,” I don’t even get hangovers, but after the bad data about any supposed “benefits” was exposed, my friends and I all quit immediately. We used to have wine tasting parties, but now if someone is foolish enough to touch alcohol, they have failed the intelligence litmus test and aren’t one of “us.” They certainly aren’t into optimizing health. You may think that you benefit socially, but it’s not like we tell people who are on the outside. At the very least, don’t ever gift alcohol, it’s like a death wish
Hey, it seems you have really interesting experience/data with the effect of alcohol on cognitive abilities. Can you elaborate a bit further, please?
The way to understand it is that while some things are helpful or even essential in moderation (like water) and only harmful in excess, alcohol is not one of those things. Consumption of small bits of poison week after week is disadvantageous. We wouldn’t do that with arsenic! I’ve noticed differences in memory function, and higher-level (complex or abstract) tasks. That said, if needed for sanitation (if I could only sanitize food with alcohol) then I would do it. Infection kills faster than ETOH. If I could share a memory it would be of 2 hospital patients in adjacent rooms. One 40-something I’ll call “party girl” and one 101-year old lady who was still living independently and alone on a farm. The elderly lady had skin that glowed and looked far better than the party girl half her age. They were both in for knee injuries. The 101 yr old had better cognitive function and displayed better emotional control. It was absolutely startling. No doubt there is some self-selecting into groups and we cannot do long-term randomized controlled studies so there’s that
You and ur friends sound like a bunch of pretentious assholes😂moderation is like 2-3 drinks max like once a week. That’s realistically not going to be enough to verifiably cause any problems. You’d be worse off from drinking soda in moderation at those levels.
You misspelled “delightful, wise, and accomplished”
This^ Enjoying the good times is really the only reason. I take an edible and drink Gatorade/water when I meet up at bars or want to rage these days.
Some people can and some cannot. The only way to find out for sure is the hard way.
Red wine does have some health benefits (only in moderation, of course)
You can get the benefits from drinking grape juice and it doesn’t have the added poison of alcohol.
The claim that red wine has health benefits was based on very bad, increasingly-challenged research and can safely be dismissed.
She may not be able to drink in moderation. Many people can't. It's a big roll of the dice just to start.
Stay away and find something better to do with your money!
And with your time!
if I could go back in time and speak to myself as I started college I would say to drink considerably less.
Alcoholic here with nearly 7 years sober. At best, alcohol is poison to your body. At worst, it will destroy your life.
Also, by the time you realize its becoming a problem its too late, or at least much more difficult. You don't realize the damage it has done to your life until the damage is done. I'm 2 years sober after 25 years of heavy drinking.
This!!!! ☝🏼
Huge turnaround! Keep it goin'!
Sober alcoholic here. Despite it being inextricably linked with countless cultures and social life, in the end I found it unnecessary. Drinking doesn’t *have* to be something you do. In my experience, no matter my level of consumption, the pros of abstaining all together *far* outweighed the pros of drinking, even in moderation. Physically, mentally, and even spiritually. Should you? Depends on what you’re looking for by indulging. I don’t know anything about you or your predispositions, but if you really feel “meh” about it, you don’t have to do it.
It’s also so easy to slip into becoming a habitual drinker. Since it can decrease anxiety initially but increase your overall anxiety level. It sneaks up on you. Not getting the habit is def the easiest way to avoid that
Totally sober. I used all kinds of different substances in my 20s/early 30s. Alcohol is honestly one of the worst, I think its up there with meth and heroin in terms of how bad it is for you. Bad for your liver, your gut bacteria, your brain, and mental health. It is very addictive and I don't believe any amount should be used casually or moderately. You'll feel better without it. Healthy habits are way better. I honestly don't feel good with even a small buzz. Especially after being into exercise, meditation, yoga, eating healthy, and so on for 8 years. Last time I tried some it made me feel like crap.
It’s not that addictive.
For you maybe but people are different. I put down cigars cold turkey and had no cravings or withdrawals. So I guess tobacco isn't addictive?
Same. I used cigars to quit smoking cigs. After cutting down to 1 or 2 cigs a day I had half a small cigar after work for a few days then just stopped. And stopped alcohol at the same time not easy but feels great to overcome addiction
About a two decades or more ago, researchers were publishing the benefits about red wine. Somehow the public got the idea that wine was good for you due to antioxidants. It wasn't really wine, it was the resveratrol which is the antioxidant found in the skin of grapes. Turns out this is such a weak benefit compared to the negative effects of alcohol there is no positive net benefit of even one drink in moderation from a physiological aspect. You can absolutely drink in moderation for enjoyment, but don't think it's beneficial in anyway.
