What's "Normal" Anyway?
I drank normal. I drank like everyone else I knew! 2- 3 glasses of wine or beer several nights a week and more on the weekends.
Seriously, this was my normal. But, was this “normal” for everyone else?
This question comes up so much with clients. Have you ever wondered what it means to be a "normal" drinker? We all have this idea that “alcoholics” are those who hit rock bottom with lost jobs, homes, or DUIs, while the rest of us are just "normal" drinkers. But seriously, what does that even mean? Normal is a setting on your dryer- for crying out loud! So, let’s work on dropping this concept of normalcy when it comes to drinking alcohol and question the assumptions we've been fed.
So, what's the measurement for being a normal drinker? Is it a daily ritual or just a weekend thing? Is a glass of wine or a bottle a day considered normal? How about a beer or two versus a whole six-pack? Honestly, it's a gray area, and there's no one-size-fits-all definition. The lack of a clear answer makes you wonder if normal drinking is even a thing.
Instead of getting caught up in this normal vs. alcoholic dichotomy, it’s time to ask some different questions.
Why do we drink, smoke, overeat, or have certain fears?
What reasons have we come up with for these habits and beliefs?
Grab a pen and paper and start listing them out.
To truly understand our relationship with alcohol, we need to examine how it makes us feel—both mentally and physically in the long run. What's actually in this stuff that the FDA doesn't regulate? Why are there more warnings on a bottle of pain reliever than on a bottle of beer? Believe it or not, alcohol is a class 1 carcinogen, just like tobacco. Let’s just let this sit here for a moment.
Here's something interesting: the regulations and warning labels on alcohol are nowhere near those of other substances. I mean the only thing on them is pregnant women should not drink because of birth defects and the vague warning to drink responsibly. What does that even mean? Don’t drink too much before you drive? Or don’t drink too much so you don’t get cancer or heart disease?
It's strange that the FDA keeps a close eye on medicines, food, and tobacco, but alcohol gets a pass. Why the double standard?
Because alcohol is not regulated by the FDA. It is regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), a bureau under the Department of the Treasury. This is due to a hold over from prohibition. It is a complicated bureaucracy. This is b.s.! Sorry anything that goes into our mouths should be labeled.
It’s all about the MONEY!
It's time to challenge these inconsistencies and question the norms that society has set for us in the USA. Alcohol is a Class 1 Carcinogen, like cigarettes. In Canada, the government has changed the guidelines for alcohol to no more than 2 alcoholic drinks per week. Anything over increases a person’s health risks. Here is a great news story about the those who are challenging this: http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2162250307992
So, let's drop the notion of "normal" drinking and explore our own motivations and experiences with alcohol. We don't need society to dictate what's normal or not. By reflecting on why we drink, considering the true effects it has on us, and questioning the lack of regulation and warning labels, we can find our own truths. It's about creating a dialogue and redefining what it means to have a healthy relationship with alcohol.
Finally, remember: Normal is just a setting on your dryer. Cheers to that!