Alcohol

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Less alcohol, or none at all, is one path to better health

It’s wine time. Beer Thirty. Happy hour. Five o’clock somewhere.

https://apnews.com/article/alcohol-drinking-health-sober-dry-january-6d11c7ebb74b6aa38e82500d91943a14?

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Shifting attitudes

Americans — especially those under age 35 — are changing their tune on alcohol as a new study finds even moderate drinking is bad for your health. More young adults are choosing to abstain as nonalcoholic “mocktails” become more popular and people feel less social pressure to drink.

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What's changed about Dry January

Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios

Every year, one of the most popular New Year's resolutions is observing Dry January. Case in point: On TikTok, #dryjanuary posts were up 50% toward the end of last year compared to the same period in 2023, Axios' Analis Bailey reports. ? Why it matters: Studies show that temporarily abstaining from alcohol comes with health perks like better sleep, less stress and weight loss. Cutting off booze is especially popular in January as people look to wind down from the drinking, eating and merriment of the holidays. Zoom in: The New York Times' Nicole Stock has a few new tips and tricks to help you navigate Dry January — whether you're a first-timer or returning to the challenge. Tell people. It's one way to hold yourself accountable. And it can be easier to navigate social situations involving alcohol if friends and family know. Replace, don't erase. Stock's example: If you're used to a nightly glass of red wine, replace it with tea instead of cutting out the ritual. Another example: Don't skip social occasions just because others will be drinking and you won't — or you'll burn out quickly. Instead, find non-alcoholic options you love and order 'em. Make it damp. Instead of quitting booze altogether, you could use the month to reset the way you think about alcohol and mindfully drink less, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum notes. ? Zoom out: Dry January has been observed for more than a decade. What's changed in the last few years is the increasing availability of fun, varied non-alcoholic drinks — from unique sodas to beers and wines that taste like the real thing. If you're looking for inspiration, here's a list of mocktail recipes that are going viral on social media And here are six new non-alcohol beers to try, via Axios Denver's John Frank.

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Alcohol impacts

A new study linked heavy drinking with increased risk of a type of brain injury tied to memory and thinking problems. Researchers defined heavy drinking as eight or more alcoholic beverages a week. CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen explains the potential danger.

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How Alcohol Affects Your Body

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/ss/slideshow-alcohol-body-effects?

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PS:I don't agree with any of these!! Just like coffee, there are pros & cons, but I say that the cons definitely out way the pros!!

Surprising Ways Alcohol May Be Good for You

Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on February 19, 2025

https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-alcohol-health-benefits

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A record share of Americans are giving booze the boot

The percentage of U.S. adults consuming alcohol has hit a new low, according to Gallup data released Wednesday.

https://www.axios.com/2025/08/13/alcohol-drinking-rate-low-health?

Shifting Alcohol Attitudes

Only 54% of US adults say they drink alcohol, the lowest rate Gallup has recorded since tracking began in 1939. The 2025 poll, released yesterday, also found a record high 53% of Americans view drinking as harmful to health.   The drinking rate hovered in the low to mid 60s from 1997 to 2023, before falling to 58% in 2024. Analysts attribute the ongoing decline largely to adults aged 18 to 34, whose drinking rate has dropped 9% in two years. Two-thirds of this group say even moderate drinking—one or two drinks a day—is harmful, up from 34% in 2018. Concerns among older adults have also increased, though less sharply.   The trend follows growing research about alcohol’s health impacts. In January, the US surgeon general called for warning labels on alcoholic beverages over cancer risks. Federal guidelines currently recommend that men limit their daily intake to two drinks and women to one.   Learn how some alcohol companies are adjusting to meet changing consumer attitudes here.

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? Fears for beer

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Americans are drinking less — and brewers, from industry giants to local craft producers, are feeling the squeeze. Beer is losing market share to sweet seltzers and weed products, especially among younger consumers. Plus, America's craft beer boom is now a bubble — and set to burst as demand wanes and independent brewers shutter, Axios Denver's John Frank reports. The latest: Constellation Brands, which owns Corona and Modelo Especial, said last week its sales have taken a hit. Constellation's beer portfolio has long benefited from strong demand among Hispanic consumers, who account for nearly half of the company's U.S. beer sales. But Hispanic consumers have pulled back, Reuters reports. What's next: Constellation is banking on a demand lift from the World Cup in North America in June and July, an event that over-indexes in the Hispanic community and in social gatherings that favor beer. Another bright spot for both large and small brewers has been the rising popularity of non-alcoholic beers. They now the second-largest beer category worldwide, behind lagers.

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Alcohol and the Aging Process

Written by Jon Cooper

Medically Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, MS, DO on November 05, 2022

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/ss/slideshow-alcohol-aging?

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Even a little alcohol here and there damages brain health, study shows

Whether someone is grocery shopping or dining out, alcohol is almost everywhere. While moderate alcohol use is considered “low-risk,” more research is coming out that shows there may truly be no safe amount of alcohol.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/even-a-little-alcohol-here-and-there-damages-brain-health?