🥂How often do you see this sort of meme? It’s so common, but the normalising of alcohol use is not conducive to mental health, and makes it very hard for people to stop or reduce their alcohol intake, and really needs to be considered.

🍸I say this from personal experience, as I am not drinking alcohol this year, in support of a friend who’s abstaining for their mental health.
I’ve been astonished by the negative comments I get, either at the pub or at other gatherings, when I drink water or a soft drink!
🗣”What’s the point?”
🗣”You’re joking?”
🗣”It’s no fun if you’re not drinking”?
🗣”Go on, just one”

Did you know that alcohol is a depressant? It’s also a toxin and psychoactive substance with dependence producing properties.

🍹”Alcohol affects the part of your brain that controls inhibition, so you may feel relaxed, less anxious, and more confident after a drink. But these effects quickly wear off. The chemical changes in your brain can soon lead to more negative feelings, such as anger, depression or anxiety, regardless of your mood.

🥃In the long-term, alcohol uses up and reduces the number of neurotransmitters in our brains, but we need a certain level to ward off anxiety and depression. This can make you want to drink more to relieve these difficult feelings – which can start a cycle of dependence.” (Mental Health Foundation)

🍻”The evidence indicates that the more alcohol a person drinks–particularly the more alcohol a person drinks regularly over time–the higher his or her risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer. Even those who have no more than one drink per day and people who binge drink (those who consume 4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more drinks for men in one sitting) have a modestly increased risk of some cancers. Based on data from 2009, an estimated 3.5% of cancer deaths in the United States.” (NIAAA)

🍷Alcohol consumption contributes to 3 million deaths each year globally as well as to the disabilities and poor health of millions of people. Overall, harmful use of alcohol is responsible for 5.1% of the global burden of disease.

⚕ Alcohol is the leading risk factor for premature mortality and disability among those aged 15 to 49 years, accounting for 10% of all deaths in this age group. (World Health Organization)

🧠 A 2021 University of Oxford study has concluded that no amount of drinking alcohol is safe for brain function.

💭Many of us remember when smoking was cool, and recommended by doctors! As the conversation around mental health becomes less stigmatised, we really need to reconsider our relationship with alcohol.

We discuss this on our mental health first aid courses.
Get in touch to learn more: hello@rookatme.com

This is my absolute go-to for anyone who wants to know more. If you watch this, you’ll probably want to give up booze, you have been warned!