Going sober is right for you if you are a heavy drinker, a binge drinker, or if you suffer from any of the many diseases that alcohol has been linked to. Plus, even without a disorder, your health can still benefit from living sober.
Because we live in a culture where social drinking is a norm, it may seem strange to find out someone doesn't drink, but the truth is that one estimate finds that around 30 percent of Americans don't drink. Don't single non-drinkers out by calling their choices weird, strange, or bad because they're anything but.
The most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 recommend that adults limit alcohol intake to two drinks or fewer a day for men and one drink or less for women, adding “that drinking less is better for health than drinking more,” and urging pregnant women to abstain.
The Many Benefits of Hydration
“Normal day-to-day life requires you to be well-hydrated—including any thinking, walking, or physical activity. Hydration is also important to maintain adequate function of your major organs, including your heart, kidneys, and liver.”
After One Year: Congrats on making it to 12 months! At this point, your risk of developing all types of disease will be reduced and your bone density will start to increase. 5 Keep in mind that everyone is different and will experience different things when they stop drinking.
But, as drinking even at low levels increases the risk of these diseases, deciding to stop drinking completely is a positive choice. Drinking alcohol also causes other long-term health problems. Stopping drinking lowers the risk of: Heart disease, stroke10 and high blood pressure.
Moderate drinkers and nondrinkers report similar rates of sadness, but both groups are slightly less likely than heavy drinkers to experience sadness. Still, while heavy drinkers and nondrinkers report similar levels of positive emotions, heavy drinkers report experiencing more negative emotions than nondrinkers.
It can feel rude or unfriendly to say no when someone offers a drink, but you can say no to a drink. People should respect your choice.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The percentage of U.S. adults aged 18 and older who say they drink alcohol averaged 63% over the past two years, whereas 36% described themselves as “total abstainers.” The drinking rate ticks up to 65% when narrowed to adults of legal drinking age, which is 21 and older nationwide.
Teetotalism is the practice or promotion of total personal abstinence from the consumption of alcohol, specifically in alcoholic drinks. A person who practices (and possibly advocates) teetotalism is called a teetotaler or teetotaller, or is simply said to be teetotal.
And the meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open that involved 107 studies with more than 4.8 million participants also found no longevity benefit for drinkers. This research showed that people who have one or two drinks a day have essentially the same risk of dying prematurely as people who've never had alcohol.
And even those who love alcohol know that it's just not the best for you and can damage more than just your body. However, there are some people who just don't like to drink–and that's more than okay. Whether it's for health reasons, or just personal reasons, not drinking definitely isn't the end of the world.
Moreover, alcohol is addictive and affects judgment, making it difficult to control the amount within two drinks. Once more than two drinks each time and three times a week, the life expectancy in males may reduced by 6.86 years compared with nondrinkers in this study.
Overall, when consumed regularly in high quantities, alcohol ages the body faster than natural processes allow.
For many, drinking booze is a fun social pastime. For others, it leads to destructive behaviors. Some choose sobriety because of medical conditions. Some don't like the way alcohol makes them feel.
Although positive changes may appear earlier, 3 months of not drinking can not only improve your mood, energy, sleep, weight, skin health, immune health, and heart health.
Some people just don't like alcohol. They're bothered by the taste or smell, or they don't like the way drinking makes them feel. Whatever the reason, you're not required to drink alcohol. Lots of people don't drink.
Drinking heavily may be the key to staying happy and healthy in later life, a study has found.
“When you stop drinking, you quickly gain better focus and concentration and even greater physical capability. Dancing, talking to people, being quick-witted – all the social skills you need are sharpened.”
According to Alcohol Change UK, who spearheaded the Dry January challenge, giving up alcohol this month will help you sleep better and have more energy, improve your mental health and concentration, give you brighter skin, help you save money and feel an amazing sense of achievement.
Some people don't drink and use drugs but, that does not make a person sober from using substances. Even if a person does not drink any alcohol but still uses other substances, they may not exactly be 'sober.