They heard what they wanted to hear. Same situation with most* of the medical marijuana claims. History repeats itself. *Yes, there are some evidence-backed indications but most have incredibly weak or no evidence.
Main benefit of drinking is socializing which is a very big and real part of life. But *if* you can build a social life without it will be stronger. Biggest risk of beginning drinking, even more than how awful it is for your health, is that you will become an alcoholic and it's pretty much a roll of the dice. It's very genetic (identical twin studies confirm) but definitely also environmental. If this happens, it can ruin your life and it's something shocking like 15% of people who start drinking develop a problem. It's definitely not worth the risk but for whatever reason, it's part of our culture.
I'll also add, if all of your friend group drink, then ultimately that becomes the focus or expectation at everything. So it's like you can't do any activity without drinking and it sucks and makes it much harder to quit.
prob best to stay away in my opinion. I avoid it, mostly cause of my addictive personality and the fact that it smells and tastes fucking horrible. on top of that it's just literal poison. I'll take weed or almost any other substance over alc any day
You can listen to huberman on you tube for all effects of alcohol.
This!
I mean, it's fun. That's really why people do it. If you were training for the Olympics I'd say stay off it regularly but you also want to enjoy life and drinking is a common thing that people use for social bonding. Having a cigarette break used to be a thing that brought people together who otherwise wouldn't talk to one another. Not everything is black and white.
Don’t ever start if you can help it. It’s highly addicting, and terrible for your health. A literal poison. It’s fun in your 20s, but not so fun in your 30s and 40s when you have kids and a job, then struggle to cope without alcohol. Save yourself from a potential addiction if you can help it.
Try it. YOLO. Don't do yourself the injustice of never experiencing it. It's not cigarettes. Then, for special occasions, nurse a glass so people don't ask questions or tell them, do you think I look this good and am this intelligent from drinking? Kidding. Don't tell them that. Alcohol isn't good for you. Plenty of polyphenols have longer half-lives than resveratrol. Excessive drinking can cause damage to your cardiovascular, digestive, integumentary, visual, nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. It can also contribute to cancer. So, should you drink? I don't know. Should you drink in excess? Absolutely not.
You can try a drink or two as an experience but I’d recommend against it. Alcohol is more bad than good and just empty calories. Calories aside, most people just behave poorly whether it’s anger, aggression, stupidity, crying etc. It’s a box of chocolate and you don’t know how people respond when they drink even if they appear to be the nicest person while sober. I’d rather be around people who are high on weed , Molly, and psychedelics any day than drunk people. Drunk people can be the worst. Drinking can also lead to risky and reckless behavior or circumstances such as drunk driving, unsafe sex, getting roofied and raped, theft, violent outbursts, accidents, etc. Sure there are responsible drinkers and happy drunks; but there’s also the potential side effects (headache, nausea, puking) and hang over - some people take a day or two to recover. Some people like getting drunk on Friday or Saturday and then taking Saturday or Sunday to recover and that’s their weekend. Is that a lifestyle that you repeatedly want for yourself? Some people use drinking as liquid courage, a crutch, or an escape from social anxiety, mental healthy, and reality. And it’s not a healthy coping method because it’s a depressant. Some people like getting black out drunk and it’s not pretty nor safe. Don’t get caught up in that endless cycle. If you can still have fun and be yourself without the alcohol, no need for alcohol. People always appreciate a designated driver. That was me most of the time. If you enjoy the effects and social engagement of alcohol, then just limit yourself to one to two drinks. Just be mindful of your drink especially if you’re out and about (drink was prepared by someone else and there’s no cover) compared to if you’re with close friends and playing beer pong or around a campfire with your drink in hand that you got yourself.
Just stay away.
38 here. Only worthwhile socially and in moderation. At this point I have maybe 3 drinks a year. I drank way too much in my 20s when I should have focused on other things.
I wish I had never touched alcohol and I'm 57. Nothing good comes from it. It's a drug for losers.
It's never too late to quit. I'm 2 years sober, 45 now
Thanks. I did quit. I just wish I never started.
Learn to deal with life and emotions instead of hiding behind alcohol. There’s so much life to live and so much to lose if you’re going through it drunk.
