The Second Edition of The Three Rules to Lose Weight and Keep It Off Forever is available on Should You Quit Drinking Alcohol?
Many people in this country would be better off if they quit drinking alcohol.
As I have said before, there is a risk and benefit of nearly everything we do. Alcohol is no exception. From a strict health standpoint, there are few, if any, significant benefits of drinking alcohol. There may be a small heart benefit in those who have one alcoholic drink. Compared to those who never drink, people who have one or two a day may have fewer heart problems. These studies are controversial because it is difficult to determine why the teetotalers don’t drink. Some may have illnesses or a family history of heart disease and don’t drink for that reason. Then, the non-drinkers would appear to have more heart attacks from not drinking when it was really their other risks that led to the heart attack.
Regardless, if a cardiac benefit exists, it is small. There are other benefits of alcohol drinking. It can be relaxing, lead to positive social encounters, and improve the enjoyment of a meal. Simply doing something that you enjoy is a benefit. I enjoy hiking in the mountains. I consider that enjoyment a significant benefit to my life. I cannot deny that some people benefit from alcohol by the sheer pleasure of drinking it.
So, alcohol has some benefits. That is not the point. Does alcohol cause more harm than benefit? In the people who can drink moderately, perhaps a drink a day, the risks and benefits may be close. A significant number of people cannot drink moderately, and their excessive drinking poses many health risks.
Alcohol is linked to many cancers. Alcohol raises the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, colon, liver, and breast. While still controversial, cancer has been linked to stomach and pancreatic cancer. We know that alcohol can lead to severe liver disease, and it is still the most common cause of liver failure. Injuries, especially falls, are commonly caused by alcohol. Excessive alcohol drinking leads to heart failure and stroke.
Alcohol negatively affects sleep, leading to poor performance the following day, and it is linked to depression and anxiety. Alcohol disinhibits us, leading to poor decisions. I have no idea whether the arrest was valid, but just today, it was reported that Justin Timberlake was arrested for DUI. I expect that this arrest will negatively affect his life.
The most significant benefit to my life from quitting drinking is decreased stress. If you know me, you know I am not good at moderation. I cannot eat only one Oreo or one french fry. And I cannot always stop at one drink. When I can stop, it takes significant mental effort, which I find stressful. Now, I don’t think about it. I don’t have to worry about driving after drinking, and I don’t have to ask anyone else if they are safe to drive me and my family home after a dinner out. Zero alcohol is stress-free.
I am thrilled with my decision to quit drinking. I do miss a drink now and again, but never once have I regretted my decision not to drink. I expect no one has ever woken up wishing they had drunk more the night before. Before I quit, I made a pros and cons list. In the “cons” list of quitting, there was only one item—”I like drinking.” That wasn’t enough for me so I quit.
So, should you quit drinking? Everyone has to make that decision for themselves. I strongly recommend trying a month without alcohol. I predict that you will feel better after the month. In my years of medical practice, I made the recommendation dozens of times, perhaps hundreds. Some took a month off. No one told me they felt worse after the month. Please consider it.