Is Alcohol the New Cigarettes?

“Is alcohol going the way of cigarettes?” I get that question a lot. On one hand, everyone you know has been brought up believing alcohol is a constant. It’s part of our history. It’s how we socialize. On the other, current trends and messages show a radical shift in society. Things are changing dramatically, and I sincerely believe that alcohol is going to go the way of cigarettes. Here’s some evidence to back it up:

Small Amounts of Alcohol Are Bad for You

For a long time, alcohol has been treated as a bit of a gray area. Obviously, drinking way too much is unhealthy. There’s no question about that. But sometimes doctors also say a glass of red wine is good for your heart. And moderate drinking is just fine. And moderate drinkers are healthier than non-drinkers.

A 2016 study published in The Lancet completely shattered the myth that moderate drinking is good for you. The study looked at the leading causes of death in 195 countries across all different age groups. They took out any disparities that might compromise the data. It found that there's no safe amount of alcohol and even so-called “moderate drinking” is related to more health risks over time.

Plus, even if there were benefits associated with moderate alcohol consumption, we all know the average drinker isn’t really drinking moderately. Occasional, light drinkers might drink what is considered a moderate amount. Most drinkers have way more than a handful of drinks per week and, when it comes to our health, that’s a problem. More and more studies are uncovering the harms of drinking moderate amounts of alcohol. For example, one study shows a woman's risk of getting breast cancer goes up 15% if she has two drinks a week. Just two drinks a week!

Don’t Worry: Your Body Will Heal

If these statistics scare you, I just want to give you a little bit of solace. The body has incredible healing mechanisms. Time away from alcohol heals your body back to the levels of a non-drinker surprisingly fast. Within just two weeks of not drinking, your gray matter builds back up and your blood pressure goes down. Your neurons regenerate within five weeks, and your cholesterol goes down. (Don't forget that your cholesterol and your blood pressure are indicators of whether or not you might have heart disease later in life!)

Within six months to a year, your liver goes back to normal—especially if you were a gray area drinker. If you were a heavy drinker, it might take some more time. Within two years, your heart disease risk goes down, and within five years, your cancer risk goes down.

It’s important to remember our bodies are amazing and we do heal. Please don’t think, “Well, that sucks for me. I might as well keep drinking.” Drinking less or taking a break from alcohol will make a difference. No matter when you start. You will begin to heal—and quickly, too. Your body is miraculous that way. Don’t worry about the damage you’ve already done. Just get started.

It’s a lot like exercise. They say even if you start exercising at 65, your body immediately starts to change. After just a short time, it’s as if you have been exercising for years.

Alcohol IS Going the Way of Cigarettes: It Just Takes Time

But is alcohol going the way of cigarettes? I think so! It just takes time. We have studies that say there’s no safe amount of alcohol. The American Cancer Society released an official statement saying people shouldn’t drink. At all.

Just because these health studies keep coming out doesn't mean our culture will completely change overnight, but it will change eventually. Look at smoking back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. The majority of Americans were smoking. They were brought up in a culture that lauded it as cool or as a sign of independence. It really took a long time for that to change.

Why did it take so long to change? There was so much misinformation out there back then. There were so many studies paid for by the cigarette industry to continue showing that they were not bad for you. There was so much conditioning to smoke then. And the same thing is happening today.

We have been conditioned to drink more in the last 20 years than ever before. You used to be able to walk outside without seeing a brewery on every corner. “Mommy juice” wasn’t a thing until recently.

But we're also entering a new era. We're entering a new era of increased awareness and consciousness, and—when you have more awareness and consciousness—it's really hard to continue doing something to yourself that isn't serving you. Just by allowing yourself to become more introspective and aware, you're allowing your consciousness to shift. And if you're already taking a break from alcohol or going alcohol-free, how amazing is that? You're ahead of the curve.

Cultural Norms Are Shifting

So how is alcohol going the way of cigarettes? Our norms are shifting. Never before have we had mocktail bars popping up all over the world. These days, there are so many alcohol-free groups on Meetup.com. There are alcohol-free events, like alcohol-free dance parties and raves. People don’t want to nurse a hangover the next day just to socialize.

Think about it: as science continues to advance and we continue to have technological and health breakthroughs, do you think we’ll continue drinking a substance we know is harmful? A substance that causes heart disease and cancer?

Over time, as our awareness grows and there are more breakthroughs about our health, it's very likely that people will stop drinking alcohol. Maybe not everyone. Some people still smoke, but it’s very, very different than it was in the 50s and 60s. For example, I live in California, and California was probably one of the earliest states to ban smoking indoors. Today, I don’t know a single person who smokes.

Maybe 10 years from now, you'll go to a bar and half the people will be drinking non-alcoholic drinks. Why not? Why couldn't that be the reality? Maybe by the time I have a child and they're in college, they won’t be pressured to drink alcohol. Why not? Why can't we have that reality? I'm very hopeful that that's where we’re headed.

I’m really confident alcohol is going the way of cigarettes. One day, it will be the outliers who continue to drink ethanol. As our knowledge increases, drinking is going to go by the wayside. It won’t be dominant in culture anymore.

The best news? Just by reading this blog, you’re way ahead of the curve. Just by looking at your relationship with alcohol now and starting to question things now, you’re going to be able to help so many people. One day, your friends are going to come to you asking, “How did you do that? How did you change your relationship with alcohol?” People will start to really look up to you and want what you have. Even if they're not telling you right now, they probably already do aspire to be like you. When you think of a non-drinker—someone who's never drank before and still has an amazing personality and they're fun and exuberant—have you ever been jealous? They don't have to drink to feel confident. They don’t get hangovers. Now you will be that example for other people. People will start to ask you how you did it. They’ll trust your expertise.

A transformed relationship with alcohol is one of the most valuable things you could ever have. Because it's not easy. It's not talked about in our society. There’s so much misinformation about it. Transforming your relationship with alcohol and being happy that you don't have to drink is a superpower. It's your superpower. You will be so grateful that you gave yourself this gift of self-love.

Are you enjoying your first few weeks or months without alcohol? Is it difficult to believe how eye-opening and transformative it’s been so far? Then, my program Become Emboldened, is the perfect fit for you! In my immersive, 4-month program, we’ll unleash your purpose—the special gift only you can give to the universe—and get you on track to live the life of your dreams. You’ll get 12 group coaching calls, daily video lessons and journal prompts, and the loving support of an engaged Slack community of growth-minded women just like you.