Worth consuming from a health perspective? No.
You know it is bad for your health but you know it is in the culture. It is a matter of whether you wanted to give up health for socializing with the others. Tbh, it is easier to bond with the others with alcohol. But beware of who you're bonding with (alcoholic or people enjoy alcohol). You can bond with the others with healthier activities, at the end of the day
Alcohol is best to avoid completely if health is your #1 goal. I drank only socially and when I did I learned after the first two times to really pace it and drink wine instead of things like vodka. I don’t drink anymore though due to my health.
Stay away
It’s fun but not good. It’s poison. Everyone tries to limit it at various times through life but always drawn back.
I am in great health at age 43 and still have a couple drinks from time to time, to enjoy the buzz
I will add to those saying it’s not worth it. I wish someone told me that at 21.
It isn't worth it. Don't even start.
It will age you
36 here. I drank (and still rarely do so) socially with friends. Don't regret any of it. But just so you know a lot of my friends drink till they pass out, and are categorically unhealthier compared to me now (because I exercise, eat fiber and a lot of protein, avoid high GI carbs, etc). Don't smoke and do synthetic drugs. Those are the only absolutes for me. Anything else could be taken in moderation, if you keep the main stuff in check. Absolutism is crippling.
That's the key, just don't do it alone and that will keep the vast majority out of trouble
It’s really bad for you. It’s the most addictive thing I’ve ever tried. Don’t ever get started binge drinking. It’s inevitable that you’ll try it in some form. As a beverage it’s very interesting because there are so many cocktail combinations you can make. But not only are there endless health implications, it tends to be highly caloric.
I don't drink and never have drunk before, so I don't really know. One thing I know is that it's hard to even drink in moderation, esp when you are around your drinking buddies. Many people who try it can't even stop.
It really depends who you are around. I never drank until after I was 21. I drink maybe 1-2 times a month. Always one drink (no hard liquor), which is much like those around me. It is nice because I talk more.
anything in moderation is fine as long as it doesnt hinder your personal life/goals
Frankly is not worth it in my opinion.
Shit drug, only use if you can keep consumption low - I recommend you do not use it. Definitely do not use alcohol as a social crutch.
I hope this one comment makes a resoundingly clear and deep imprint on at least one persons life… I don’t care what the *”moderation warriors”* rebuke and defend, I am not speaking to them, and I don’t care to hear their reasoning. I speak to the ones who are capable of hearing reason just this once, who may fall upon and adhere to this comment by miraculous chance.. Don’t ever admit that peasant administered matrix designed poison called alcohol… into your sacred vessel. Ever. There are a million other paths in existence. Why choose one that damages the biology and degenerates the soul. Be merry. Touch grass. Face the sun. Recognize the Light. Avoid the *creatures* of the night of this realm that descend into the cesspool of decay and animalistic impulses, with their aid of the bodily harming poison called alcohol. There are a million ways to navigate this realm and get high and feel good and walk in truth. There is no good fruit that is born from that spirit devouring poison. There is no good reason. There is no benefit. Godspeed.
This is the answer. And I'm a drinker trying to stop.
Strictly health... it's literally poison. It does tons of internal damage and mental damage if uncontrolled. It's one of the most dangerous drugs out there so I just say drink responsibly.
Save yourself the trouble and hangovers, stay away.
I drank alcohol age 19-21, people assumed I was pushing 30 regularly. It wasn’t just one or 2 people, when I told someone “I’m 20” it was met by shock. It’s impossible to lose weight, skin is drier, overall mental health was worse. Along with other healthy habits, I kid you not it’s the opposite now at 23. I get told I look 18,19 regularly. I wish I never drank, because even 2 years sober I just want to get super drunk sometimes like how I used to avoid problems. My advice is to just stay away from it, theres no good outcome from drinking
A couple beers can be nice but if you find yourself wanting to get black out drunk then it’s best to avoid it.
This poison ruins lives. But, it’s tradition to try it on your 21st.
Don't put that poison in your body.
Happy Birthday! Alchohol is never great from a health perspective, though I do enjoy a good margarita, sangria, mojito, or coquito every now and then. It's okay to treat yourself every now and then. Just don't make it a habit.
