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U.S. alcohol consumption drops to a 90-year low, new poll finds

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Re: U.S. alcohol consumption drops to a 90-year low, new poll finds

#131

Post by Gigachad »

margalabargala wrote: post #115
zevon wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find this dichotomy a bit strange. A lot of people consume alcohol alone and in many cases this ends up badly for them (no need to speculate about foreboding - the body (and the bodies) of evidence is readily available). Cannabis can be very common in and around social settings, depending on where you are in the world. Other drugs are also pretty much everywhere, including social spaces. They are just more invisibl…

> the body (and the bodies) of evidence is readily available My understanding is that the evidence suggests that light social drinkers tend to be healthier and live longer than people who drink not at all.

That’s just people who have friends and socialise are healthier. There are only negative health effects from alcohol itself.

If you went out to all those same events and just drank non alcoholic drinks you’d be healthier.

Re: U.S. alcohol consumption drops to a 90-year low, new poll finds

#132

Post by Gigachad »

aaronbaugher wrote: post #113
atsushin wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The lack of IRL 'third places' for young people to meet locally will only exacerbate the issue -- and probably should bear most of the blame. The car-centric infrastructure of the suburbs (well, the vast majority of America) encourages isolation and asocial behavior. It really sucks that for some, their lives will never go beyond that invisible cage.

My town still has quite a few third places (the mall, bowling alleys, bars, etc.) and even some new ones like a trampoline place. Most of them are struggling because the young people don't go out. Go into a corner bar on a Saturday night, and you'll see more people in their 50s than 20s. The pool league that used to run 6 divisions a week is now down to 2. So as far as I can tell, people (especially the young) stoppe…

I just went a looked up my closest bowling alley. 4 people, 2 games mid day Saturday and it was $180 AUD.

It’s not surprising a large chunk of Gen Z are choosing to stay at home when it costs that much to go out. I'm starting to think we as a society need to start subsidising social spaces. Local council owned/run bouldering gyms, meetup spaces, etc. Charging a bellow market rate fee just to get people out of the house.

Re: U.S. alcohol consumption drops to a 90-year low, new poll finds

#133

Post by Gigachad »

zamalek wrote: post #62
atsushin wrote: post #14

There was a pretty good Kurzgesagt video posted earlier today on alcohol in general: https://youtu.be/aOwmt39L2IQ The shift in perception of alcohol is certainly a good sign. Even outside of the health benefits, a night out at the bar is expensive now (at least on the East Coast) and honestly speaking other drugs are simply more cost-effective. I still have the occasional cocktail when going out with friends but now…

> night out at the bar is expensive now "They" will make it cheaper. If you look at the cost of alcohol in developing countries, it can be way WAY cheaper. The profit and tax margins are currently colossal, both of which can be changed by big booze.

It’s not just alcohol tax. Rent, wages, and insurance cost way more than in developing countries.

Re: U.S. alcohol consumption drops to a 90-year low, new poll finds

#134

Post by supportengineer »

Gunax wrote: post #98
mrtksn wrote: post #23

Such a sad development, Young people need to drink more and socialize. No wonder the virginity rates are skyrocketing. You don't get into situations by getting stoned at home. Sure it is bad for your body but when used in moderation the benefits are much much more than that risk. What a scam the weed culture is. Maybe we should ban it again together with the social media to save the birth rates and the society in gen…

We will all live long, safe, and boring lives

And own nothing

Re: U.S. alcohol consumption drops to a 90-year low, new poll finds

#135

Post by subjectsigma »

charcircuit wrote: post #73
subjectsigma wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why even post this?

Because I have never had the desire to buy alcohol since there is a superior alternative. I am providing context on why me and many others are contributing to the fall of the statistic.

I’m legitimately fascinated by the lack of self-awareness.

Re: U.S. alcohol consumption drops to a 90-year low, new poll finds

#136

Post by 0cf8612b2e1e »

margalabargala wrote: post #115
zevon wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find this dichotomy a bit strange. A lot of people consume alcohol alone and in many cases this ends up badly for them (no need to speculate about foreboding - the body (and the bodies) of evidence is readily available). Cannabis can be very common in and around social settings, depending on where you are in the world. Other drugs are also pretty much everywhere, including social spaces. They are just more invisibl…

> the body (and the bodies) of evidence is readily available My understanding is that the evidence suggests that light social drinkers tend to be healthier and live longer than people who drink not at all.

