12 Reasons People Choose to Drink Low/No/Light That Have Nothing To Do With Recovery

When it comes to drinking low/no-&-light, many of us are still faced with assumptions as to why we may be choosing to go AF on a night out.

In a recent interview with the wonderful Raissa & Joyce de Haas, the twin creatives behind premium soft drink and mixer brand Double Dutch Drinks | B Corp , our conversation drifted to this very subject, but from an angle, I admit I hadn’t considered much even though I have lived it twice.

When a woman falls pregnant, common convention is that we don’t share that news with the wider world until after that coveted 12-week scan. So for three months, we have to avoid all social engagements with a raft of ever-ridiculous excuses lest someone spy your choice of elderflower and soda and ask with all the tact of a wrecking ball on a downswing (and at top volume), “Oh my God, are you like totally pregnant or something?”

But, here’s the newsflash: not every woman who chooses not to drink is doing so because she is ‘with child’!

Or how about this situation:

“Mate, I’d love to, but I’m on antibiotics.”

It’s a go-to excuse for many who are choosing to address their drinking habits but don’t want to go into the whys and wherefores. The problem with this one (apart from all the bar-side doctors who tell you it’s now perfectly fine to consume booze while you’re on antibiotics) is that I no more want to discuss the very personal nature of taking medication than I do abstention.

And, of course, the frequent assumption faced by many:

“Oh no, sorry, are you an alcoholic/in recovery/have a problem?”

Really? If I were, does that seem like the best way to address a topic with someone you don’t know all too well?

So, despite it being asked of me in the past, this article is not a list of excuses that you can use when you’re out and don’t want the cool kids in the ‘in crowd’ to know that you’re on the outs with booze (I’m not really an excuses kind of person). No, this is for those who still don’t quite get why people may choose to drink less. Why you might no longer want to be part of the gang if the cost of membership is taking a path that no longer serves you.

1.         Pregnancy: I’ve mentioned it already, but pregnancy is a big one. Nine months of no booze, and I can tell you, it can be a real challenge for some.

2.         Family commitments: They have family commitments that require a clear head in the morning - ferrying the kids to their many and varied activities, heading off on holiday, a date night with the other half. If you want to be fully present with the people you love, then a hangover just gets in the way.

3.         Hangover hate: Speaking of hangovers. Mine used to be bad. Really bad. That alone was the biggest driver that led me to finally explore a life less intoxicated. I made a promise to myself that I would never, ever, ever have a hangover again.

4.         Antibiotics or other medication: Not only do doctors still advise that you don’t mix medication with alcohol (I have done this in the past, and let’s just say it was not a successful night out), but the fact remains that while you fight whatever infection ails you, your body doesn’t need the added pressure of metabolising alcohol at the same time - it’s a big task biologically speaking.

5.         Hidden health conditions: A reader recently messaged me about how a fall that led to a brain injury meant they could no longer drink at all. For many, health limitations or conditions like diabetes, liver disease, or brain injuries mean that removing/reducing alcohol isn’t just a lifestyle choice; it’s a risk they can’t afford to take.

6.         Religion: This one needs little explanation. Respect other people’s choices.

7.         Work: Important client meeting, annual pay review, conference to attend, stacks of paperwork to complete. Yes, alcohol may seem to take the edge off momentarily, but if you know you need to perform at your best and be on your A-game from the moment you walk through the door, then going non-alc the night before may just be your superpower for the day!

8.         Diet & exercise: When you’re trying to make positive changes to your health, alcohol is often one of the first areas doctors and coaches advise you to take stock and with good reason.

Alcohol packs in nearly as many calories per gram (7 kcal) as fat (9 kcal) and more than both carbs and proteins (4 kcal each). And that’s before the added calories in whatever you’re mixing your drink with, from cola to cocktails; it all adds up!

Then there are the choices we tend to make after we’ve had a few. Mainlining pizza, burgers, and kebabs on your way home three nights a week is bound to put a dampner on your goals.

And lest we not forget the impact that alcohol has on your motivation. That exercise plan you downloaded from Jo Wicks isn’t going to do you much good if you’re feeling too hungover to even put on your lycra, let alone jump around Mr Motivator style (am I showing my age), sweating buckets for 35 minutes.

9.         Mental health: Much like the impact on your motivation to exercise, alcohol can impact your mental health for days after consumption. If you’ve noticed a link between your drinking habits and your drop in mood for the next 48-72 hours, you may choose to protect your mental well-being by opting to have a good time with low/no/light beverages rather than full-strength ones.

10.  Allergies. Some people have genuine allergic reactions or intolerances to alcohol or to the compounds found in alcoholic beverages, like sulphites in wine, and experience some rather unpleasant symptoms like rashes, digestive issues, or migraines.

11.  Taste: They just don’t like it anymore. Or maybe they never had. Not everyone likes the taste of booze. In fact, think back to your first few drinks; they probably tasted awful; I know mine did. While many of us soldiered through to the point where alcohol became something we learned to tolerate, some people have either never liked the taste of it in any form or have grown out of favour with it over the years.

12.  Taking a break: They just want to take a break. If someone is choosing to have a month off for a sober challenge like Dry January or Sober October, then what they need is the support of their friends, not questions and judgment for making a healthy choice for their own benefit.

So there you have it: 12 reasons people may be choosing to drink less that have nothing to do with recovery and everything to do with making a positive choice for their future. Cheers to that.

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