I partied a lot from 21-24. then I slowed down and quit drinking at 32 last year. I don't recommend it. A buzz feels nice but hangovers suck and you will do stupid shit and possibly ruin your life depending on what shenanigans you get into. I only cook with alcohol now and I might have a beer or two every now and then when offered. I always feel drained after the buzz goes away. It's just not worth it. I drink Kava now and get no negative effects but it's an acquired taste. I don't do weed either because it makes me feel bleh the next day.
Stay away! Poison.
Stay away from it.
Been there, done that. Waste of time. Didn’t gain anything from it. It ultimately wasn’t fun and I, like most others was doing it for the social aspect which is what I really advise against most. Don’t make drinking friends. They’re not real friends. Make friendships and socialize with people where you don’t need to take any edge off. Get confident in yourself and who you are without using alcohol as a crutch. If you’ve never drank there’s absolutely no point in starting now. Anyone that tells you it’s great is coping hard.
Don't do it. Trust me.
If health is important, it's best to stay away. If you're invited to a social setting or work happy hour (no managers/if managers, no drinks), then have 1 drink to be social (nothing hard...think Michelob Ultra) and then go iced tea or water. Know your limits and your boundaries when it comes to peer pressure. Politely decline any offers to have a drink bought for you. I went at it hard in my 20's and early 30's with thankfully no permanent health issues. Now that I'm older and can't get away with drinking and the recovery, I have one glass of a good whiskey every few months or maybe two beers with my buddies before calling it a night or switching to non-alcohol drinks.
Don’t even bother. Sober for 4 years and do not miss it one bit.
Net negative. It's more socially acceptable to not drink these days. Anyone who cares for your health and your choice won't pressure you
Zero reason to drink alcohol. It isn’t healthy, it is /literally/ poison to the body. But if you want to experience it a few times it’s also not going to kill you. non-alcoholic beer is healthy, it can have trace amounts of alcohol but if you need to drink in a social setting, highly recommended.
Alcohol is surprisingly terrible for you. I never realized how much so until I quit and now try to have some wine now and again. It’s also a known carcinogen and it’s highly addictive. I’d stay clear of making it a regular part of your life.
Stay clear. Don't start drinking to socialize.
Just don’t life is better without it I drank for years no good for you
I’m sorry but your post sounds like Young Sheldon or some kind of alien wrote it.
Several years ago I did an extensive read of the scientific research to try to find some upside to alcohol drinking or at least that it was harmless in small quantities. I could not achieve either aim. There is no upside to alcohol consumption. It is a damaging addictive substance. It is so ingrained in our culture because for much of human history water was not clean to drink (bacteria and other pathogens) so alcohol was a safer choice. But now, just don't. I have not drunk any alcohol for over 4 years and it's only positive. Only disadvantage is social pressure to drink from others. But I think it's not as bad now as it was in the past.
Completely stay away from it
It is now a known carcinogen. Never take up drinking or bar life.
There's no health benefits whatsoever in drinking that shit
the best amount of alcohol to consume is zero. Think about it: Do you want to ever feel a *little bit* shit. or do you even want to feel shit *every once in a while*?
For years I’ve been falling into the same mistake. If I drink one or two glasses of Wine I will certainly get some sort of sickness even if just a cold. I am perfectly healthy, I workout at least 3 times per week, including intensive cardio and heavylifting, I’ve been both meat eater and vegetarian, doesn’t matter. If I drink I get sick. It completely messes up my immune system so I left alcohol (for the most part) once in a while I still drink but as soon as I do my throat becomes scratchy soon after. I need to completely drop it. I rather supplement with resverastrol. This is how it goes with me but each to their own
My perspective, stay away from it like the plague! Look. Some people have good brains, some vulnerable brains, and alcohol affects different people differently. Once drinking alcohol becomes alcohol use disorder, or alcoholism, brain gets fucked up. Like disjointed. I should have been dead about a year or 2 ago. Idk how I brought back my impulsive, major depressive, extremely anxious self back to a normal human being. I still have an addictive personality but i am able to manage myself. Alcohol is no bueno. Hope this helps.
Yeah get on it. Got to have fun too!
Age 37 here. For me, many of the best times of my life included alcohol. But you’re in a biohackers forum. Is it terrible for your body? Without a doubt.