This line of thinking has been heavily questioned in recent years. People who never drink typically have a strong reason (recovering alcoholic) for which they have already suffered long term damage. Even people who “don’t drink” can be convinced to imbibe a bit on a special occasion (New Years, graduation, wedding, etc).

Re: U.S. alcohol consumption drops to a 90-year low, new poll finds

#137

Post by scotty79 »

margalabargala wrote: post #115
zevon wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find this dichotomy a bit strange. A lot of people consume alcohol alone and in many cases this ends up badly for them (no need to speculate about foreboding - the body (and the bodies) of evidence is readily available). Cannabis can be very common in and around social settings, depending on where you are in the world. Other drugs are also pretty much everywhere, including social spaces. They are just more invisibl…

> the body (and the bodies) of evidence is readily available My understanding is that the evidence suggests that light social drinkers tend to be healthier and live longer than people who drink not at all.

Causation goes the other way. Healthier people tend to drink more because they don't have enough signals from their bodies to respect them.

Re: U.S. alcohol consumption drops to a 90-year low, new poll finds

#138

Post by Balgair »

atsushin wrote: post #14

There was a pretty good Kurzgesagt video posted earlier today on alcohol in general: https://youtu.be/aOwmt39L2IQ The shift in perception of alcohol is certainly a good sign. Even outside of the health benefits, a night out at the bar is expensive now (at least on the East Coast) and honestly speaking other drugs are simply more cost-effective. I still have the occasional cocktail when going out with friends but now…

> a night out at the bar is expensive now

I mean, I understand the economics of it. Rent, wages, pricing, supply and demand, etc.

But, like, how messed up are things that hooch is too expensive. Like, it literally grows on trees (if you leave it there a bit). Booze is the thing where sales go up when things get worse (lipstick too, right?).

I'm not saying this is a bad thing that we're not drinking as much, but I am saying that not drinking as much is a sign of really bad things.

Re: U.S. alcohol consumption drops to a 90-year low, new poll finds

#139

Post by socalgal2 »

kruffalon wrote: post #92
socalgal2 wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The shift in perception of alcohol is certainly a good sign. Is it? That same video, in the last 2-3 mins, mentioned all the positives of alcohol and ton of possibly related fallout from social drinking going down. People being lonely and depressed instead of socializing. If I had to choose between living an extra few years but being lonely and depressed vs living a few less years but enjoying them a bunch more I'd…

> my friends/co-workers/classmates introduced me to izakaya culture - being with friends for 2-6 hours, drinking and snacking and talking. And sometimes going to 2nd, 3rd, or 4th outings. There must be something I'm not understanding about "izakaya culture", because that just sounds like hanging with friends without a specific activity planned so you just talk shit, have a drink and eat (whether at home or different…

You might be right. Maybe it's solely cultural inertia and the fact that there are tons of izakaya that can take a group from 2 to 24 and up, whereas there aren't many places to play boardgames. You can offer someone's house but that's usually less convenient geographically in my experience.

Someone's house might not be clean, they have to plan ahead. Someone's house might not have snacks. They either have to get some or else do potluck but potluck requires everyone to plan ahead. Someone's house likely doesn't have as much variety so people have to settle for what's available. Someone's house doesn't have a waiter and cooking staff so people can be stuck in the kitchen. I guess you can order doordash/pizza to solve some of that. Though if you want something else it's not going to arrive in 3-5 mins like an izakaya. It will be 20-40mins. Someone's house might not seat as many people (regularly had 25-30 people show up). Someone's house you might need to keep quiet (like an apartment). Someone's house might have pets (so people with pet allergies can't come).

Yea, I know you didn't say "someone's house" but I don't know where else I could break out a deck of cards. Most restaurants/bars won't allow it AFAIK so that's what made me think of people's homes.

Re: U.S. alcohol consumption drops to a 90-year low, new poll finds

#140

Post by darth_avocado »

thewebguyd wrote: post #69
chiffre01 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anecdotally it seems like alcohol is being replaced with weed or other things. But it doesn't bode well for the future of mental health if social drinking is being replaced with solo drug use or just solo everything.

> being replaced with solo drug use or just solo everything. Solo everything is definitely happening. People are getting priced out, and the third place ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_place ) has pretty much disappeared everywhere. Gen Z is considered the loneliest generation, and its easy to see why. COVID messed things up too, and there's a lot of kids and young adults that have not been properly socialized.…

> people are getting priced out

Alcohol is still cheaper than pretty much all the substances that are replacing it and you don’t need to go to a bar to have it. You can get 30 rack for about $20 and hang out in a park with your buddies to finish it.

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