Why Do People Drink Alcohol?
Have You Ever Wondered - Why Do People Drink Alcohol?
With all of the negative consequences, why do people drink alcohol? With a wealth of information on alcohol abuse, including the long term effects of alcohol, alcohol effects on the body, and staggering statistics on alcohol-related deaths, the epidemic of alcohol abuse and alcohol problems baffles many.
I remember when I used to drink alcohol on a very regular basis. I never thought of the negative consequences of drinking. And quite honestly, I never thought about drunk driving consequences, despite the many drunk driving stories I may have heard. For a while, drinking alcohol was something I did to be social. My friends drank, and when we went out or were getting ready to go out, that’s what we did. There never seemed to be a place, at least in the life I was living at this time, where drinking alcohol was not acceptable. It made me feel better, it lightened the mood, and it was just what I did.
I certainly understand that not all people are alcoholics, not all people drink and drive, and not all people end up in inpatient alcohol treatment centers. That being said, the negative consequences of drinking alcohol, even for people who aren’t exhibiting alcoholic symptoms or alcoholic behavior, arguably far outweigh any of the benefits of drinking alcohol.
Why Do People Drink Alcohol and Then Drive?
If people had all of the information on alcohol abuse and all of the facts about drunk driving, I think many people might think twice before they had a drink. I also think this information is important to know so that we can be aware of the people around us and look out for the warning signs. The long term effects of alcohol can be very detrimental, even for people who only drink a few nights per week. If people knew more of the facts, I think many of us would sit back and wonder, “Why do people drink alcohol?”
For instance, in the United States:
- In 2016, there were 10,497 fatalities from crashes involving alcohol-impaired or drunk driving.
- Every 2 minutes, a person is injured in an alcohol-impaired driving accident. Every 50 minutes, a person dies in an alcohol-impaired collision.
- Kids who begin drinking at a young age are seven times more likely to be in an alcohol-related accident.
These are just a few of the scary statistics surrounding drunk driving consequences and information on alcohol abuse. DUI crashes happen ALL the time, and when people get behind the wheel after drinking, it’s just a matter of when there will be drunk driving car accidents, not if. Kids who start drinking young and kids who binge drink are much more likely to get into an alcohol-related car crash, so why do parents so often turn a blind eye and allow their children to drink?
Sure, there’s no way to watch your child every second of every day, but everyone should be extra cautious with their children and try to do everything in their power to make sure their young children are not drinking illegally. Teenage alcohol abuse is a real epidemic in this country.
There are people drinking alcohol worldwide, and there are people who don’t even think twice before they take a drink.
I don’t believe that education will cure alcoholism or solve drunk driving car accidents, but I certainly think that if people had all the facts, they might reconsider their decisions.
Why Do People Abuse Alcohol?
Some people may think that, because they do not consider themselves an alcoholic, they can’t possibly experience problems related to drinking or alcohol withdrawal symptoms. This is not true. Sure, there is a difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism, but the consequences can be the same.
Alcohol abuse is characterized by drinking too much and drinking too often, perhaps missing work or school engagements, but not being truly dependent on alcohol to function. An alcoholic is mentally and physically dependent on alcohol and most likely experiences severe disruption in their everyday life due to their alcohol consumption. Honestly, though, the distinction doesn’t seem to matter all that much.
Someone who drinks too much is at very high risk for alcohol-related accidents and even alcohol-related deaths, whether they are dependent on alcohol or not.
Alcohol effects on the body are extreme, and some of the long term effects of alcohol include:
- Cancer – drinking/abusing alcohol can cause you to develop cancer of the throat or the mouth. Heavy drinkers are also at risk of developing breast cancer and cancer of the liver.
- Heart disease
- Stroke – Strokes happen for two reasons: Blood clogs up the arteries in the brain, or blood vessels burst and leak into the brain. A heavy drinking session causes dehydration and thickens the blood, making it more prone to clots. Over time, heavy drinking can also raise your blood pressure, which is likely to cause strokes.
- Diabetes
- Pancreatitis
These are just some of the longer-term effects of alcohol abuse, but I don’t think I need to go on. With all of this information, I find it hard to believe that anyone would want to continue drinking. I find it hard to understand why do people drink alcohol, even if it is just one drink every now and then. Alcohol is a dangerous substance, regardless of whether or not the person drinking it fits the definition of an alcoholic.
Even one drink can impair your judgment when it comes to decision making, especially regarding driving. When someone drinks and gets behind the wheel of a car, this affects everyone on the road, not just the people drinking—the facts on drunk driving affect those who drive sober as well.
This information is essential for everyone to know, not just people who drink.