We are right in the middle of December, just one week until Christmas and two weeks until New Year’s Eve. December consistently ranks as the highest month for alcohol consumption each year.
Is it the uptick in social events and obligations? Family gatherings? Year-end work stress combined with holiday parties? Whatever the reason, you may be feeling a little worse than normal right now—and that’s completely understandable.
Especially when you consider that consuming alcohol, even in moderate amounts, can have the following short-term effects on the body:
1. Reduced brain function.
Moderate alcohol consumption may increase the risk of neurodegeneration over time. That brain fog the next day can spill into subsequent days, affecting mental sharpness and executive functioning. Alcohol has also been shown to contribute to more depressive, anxious, and reactive thoughts.
2. Hormone disruption.
Alcohol interferes with the complex feedback loops that regulate sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone, potentially worsening menopausal symptoms, including an increase in hot flashes.
3. Fragmented sleep.
Alcohol suppresses REM sleep, reducing overall sleep quality. It also increases the likelihood of waking up around 3 a.m. due to blood sugar disruptions, often making it difficult to fall back asleep.
4. Slower exercise recovery.
Alcohol slows glycogen synthesis, leaving less fuel for your next workout. It also dehydrates muscle tissue and inhibits cytokine signaling needed for post-workout muscle repair.
5. Dehydration and puffiness.
Alcohol has a temporary diuretic effect, followed by rebound water retention. This combination can leave you feeling both thirsty and puffy.
And in the long term:
6. Weaker bones.
Alcohol can lower bone mineral density, increasing the risk of frailty and fractures.
7. Increased cancer risk.
Moderate alcohol consumption increases cancer risk compared to nondrinkers, including:
Mouth cancer: +180%
Throat cancer: +140%
Esophageal cancer: +140%
Liver cancer: +200%
Breast cancer: +125%
Colon cancer: +120%
It’s been almost five years since I quit drinking alcohol altogether. My reasoning was everything listed above. The more I researched and learned about alcohol’s impact on the body, the less desire I had to consume it. That said, it took me a couple of years to quit completely.
Looking back, what held me back wasn’t the alcohol itself. It was the awkward social situations around not drinking. Alcohol is truly the only drug society expects you to justify not consuming. No one questions why you don’t want a line of coke or a hit of a joint. Yet turning down a shot makes people uncomfortable. They want an explanation. “I just don’t want one” somehow isn’t enough.
Then there’s the constant exposure. Servers push cocktails and wine pairings at dinner. You go to a friend’s house, book club, birthday dinner, holiday gathering, school function—and alcohol is everywhere. Bottles of wine and scotch are common holiday gifts. It’s the societal norm, and no one questions it.
If you’ve been considering quitting and feel stuck in that strange purgatory—wanting to stop but struggling to make the leap because of the social pressure—know this: you are not alone. There are many people just like you who are exhausted by society’s love affair with alcohol and are simply waiting for someone else to go first.
Be the one who inspires others.
In just a few weeks, Dry January begins—the “acceptable” time to give up alcohol, when most people won’t question your choice. They may even join you. Use this month to notice how much better you feel and how that improvement ripples into other areas of your life.
Become sober curious. Explore what life without alcohol could mean for you. Discover new ways to unwind after work, connect with friends, enjoy meals out, and experience vacations. There is another way to celebrate life, one that doesn’t involve alcohol, and in my experience, it’s a far better one.
Get back to enjoying life for all the blessings it offers through sobriety.
Join us. I promise—you won’t regret it.
I sure didn’t.
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