Alcohol is harmful. So why do we keep drinking?

Motivation is essential for success in any activity. And alcohol is no exception. Motivation is the force that makes us move towards a goal. The goal that drives those who take alcohol or drugs is formed just like any other. If they see real or potential value in drinking alcohol, they will tend to drink as often as possible. When we make a decision to drink, we generally expect to receive value in the form of a good mood, getting rid of anxiety and negative thoughts, and gaining self-confidence.

If we have experienced alcohol intoxication before and have maintained positive thoughts about it, continued drinking has real value for us. If we are going to try alcohol for the first time, this value is potential — we have seen how cheerful and self-confident people become under the influence of it.

Alcohol consumption is stimulated by various factors:

1. Past experience

Positive impressions are the best motivator, while negative personal experiences (allergic reaction, severe hangover) reduce the value of alcohol and reduce the motivation to drink. People of Asian descent are more likely to have allergic reactions to alcohol than Europeans. This partly explains the fact that Asian countries drink less.

2. Impulsive nature

Impulsive people tend to get pleasure as soon as possible. Due to their temperament, they are not inclined to think for a long time about the negative consequences of a choice. They value alcohol because of its availability and quick effect. Among people suffering from alcoholism, more impulsive than calm. In addition, they prefer stronger drinks and drink alcohol more often.

3. Stress

Those who are in a difficult psychological situation appreciate alcohol, as it helps to quickly relieve tension and cope with anxiety. However, this effect is relatively short-lived.

4. Social norm

Some Western countries are known for long-standing traditions associated with drinking alcohol at certain times: on holidays, on Friday evenings, at Sunday dinner. And the inhabitants of these countries, for the most part, correspond to the behavioral expectations of society. We do not want to be different from others and therefore we observe the traditions of our native country, city or diaspora.

In Muslim countries, alcohol is prohibited by religion. Natives of these countries rarely drink alcohol, even if they live in the West.

5. Habitat

The frequency and amount of alcohol consumption depends on the living conditions and environment:

• students living in a hostel drink more often than those who live with their parents;
• residents of poor areas drink more than wealthy citizens;
• children of alcoholics are more likely to drink alcohol than people from non-drinking or low-drinking families.

Whatever the motivating factors, we tend to drink alcohol only as much as it is valuable to us and meets our expectations. However, in addition to motivation, alcohol consumption is influenced by the economy: with a 10% increase in the price of alcoholic beverages, alcohol consumption among the population decreases by about 7%.

HOW TO KNOW YOU HAVE ADDICTION

Many do not notice how they become addicted to alcohol. This dependency looks like this:

• Your social life is closely linked to your drinking.
• You drink a glass or two before meeting with friends to get in the mood.
• You underestimate the amount you drink: wine at dinner does not count, especially if you drink cognac at dinner.
• You worry about running out of liquor at home and restock regularly.
• You are surprised if an unfinished bottle of wine is removed from the table or someone leaves rum in a glass.
• You are annoyed that others drink too slowly and this prevents you from drinking more.
• You have many photos with a glass in your hand.
• When taking out the trash, you try to carry the bags carefully so that the neighbors do not hear the clink of bottles.
• You envy those who quit drinking, their ability to enjoy life without drinking alcohol.

If you find one or more signs of addiction in yourself, you should consider visiting a specialist.