Alcohol is magic. Alcohol is poison.

The pros and cons of alcohol after a dry January

In late December I noticed I was having to pull pretty hard to slide my work skirt over my behind. After an indulgent November and December, I decided to try Dry January, for the sake of my vanity. The results were not what I expected as you can read below. I’ve done the deep spiritual growth, so you don’t have to.  

The Pros
I’ll begin by disappointing any recovering alcoholics or teetotalers and list the things I love about drinking. What is it about walking into a funky bar at happy hour, or meeting a girlfriend for drinks that sparks a glorious mischievous streak in me that no mocktail nor sober gathering can ever compare? It’s not even about the beverage, it’s about how a social lubricant blended with comradery makes a night where anything is possible. Does this sound like alcoholic talk, lol? With libations and interesting people come an instant shock to the system, an internal revolt to the status quo. We extroverts seize a moment and live for the day. We feel more alive. It’s a similar feeling to doing yoga, going for a walk in nature or making love. Note, this feeling does NOT happen when I think about having a glass of wine at home. A night out makes many people feel “in the moment” like nothing else. It evokes singing, dancing and tipsy bike rides at sunset. (If you feel your judgement flaring up, please keep in mind that this is the pros section.) Yes, alcohol is bad for your health, the evidence is painfully clear, but also alcohol can create community, laughter, love, passion, spontaneousness and entertainment. Plenty of drugs out there do not encourage large scale socializing. Alcohol, when consumed responsibly, often brings more fun than socializing without it, even though, of course you don’t need it to have a good time. If your job requires networking, socializing and asking questions, alcohol often helps. How many relationships and creative initiatives started with the help of alcohol? Here’s a list of famous drunken writers as booze for thought. How many concerts, dances, parties, and gatherings will forever be treasured due in part to what’s behind the bar? Many drugs are valid and useful at times, but there’s nothing quite like alcohol.
Also, because it’s legal, you can fuel your addiction on an educational gin, wine, bourbon or beer tour and learn all about the history of your poison of choice. In November and December I discovered the fascinating and delicious range of wines in the Hunter Valley. Even if you never drink, you can appreciate the rich and varied histories and sciences that come with the production of alcohol.

The Cons
All of the above is why I think alcohol is usually net positive, but a dark side is here too. A very dark side. Violence and rape happen more when alcohol is involved, not to mention drunk driving accidents. For every happy romance and party that alcohol has spawned, how many tragedies and traumas exist as well? We’ve seen the PSAs pointing out the damage of alcohol abuse, but also consider the recent findings of the ways alcohol is hurting your body, from increasing your risk of cancer to ruining your sleep. The only positive thing I’ve read recently about alcohol is that people who drink moderately are less likely to be depressed.
During January I missed the fun, wild side that alcohol encourages in me. I’ve always been able to take a time out from tequila, however, committing to 31 deliberate days without alcohol did something to me. Readers, I got the best sleep of my life. As a chronic coffee drinker, I’ve never been a great sleeper. A week or so into no booze, I was waking up feeling like a fairy princess. I floated on air. It was such a contrast to hungover, cynical Alex that I kind of love to hate, the dull headache a reminder of the stupid self-inflicted choices humans continue to make and a metaphor for how society is doomed and we should all just dance until the world ends.
By week two I was feeling so f*cking good I was thinking about giving up alcohol forever. I felt uniquely in control of my life. Because I wasn’t drinking, I was less inclined to meet up with people I didn’t really like, spend money I didn’t really have and share gossip I wouldn’t really remember in the morning. Rather, I cocooned into my head (which was feeling incredible) and wrote things down. I went to Sydney for a writers workshop and drank tea with interesting people. I read more. I thought about how I would live if socializing with alcohol didn’t tempt me. I was more conscious in how I communicated with people. The first week of Dry January, I came home after a night out on nonalcoholic beer. On the couch, on my phone, I felt clear headed and ready for bed. I was less likely to eat an entire bag of chips. Also, my skin cleared up. Not a single pimple in dry January.

It’s February 6^th and I’ve now had alcohol three nights out of six during this short little month. I missed it, truly, but on the Friday morning when I woke up after one margarita and tossing and turning all night, I felt bitter and mad at myself. I now know full and well the other option available to me. I’ve been contemplating only day-drinking, to save my sleeping hours from interference. My boss picked on me when I told him this, ‘why not just start first thing in the morning?’

But I’m serious. I want to have my cake and eat it too. I want the best of both worlds. They say taking a month off the bandwagon helps you regulate the rest of the year, so we’ll see how I go.
PS In case you’re wondering about my butt, I guess I had too many mocktails, because my uniform is still pretty tight. Is it too late to do a reduced-cheese-February?