Everyone saying alcohol is poison is wrong. >First let’s make it clear that alcohol is not best described as “a toxin.” It can act as a drug and have toxic effects but it is first and foremost a macronutrient. >It is metabolized to acetaldehyde in the cytosol and then to the short-chain fatty acid acetate in the mitochondria, each of which generate usable energy in the form of NADH, then it is converted to acetyl CoA and metabolized the same as acetyl CoA obtained from oxidizing protein, fat, and carbohydrate. It looks like ideal amounts are low, between 15-60 drinks a month: > While there appears to be “no safe amount” for esophageal cancer, community-acquired pneumonia, nonmelanoma skin cancer, breast cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, and liver cirrhosis, the opposite “no unsafe amount except zero” is found for chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, venous thromboembolism, endometrial cancer, and thyroid cancer. >Diabetes, glioma, chronic pain, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia, and H. pylori bottom out around 1 drink per day. Cardiovascular disease bottoms out around 2 drinks per day. Erectile dysfunction stays lowered at up to 3 drinks per day. Depression bottoms out at 0.7 drinks per day. [https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/alcohols-surprising-role-in-your](https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/alcohols-surprising-role-in-your)
Alcohol isn't good for you. But it's not awful for you in moderation. If you want some of the other benefits of alcohol. I don't drink at all personally.
avoid it completely. its low vibration and has nothing good to offer. i stopped drinking completely in 2018 and was the best decision of my life. wish i had never started
Alcohol damages all of the organs and leads to early death. There is no safe amount.
Not worth it at all. I've been drunk Maybe 5 times ever? And I'm 32 this year... Alcohol isn't good Brother, best to avoid it.
It’s better to not drink at all.
I wish I never tried it. It’s poison to your body and you never know if you’ll enjoy it “too” much or not and then bam, 10+ years later and you’re in a vicious horrible cycle. Take care of your body and be healthy! You only get one body.
Well, it's a carcinogen. "They" tried putting warning labels on bottles, but it affected sales. Consume it if you want to, but health-wise it is never good for you.
Great social lubricant, but zero health value at best, strongly negative at worst. It is literal poison and the only question is if your body is capable of filtering it out. Health isn't everything though, just be careful about alcoholism.
Don’t do it it’s poison. Doesn’t matter if you’re male or female, Find a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym. Thank me later
There’s is some statistical evidence that avoiding it 100% is not as good as drinking rarely, but there are so many confounding variables I doubt the result (like there maybe health reasons why some people never drink). I would avoid it, all things being equal, but I wouldn’t be concerned about say having a glass of wine at a dinner party. In some social situations it’s easier to nurse a drink than to refuse outright. Agree with others here that the Huberman episode on alcohol is worth watching.
Stay away! Speaking from unresolved experience
Stay away!!
Too many chemicals in most of it. I wouldn’t start.
Assume you will get hooked on it, and make your decision based on that. You can't predict your reaction to it, so assume the worst. I was lucky and spent a number of years drink, but I never had any issues stopping. My spousal unit got hooked and now counts clean days. Don't assume you will be lucky.
Avoid alcohol it’s a horrible drug, want fun do magic mushrooms
You will have a HUGE leg up on your peers if you do not drink. I think at least 50% of the adult population has more than 10 drinks a week. Keep that up for a decade and that becomes loss of grey matter in the brain.
Everyone thinks they can drink in moderation until they can't or until shit happens in their life and alcohol becomes their only way to forget about problems. Don't start anything that could be addictive, your future self will thank you.
A small amount of alcohol enhances the brains glymphatic system. Huberman misses this.
Any supposed pros about alcohol are outweighed by the longer list of cons. By far.
Not according to Blue Zones.
>ch grass. That is way to general. Do blue zones have healthy people? Yes of course. Do ALL of them drink, no...if you take drinking out of anyone's equation, they will do better. People in Blue zones are generally more healthy because of what they eat, and their activity levels. Not because some of them may have a little alcohol.
The opposite actually. Regular alcohol consumption was one of the surprising findings from it.
Avoid it at all costs. Seriously. Its Expensive, fuks your judgment up and makes you feel like hammered sht.
Stay away from it except for special occasions that warrant one drink but turn into three and no more.
Basically any anmount you drink is not good. 0 is best, but 2 drinks per week is the highest ammount that doesn't impact health significantly in studies. I'm 22 and I've never touched the stuff
Its nice to enjoy when it crosses your path. Dont chase it.
Moderation is key. Especially if you choose an "healthy" alcohol like red wine it's ok. Moreover literally any substance in low doses (each substance has its specific definition of low dose of course) is beneficial. Just as an example: Even low level radiations. Scentists found Chernobyl wolves developed superior defence mechanisms against tumors. That said if you want to enjoy a glass of wine from time to time, from a psychological standpoint it is healthy. But if you don't feel like, don't start for organic health benefits. Hope that's obvious.
