Drinking and Thinking

The NYC Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) recently released a new public awareness campaign about alcohol use and the holidays.  Their tagline is "stop drinking while you're still thinking," and the ads, soon to be released into subways throughout New York City's five boroughs, depict some of the possible consequences fo alchol use -- theft as a result of a blackout, or alcohol-fueled violent behavior.  This prompted me to wonder about the relationship between drinking (or using other substances) and the holidays, and how much the messages we tell oursleves play a role in this use.

For example, how often have you found yourself thinking, at a boring work function or a networking cocktail hour, "I'll bet a drink would make these people more fun."  Or on a date that's going sour, "I have to have a drink or I'll never get through this!"  The truth is, our thinkng plays an important role in whether or not we have the *first* drink, not to mention the 3rd or 4th or 10th, and the fact that alcohol frequently leads to decreased inhibitions means that once someone has gotten to the 4th or 5th drink, their ability to determine whether "just one more" is a good idea has been chemically impaired.  At that point, continuing to drink isn't a moral concern ("I shouldn't be doing this") or an issue of willpower ("I can stop whenever I want"), it's a neorologically-induced snowball effect!  Alcohol can contribute to changes in mood and behavior, and is a central nervous system depressant, so "I feel better after a few drinks" may be true, but often people have emotional crashes after a few more or the next day.  Alcohol has been called the truth serum because it lowers our verbal inhibitions as well -- so think twice before having the fourth gin and tonic unless you really want your boss to know what you *really* think of him.

So, if we want to get through the holidays with our dignity -- and out wallets -- intact, thinking about drinking is preferable BEFORE the first sip.  If I'm thinking, "Alcohol makes me more fun," or "I can't talk to that person without a shot first," those things will be true.  I create my own meaning.  And if I tell myself, "yes, it would be easier to talk to that person with a shot in my belly, but if I want the rest of the night to go well, I'd be better off without it," that will also be true.

The simple fact, whether at the holidays or on any other day:  Alcohol is not a magic elixir.  You are probably not the hottest thing in the club because you had that Sminoff Ice.  However, you ARE a worthwhile person, and you are probably lots of fun to be around (when you're not sloppy drunk), so remember that the next time you head out for a holiday party.  Whether you choose to drink alcohol or not is up to you, and so is how you choose to feel about yourself.

For the NYC DOHMH press release, click here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/pr2010/pr058-10.shtml