‘Sober Curious’ Lifestyle (3)
There’s been a noticeable increase in problematic drinking, especially among women, in the past few years.
Women are catching up to men in problem drinking, unfortunately. Although men still drink more and have higher alcohol-related mortality rates, doctors say women are narrowing the gap.
Binge drinking among women has lost ins stigma over the years, almost becoming a rite of passage in college. A growing culture of mom drinking was exacerbated during the pandemic, as some mothers juggling remote work and home drank more to cope with stress, and the habit stuck.
Alcohol affects women differently. They tend to store more body fat than men. Fat contains less water than muscle, so women’s bodies tend to have less water. That difference means women feel the effects of alcohol more quickly.
There’s a hot debate about how much is too much. With the sober curious movement, people think about what moderate drinking means for a healthy life.
People interested in cutting back remove alcohol from their lives for an extended period, typically starting in January, as I did. That hiatus was an opportunity for reflection. I asked myself about the role alcohol plays in my life and certain moments throughout my daily routine. What do I like and dislike about drinking?
Failure: The man who can tell others what to do and how to do it, but never does it himself.