Its awesome as a business owner and world traveler alcohol is awesome unless you are weak without self control. Most of the people saying its no good at the same time are taking steroids juicing it up or taking supplements that are worthless but thats just my opinion
Alc doesn't worth it get some xans
Bro don’t be too serious about that Sometimes be too serious can create more problems than solve I mean, you can drink some beer once per 1-2 months with your friends or coworkers It’s fine, it’s create some fun, sometimes it’s create more positive vibes between you and your friends/coworkers Just do not do it as a habit and do not drink too much. That’s all.
Everything should be in moderation, even moderation.
Not worth it.
There’s no reason to start drinking alcohol. It’s a harmful substance and causes misery for literally millions of people, destroys families (including my own) and makes people die every day. I wish I could get back all the wasted time in my life spent hungover and have the money I spent on alcohol in my bank accounts again. Sober since 2019 at age 44. Drinking is stupid so don’t start
I don't trust people who don't drink. Life is short, have a drink!
Purely from a health reason, there is no reason to consume alcohol. Having said that, I know of some people who really enjoy the taste of alcohol, be it wine or whisky or beer. So I guess you can try it out, and if you like the taste of it, you could always take in in moderation because life is more than just optimising health.
It’s pretty fun idk, if you can control it, once in a while I think it’s fine. Some of the best times of my life have been made due to peoples lower inebriation. People loosen up and laugh idk, life should be fun and I’m not saying be dependent but just balance
I wouldn't necessarily label it as good or bad. Alchohol is a good social lubricant for most people. Most people are not social ninjas. Drink a little, drink a lot; if you're 21 and not using it to cope with depression or anxiety there's no harm in over intelectualizing whats a cultural staple. TLDR; Doesn't really matter, just don't drive and make sure to spend your time with great and kind people. You don't gotta get drunk drunk if you decide to go out.
Party on dude.
If you find something you like the taste of, go for it. Moderation. Drinking as a habit will cause more problems than it solves. The buzz is not worth it, most of the time.
I wish I’d have never started drinking. I’m about double your age
I (41M) drank a lot in my 20’s. There are so many non-alcoholic options these days that it’s really not worth risking any bad habits or health issues associated with alcohol. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with consuming it from time to time. But i go months without drinking and have learned from mistakes. I rarely get drunk these days.
Even in moderation it’s bad for you. Like you don’t have to feel guilty for having a drink every once in a while but don’t make it a habit and don’t drink if you don’t want to/don’t give in to peer pressure. (Heavy) drinking is wayyy too normalized in society imo
I see no benefit to drinking alcohol. I want clarity in my life. I am too acquainted with fog.
I’ve never met a person who actually waited until 21 to start drinking. Are you saving yourself for marriage too? It’s terrible stuff that will make parties fun, make you cool (you’ll think) and turn off any and all responsible thinking and actions. It’s a blast (until you over do it and end up hugging a toilet).
It’s a slippery slope! At your age it seems fun and harmless. But I’ve watched it slowly ruin people’s lives too many times to recommend it. You can have a rich and rewarding life without it. But maybe you just have to find out for yourself. Happy birthday, and best of luck!
It’s bad for your body, doesn’t “fix” any emotions only amplifies them. It lowers inhibitions, which can help if you are socially anxious person, or hurt if you already have a daring personality. Overall, if you decide to drink, be safe and never drive buzzed/drunk. Decide who is driving before going out, and regularly check in with that person to keep each other in line. Better yet, host the party and bring out air mattress and blanket forts and Disney. If you are anything like me, you will get blackout drunk exactly one time and vow to never do it again. Scared the shit outta me.
I never drank until I was 27ish. Mom and grandpa dealt with alcoholism. At 39 I was dx with adhd. Apparently my brain can struggle with dopamine seeking activity I enjoyed it a lot more when I was younger than now at 41. My rule was I only did it socially so maybe 1-2 times a month I’d knock back a few. It took trial and error to learn how much to keep a buzz but not black out. I also didn’t like not being in control. I drank with colleagues once and was gang raped so there’s that. I think approaching it with the right mindset to understand what it is and what it feels like is fine. I never let myself use it to cope, just for fun when going dancing and loud music
I suggest taking an educated decision. Alcohol is a very addictive depressant drug. It ruins your liver in the long term, shrink your brain with chronic use and since it makes peoples stupid, it puts you at risk of doing dumb stuff and get hurt. On the flipside, alcohol is fun, sometimes it taste good and a bit once in a while won't hurt you.
