Why You Should Never Drink Alcohol
Who doesn’t love a good drink from time to time?
Alcohol has been around for millennia and is enjoyed by many people all over the world. Whether you like a cold beer, a glass of wine, or a juicy cocktail, there’s no denying that alcohol can be enjoyable.
You can find a pub or bar on almost every corner, depending on which part of the world you’re in, and alcohol is often seen as a social lubricant that can make any situation more enjoyable.
Outside of recreation, alcohol has also been used as a form of medicine and even as a disinfectant.
So, with all of these positive uses, why would anyone tell you to avoid alcohol altogether? The answer is simple: alcohol can also be extremely harmful, for a number of reasons, which we’ll discuss below.
16 reasons why you shouldn’t drink alcohol
1. Alcohol is addictive and can lead to dependency
One of the most important reasons to avoid alcohol is that it’s addictive and might make you dependent on it.
When you drink alcohol, it interacts with certain chemicals in your brain which can make you feel good. This feeling is what causes people to want to drink more and ultimately can lead to addiction.
It’s estimated that over 15 million people in the US are alcoholics or suffer from alcohol dependency.
2. Alcohol is a depressant
Another reason to avoid alcohol is that it’s a depressant. This means that it interferes with the way your brain functions and can lead to feelings of depression.
Depression is a serious mental illness that can have a profound impact on your life. It will make it difficult to function on a day-to-day basis and can lead you to take your own life.
3. Alcohol can cause liver damage
One of the most well-known effects of alcohol is liver damage. The liver is responsible for filtering toxins out of your body, and alcohol is a toxin.
When you drink too much alcohol, it can overwhelm the liver, leading to inflammation and damage. Alcohol-related liver disease can lead to people needing a liver transplant. Liver damage can be serious and even fatal.
4. You lose control of your faculties when you drink alcohol
Another reason to avoid alcohol is that it impairs your ability to think and act clearly.
When you drink, the alcohol affects your brain and central nervous system, which can lead to impaired judgment, coordination, and motor skills. This will make it dangerous to drive or operate heavy machinery.
Once your judgment is impaired, you’re also more likely to make stupid decisions, which could have dire consequences.
5. You might say things you regret when you’re drunk
Have you ever said something when you were drunk that you later regretted?
Many people have. Alcohol can lower your inhibitions and make you say or do things that you wouldn’t normally do. This can lead to arguments and fights, some of which you might not be able to atone for the next day.
6. Alcohol makes you vulnerable
Even if you’re not completely drunk, having alcohol in your system can make you more vulnerable. This is especially true if you’re a woman.
Stories are rife of women being taken advantage of when they’ve had too much to drink. They might be taken advantage of sexually or robbed when they’re in a state where they can’t defend themselves.
7. You might not remember what happened the night before
If you drink too much, you might not remember what happened the night before. This is called an “alcoholic blackout” and it’s a sign that you’re drinking too much.
Not only is it worrying that you can’t remember what happened, but you could also have done something during that time that you would never do sober. If you have no memory of it, you won’t be able to take responsibility for your actions.
8. Alcohol can make you vomit
If you drink too much, you might vomit. This is because your body sees alcohol as a poison that it must get rid of.
Vomiting can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, both of which can be dangerous.
9. You could become violent
There are many people for whom alcohol is a trigger for violence. This might be because they have a history of violence or because alcohol lowers their inhibitions and makes them more likely to lash out.
If you drink too much, you might find yourself in a fight or getting into an argument with someone. This could lead to serious injury or even death.
The sad truth is that many men become violent when they’re drunk and end up harming the people they love the most, like their wives and children.
10. Alcohol exposes the real you
We all hide away pieces of ourselves that we don’t want others to see. But when you drink alcohol, those pieces may start to show themselves.
You’ll be more likely to say all of those things you’ve been holding back, things that you know will hurt the people you love. Or do things you’ve wanted to do but knew you shouldn’t.
Put simply: your true colors will start to show when you’re drunk, for better or for worse.
11. You’ll push people away
If you drink often enough, sooner or later you’re going to push the people who care about you away.
This is because alcohol can make you angry, violent, and unpredictable. People will tire of putting up with your behavior and they’ll leave.
And the more people leave, the more alone you’ll become.
12. You could end up killing someone
If you drink and drive, you’re putting everyone on the road at risk. But it’s not just other drivers you have to worry about. You could also end up killing pedestrians, bicyclists, or even yourself.
Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. And for every death, there are many more people who are left injured or traumatized.
13. It could land you in jail
It’s so much easier to break the law when you’ve had a bit to drink. We’ve already mentioned several of the ways you could end up in trouble with the law, from drunk driving to fighting.
But there are many other ways you could end up in jail because of alcohol. For example, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and urinating in public are all offenses that could land you behind bars.
14. You might lose your job
No one wants to be the person who gets drunk and makes a scene at the office party. But it happens more often than you might think.
Then there’s the possibility that you’ll be too hungover to show up for work after a night of drinking. This can lead to you getting fired or, at the very least, suspended.
15. Alcohol makes you crave junk food
A night of heavy drinking can leave you feeling like all you want is a greasy burger and fries. This is because alcohol increases your appetite and makes you crave unhealthy foods.
Not only will this lead to you putting on weight, but it could also increase your risk of developing heart disease or type 2 diabetes.
16. Hangovers are horrible
Even if you manage to avoid all of the other dangers on this list, there’s one that’s almost impossible to escape: the dreaded hangover.
A hangover is your body’s way of telling you that you’ve had too much to drink. It’s a sign that you’re poisoning your body and it’s not happy about it.
Hangovers can include symptoms like headache, nausea, fatigue, thirst, and light sensitivity. They’re not fun for anyone involved, including the poor souls who have to put up with you when you’re in this state.
Conclusion
Cutting alcohol out of your diet entirely is probably a lot to ask, so all we’d suggest is that you be more mindful about your drinking. Drink it in moderation, and do so only when you’re in a safe place with people you trust.
Don’t get behind the wheel when you’ve been drinking, and don’t let your friends do it either. In other words, just use a bit of common sense.
If you do choose to drink, always remember: it’s never worth risking your health, your relationships, or your life for a few drinks. Cheers to that!