Reasons why not to drink alcohol

It is no secret that alcohol is damaging to your health, but you may surprised to learn just how much it can affect your mind and body.

Most people know that reducing alcohol consumption or switching to alcohol-removed beverages is better for them in the long run. However, it can be helpful to look at a list of reasons not to drink to see just how many ways sobriety — or even sober curiosity — can benefit you.

Like all drugs, alcohol can damage your body, especially if you drink heavily every day or in binges. Potential short-term effects of alcohol include hangover and alcohol poisoning, as well as falls and accidents, conflict, lowered inhibitions and risky behaviours.

Doing anything in excess can turn into an addiction if we have addictive thoughts, behaviors, and emotions associated with the substance. It is important to look at how illicit drugs and alcohol affect us emotionally, physically, and cognitively. When we look at the effect produced, we may better understand the reasons for using or drinking. In recovery, we substitute those reasons with reasons not to drink. Even though alcohol is legal if you are of age, it can still play a negative role in our relationships, activities of daily living, goal setting, education, and occupation.

Reasons Not to Drink Alcohol

Alcohol does not affect each person in the same way, nor are everyone’s reasons not to drink the same. Tolerance begins to build, and the half a drink can easily become two, then four, and then a full bottle. Drinking does have some major impacts on us.

Health difficulties:

Drinking affects our liver, heart, and sleep patterns. It has an impact on our pancreases, necks, heads, and breasts. It can lead to stroke, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stomach bleeding. Alcohol decreases our immune system’s ability to fight back.

Impulsive sexual behaviors:

These tend to occur when an individual partakes in a drink leave them more vulnerable to unsafe sexual encounters, which could lead to sexually transmitted diseases, difficulty saying “no” to uninvited sexual encounters, and unplanned pregnancies.

Injuries:

The consumption of alcohol contributes to 60% of lethal burns, drownings, and murders; 50% of major trauma damages and sexual assaults; and 40% of deadly motor vehicle crashes, suicides, and lethal falls.

Birth defects:

Fetal alcohol syndrome and brain damage are only a couple of the issues that a baby can be born with if the mother drinks while she is pregnant.

Legal issues:

Whether your behaviors lead you to drink and drive and thus obtain a DUI, or you act in a violent manner when you drink, your chances of legal trouble are increased when you drink.

Delayed growth:

Alcohol can be transmitted through breast milk. This can lead to difficulty sleeping and stunt the growth and development of your infant.

Substance use disorders: Drinking can lead to a substance use disorder. Tolerance increases as time goes on!

Mental illness:

Consumption of alcohol can prompt, or increase symptoms, of mental health disorders. Two main ones associated with drinking are anxiety and depression.

Strains on social relationships, occupation, and education:
Performance in school and at work, as well as problems with memory and focus, can occur from alcohol use. It can lead to tension in relationships and changes in one’s social circle.