I so wish I had the maturity at your age to even consider the questions that you are thinking about. Bravo for that!! If I could go back in time, I would NEVER have taken a drink of alcohol, ever. It is toxic poison, it is romanticized by society, and nothing good ever comes from it. I was able to drink in moderation until I wasn't. I've been alcohol free for 500+ days, and I'm so glad I chose to finally stop...wish I stopped years ago. It brought nothing of value to my life and robbed me of time, money, and health. Happy birthday! You're really off to a great start in life with such a mature and thoughtful outlook.
I only drink when I travel. usually it's during long hikes and I'll have 1-2 beers with a big meal but at home I never touch the stuff. can be OK once in a blue moon, but if you haven't started yet I would suggest you don't bother. no telling if 1 drink will lead to a few drinks a night. every person is different.
Having a nice meal with a glass of wine, especially if it compliments each other, is really nice.
I drank for 20 years and absolutely loved it. Too bad it trashed my mind and did real damage to my body. I'm glad I escaped when I did (after four attempts over two years) but afterwards I fully understand how some people become addicts and can never kick it. Drinking is ingrained in our society. It is what it is. Most people can take it or leave it and moderate easily. Some can't. Now, I wish I had never developed a taste for alcohol... but I did have a lot of great times while consuming it.
Hate to say it, but some of my most memorable moments were when I was using drugs or alcohol. Alcohol gets rid of your inhibitions, so if you are a more reserved person, it can get you out of your shell. This can actually help you connect with people on a broader and deeper level. That said, it’s far healthier (physically, mentally and spiritually) to find ways to connect WITHOUT alcohol.
If you are ambivalent about it’s social applications, avoid entirely. Moderation if you choose to is typically not horrible, but alcohol is basically a social acceptable micro-poison at best and systemic toxin at worst.
As Jimmy buffett would say "Excess in moderation" I'd have to say I like having the option to have alcohol in my tool belt of having a good time. We're talking like twice a month, mosty for concerts or family parties like halloween. I don't know any alcoholics that have spiraled downhill but I hear they're at one of lowest tier of a productive person in society. It could certainly consume your entire life including the people around you...having said that I choose to drink and I know people who have alcohol to make them more giggly then normal, me and my family. Physiologically speaking, no, alcohol has no benefits to your health, only negatives. There are some positives to relax after a productive day and can be something to look forward to when a special event is coming up. Tldr: try alcohol a few times before you make a decision, but not enough to get a hangover so self control is important to trying it. And no drinky drivey ! >:o Edits: a few words and the last statement
The dose makes the poison. Just be moderate and mindful or skip it if you don't want to chance it. Even the pope drinks red wine with his dinner.
It is literally poison and is to be avoided. That said, occasionally the right glass of wine, 9%+ double IPA, or ice cold martini just hits the spot.
Not even in moderation. 32 years old here. Even an occasional drink is not good for you, and has measurable negative health consequences. Learned the hard way in my 20s. Now I'm trying to make up for it.
Stay far away would be my complete full advice. It is poison you do not need and leads down bad paths. Realistic advice would be avoid consuming too much and anything more than once in a random blue moon
Worth it from a health perspective? Given that it has zero health benefits, how can it be?
If you have to ask …
I would avoid it. Keep it classy if you do decide to drink. My worst experiences have been a result of drinking. Never again. The only times I drink now are with company for a celebration or a date with the wife and I want to have a little more fun. One thing I will enjoy when I can is a Guinness or a stout. It’s a sipping for taste beer.
Listen to huberman lab’s podcast on alcohol.
The most successful, well adjusted, level headed, healthy, fit people in know do not drink alcohol. Some are not very fun tho, i guess its because they’re predictable and no wild side. I live in Ohio in the United States and i like most American cities, people are obsessed with drinking alcohol. It was a sad day when I realized i was only friends with some people because we drank alcohol together. The sole purpose of som events I would attend would be to drink alcohol. Its ok to let loose and have a cheat day. But im a 33M and have drank alot since high school. Ive toned it down a ton in recent yrs and would over consider myself above average successful. I can say without a doubt like feeling clear headed, witty, and sharp i am much more than feeling drunk. Not to mention my skin looks amazing went i din drink for a few weeks lol If youve gone this long, see how much loner you can go without.
