The first paragraph of the article contains reasoning of why alcohol is here to stay. For better or worse it’s the only socially acceptable drug rn. And no, weed does not replace it - its effects are too different for it to make much sense in a social gathering, and it can’t be combined with even a modest quantity of alcohol. Having social life is important to one’s mental health at the very least. Even as an introvert I’m forced to admit that.
Do what you want, it's a free country. But deciding I no longer really had any interest in drinking in my late 20's is one of the best things I've done in life - even as someone who never really binge drank after a few years in college.
Socializing is better, health effects are CLEAR. Still amazes me even women I date in their mid 20s are shocked that I don't drink, but this was far more common while I was still living in New York.
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https://archive.is/20240629124620/https://www.nytimes.com/20...