7 Bad Reasons for Women to Drink Alcohol

Alcohol Consumption Among Women

Alcohol consumption among women has become deeply ingrained in our culture and is no longer considered an unacceptable sin, as it was in the early 20th century when alcohol was predominantly a male domain. Philosopher Otto Weininger, in his work “Sex and Character,” even asserted that alcohol and cigars are tertiary male sexual characteristics. For women, he identified a tertiary characteristic as well—handicrafts. The wide variety of alcoholic beverages available today allows individuals to choose what their heart desires. However, the collective unconscious has generated so many justifications for drinking that it has become concerning. There is nothing wrong with occasionally consuming alcohol in reasonable amounts, and there is no shame in occasionally overindulging. But if a woman too frequently uses a “convenient” excuse for why she drinks, it is a warning sign and the first step toward a genuine illness—female alcoholism. It is advisable to recognize and stop it in its earliest stages.

Stress

Stress in the modern world is a heavy burden that weighs on almost everyone’s shoulders. For women, this burden is often doubled: work, home, family—all demand time and energy. It is no surprise that stress accumulates, and there is no time to relieve it, as all free minutes are consumed by these very obligations. Many in such situations decide to relax with the help of alcohol. It takes just a minute: a glass of wine or a bottle of beer, and suddenly life does not seem so difficult and irritating. Besides, what harm can come from just one glass? It is with such “small steps” that alcoholism creeps up even on the strongest of us.

In reality, even if you dull stress with tiny doses of alcohol, it will only cause harm. Stress does not disappear; it is merely masked temporarily, and then more and more alcohol will be required to avoid feeling its presence. So, it is essential to treat the disease, not just the symptoms. Relaxation, yoga, sports, new experiences—there are countless ways to get rid of stress, and all of them are much better than alcohol. Just find the one that suits you perfectly. If you lack time for this search, first take a course on time management—this way, you will surely be able to carve out an additional couple of hours a week for yourself.

The Bridget Jones Effect

Global culture has popularized the image of a strong, independent woman who lives alone, builds a career, engages in self-improvement, and in the evenings, sips a bottle of red wine in front of the TV. Take Bridget Jones, for example—if you carefully read her lists of drinks consumed, you might be shocked. It could be an entire bottle of wine in one evening, six cans of beer, or a handful of strong cocktails. While she does try to drink less, her alcoholic coquetry appears so sophisticated and charming that one might want to adopt such an image. Do not.

Let “media” and bohemian girls handle their alcohol without getting drunk or sick, but we live in the real world. Drinking just for the sake of drinking is not a great idea. You can find another way to express your personality. Try, for example, writing poetry or stories, drawing cats, or collecting something (just not empty bottles!).

Relationship Problems

Any relationship can be like a minefield. Even when things are generally good, minor issues can throw you off balance. And if something goes seriously wrong—if a man leaves you or does something even worse—then the bottom of a glass of alcohol can help dull that pain. It genuinely dulls the pain, no jokes aside. Because your problem will no longer be that carrier of the Y chromosome who broke your heart, but a much more unpleasant green serpent. There are many ways to cope with being left by someone, and many of them can bring such relief that you might even thank the opportunity to part ways with someone who would have only brought trouble. Heal your heart as soon as possible! And only then, after completely letting go even of the memory of that person, raise a glass to your recovery—but just one, and only if you really want to.

Crisis of Despair

Depression has much deeper roots and a more destructive impact than ordinary stress. When all colors fade from life, some misfortune occurs, or a woman simply hits a dead end on her path, alcohol often becomes a companion on this gloomy and hopeless journey, making it even darker and more dismal. It is a vicious circle with no exit: alcohol allows you to forget the heaviness of being, but as soon as its effect wears off, the world around seems even worse. If something truly bad has happened to you, seek help not from a bottle, but from friends or specialists—depending on the severity of the problem. Coping alone with events that are crushing you is indeed difficult, so do not take everything upon your own shoulders.

Doping for Introverts

Shy girls in large companies often consume alcohol to loosen up and feel more relaxed and capable. Gradually, this can become a habit, and a very bad one, as no alternative method of communication will be developed. There are other techniques that help you feel free in an unfamiliar company or among many people. Their downside is that they require effort and practice from you, like almost all worthwhile things in the world. Their upside is that they will stay with you forever and will not destroy your liver.

To Warm Up

Alcohol is often consumed to warm up in cold weather. Indeed, it has a warming effect, which is why alcoholic beverages are called “spirits.” Under the influence of alcohol, blood vessels dilate, and the body feels warmth. However, this effect will only be beneficial if you are already cold and want to warm up quickly after entering a warm room or wrapping yourself in a blanket. If you want to warm up before going out into a cold place, alcohol will only cause harm. The warming effect ends very quickly, and there is a high chance that you will freeze. Even if you do not physically feel the cold, your body will still experience it, meaning you can easily get hypothermia, catch a cold, and get sick. Moreover, frequent use of such “warming” will lower your natural resistance to cold, and you will no longer be able to go out into the cold without a sip or two.

Peer Pressure

A characteristic of our Russian mentality (for the most part) is the forced inclusion of alcohol in gatherings, even for those who do not want to drink. At corporate events or in groups of acquaintances, if a couple of people decide to drink, they will persuade and otherwise coerce everyone else until they give in. It is very difficult to get rid of such pests, so very often girls symbolically drink a shot, even if they initially did not intend to drink. But where there is one, there is a second, and the second time, the emotional “rapists” will be sure of their victory, as they have already managed to make you do it once. Do not give in to their tricks; firmly say “no” if you want to, and carefully monitor the amount of alcohol in the company. The larger the group, the greater the risk that you will drink more than you intended.