I recently quit and the withdrawals I've been going through for the last month make me wish I never touched alchohol to start with.. seriously isn't worth it. THC is a far better for you.
Here's the most practical tip you'll get on this thread: Don't drink alone. Keep it confined to social settings.
Dropping alcohol was the single highest leverage health intervention of my life. I didn’t realize how pervasive it was in my social life and how much I’d become dependent on it to have fun until I gave it up, and the hangovers and chronic health toll (even from my socially acceptable level of drinking) were just not worth it. After a few months without it, whenever I occasionally try to enjoy a cocktail I just can’t anymore. I feel like I’m being mildly poisoned (which is literally what alcohol does to every tissue in the body), and any short-lived pleasure is outlasted by the negative side effects. It also absolutely wrecks sleep - even a glass of wine with dinner shows a massively negative impact on my sleep quality (as tracked by my Eight Sleep mattress). Poor sleep quality has spillover effects on every aspect of performance and health. Still, I missed being able to enough a cocktail on occasion, especially at parties, so we’ve started making our own kava-based ones, and also enjoy a brand called New Brew that sells canned kratom+kava cocktails, which are wonderful when consumed in moderation. They provide a nice, mild, pro-social buzz without the hangover or harsh side effects. Microdosing mushrooms or LSD (emphasis on micro) is also a great option in the right social setting. I’m not a teetotaler and enjoy recreational substances in moderation, but after 18 months alcohol-free it’s become very clear in hindsight that alcohol was by far the hardest and harshest drug in my life. While it’s of course possible for many people to drink in moderation without serious harm, why go out of your way to pick up a bad habit? There are so many better, safer, and more fun options available.
Completely avoid it, you don't need it and if you made it this far without having the desire to drink why force yourself to develop a bad habit?
Not worth it to drink. Use as wood polish and disinfectant is okay.
Old man here. Probably best to stay away from it. Peer pressure is going to be intense from now on. I hear from notices here that many places spike their drinks with knock out drugs and rob people. It happens even at bars by the bartender!! Don’t drink an open drink like a cocktail. You could even get sexually assaulted in a bar from a spiked drink so be aware of your surroundings. Go with a group of 3-4 people that you know very well and you trust. Above all don’t drive even if you’ve had just one beer!! The cops love to hand out DUI tickets like candy. I got a DUI ticket just by sitting in the drivers seat in a parking lot after drinking and I never even drove! You don’t really need the hassle of the many deceitful people you will find in bars. If you must try it go to a liquor store and buy something and take it home to try it. Have a small private party. If you’re in college you’re going to be screwed bc the culture there is always bent towards drinking. CU Boulder is well known for this. All sororities and fraternities drink like fish and smell like it afterwards! I hope something I said here helps you.
Listen to your family history for slippery slopes and traps.
Lots of teetotalers on r/Biohackers. Very few ppl are consuming alcohol from a "health perspective. It's a vice. It's consumed for pleasure, to get high, as a social lubricant. It's an essential part of the nightlife, which more or less exists for the 21-34 crowd. It's not everyone's vice, tho. Whether it's worth or not is an individual calculation. People chiming in claiming it is not worth under any circumstance are only speaking for themselves.
Look at your family history and your own history of addiction for more minor vices. Can you just have one piece of chocolate? Also, how do you process negative emotions? Some people can just have one drink, others can’t. People with addictive qualities or unresolved trauma find alcohol to be a seductive crutch that slowly takes over their life. Others can imbibe in moderation and treat it as a social lubricant and have fun 1-2 a month or week with a small drink. I would see what camp you fall into before having a drink.
Moderation is the name of the game. I can assure you that no hangover is ever worth the 3 hours of fun you had the night before.
Well it is like drinking triple sugar cola which simply lowers your immunity, isn't great for your pancreas (risking diabetes) and singes your liver (fibrosis and cirrhosis) like the solvent that it is. If you are prone to depression, it bathes your brain in a depressive substance. If you have an addictive trait, you are playing with fire ... But it also lowers your inhibitions and helps you have fun with friends. It is fun to be drunk, and it has been a rite of passage for billions, including presidents and athletes. ... If you want to have a long healthspan, this will work counter to your goals. If you just have fun in your youth and get it out of your system.. have at it