‘Why I won’t give up alcohol despite all of the benefits’

I have a confession to make. Last week I may have over-indulged a touch at a long lunch with mates.

A few beers were followed by a splash of red and a couple of spirits to round things off at the after-function pub debrief. A taxi ride and a kebab were part of the deal and, all things combined, left me a little dusty and lighter in the pocket the next day.

And I don’t regret one minute of it.

It was rare blowout and a three on the Richter scale compared to some of the days/nights out I’ve had with this crew.

It was a great catch-up with good people and the physical cost was nothing a Nurofen or two couldn’t fix.

But it got me thinking, would I have enjoyed it as much without the drinks?

This is the time of year when many Aussies commit to a new and very worthy tradition: Dry July.

Plenty of people I know signed up for a month of alcohol abstinence and are dutifully completing their pledge, raising more than $3m to help cancer sufferers in the process.

That is a fantastic and praiseworthy effort and I raise my glass in admiration to each and every one of you.

While many are counting the minutes to midnight on the 31st, others may decide to continue their booze ban or pull the pin on their relationship with grog altogether.

I read with interest my Yahoo colleague Stuart Howie has done just that, and more power to him.

There’s no doubting the benefits of an alcohol-free lifestyle.

You feel better, enjoy greater productivity and have more money in your pocket at the end of each week.

Many negatives to drinking

For some, alcohol is their kryptonite. One drink becomes three and, before you know it, there’s a scene.

We all know an ugly drunk.

Grog’s role in our disgraceful domestic violence figures cannot be ignored. In the wrong hands, it’s a powerful drug that wreaks untold damage.

But consumed at sensible levels by sensible people, there are some spin-off benefits.

And studies show it.

A 12-year review conducted by two Sydney universities and Harvard in the US found people who drink in moderation are at less risk of depression at age 50 than those who imbibe heavily or not at all.

A moderate drinker, in Australia, is defined as a man or woman who consumes up to 10 glasses of alcohol each week.

The World Health Organization (WHO) counters this by saying no level of alcohol is good for you.

But what else would you expect them to say?

My relationship with alcohol has evolved over the years

My own journey with alcohol is not unlike the majority of Aussies my age.

You go a little crazy in your younger years and then ease back through the gears as you grow older.

Many of my friends now drink mid or low-strength beers or are abstaining for weeks and months at a time.

Each year, several move closer to quitting outright.

Younger Australians are drinking alcohol or turning to alcohol-free alternatives as our drinking habits change dramatically.

I try to stay off the drink between Sunday to Thursday and succeed most weeks.

I rarely touch a drop at home unless there’s a visitor or it’s a special occasion.

The reward is I bounce out of bed a little fresher and concentration levels are higher during the working day.

The joy of enjoying a drink is one of the simple pleasures

But while the long lunch I mention at the top is a rare beast these days, by Friday afternoon I am keen for a bevy.

I usually work from home and I find a few schooners with friends is a great way to connect, unwind and release the stresses of the working week.

It’s also nice to share a quality wine with your partner over dinner or sneak in a dram of whiskey on a cold winter’s night while watching Netflix together.

I’m not sure I’m ready to miss out on those simple pleasures in life.

So to all you Dry July-ers out there, I sincerely salute you.

Just don’t expect me to join your ranks anytime soon.

Do you have a story tip? E-mail: [email protected].

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Youtube.