A person who practices (and possibly advocates) teetotalism is called a teetotaler or teetotaller, or is simply said to be teetotal. Globally, almost half of adults do not drink alcohol (excluding those who used to drink but have stopped).
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The percentage of U.S. adults aged 18 and older who say they drink alcohol averaged 63% over the past two years, whereas 36% described themselves as “total abstainers.” The drinking rate ticks up to 65% when narrowed to adults of legal drinking age, which is 21 and older nationwide.
Going sober is right for you if you are a heavy drinker, a binge drinker, or if you suffer from any of the many diseases that alcohol has been linked to. Plus, even without a disorder, your health can still benefit from living sober.
There is nothing odd about not drinking. Not at all. If that's what's right for you, then you're doing the right thing. My wife decided when she was in high school that she wasn't going to touch alcohol.
Some teetotalers simply don't like the taste of alcohol, the same way some people don't like the taste of broccoli. Others don't like the cost, and alcohol is pricey. Of course, you will have read that drinking is good for your health.
Gen-Z drink on average 20% less than millenials, who also drink less than the previous generation, mainly because of an increased awareness of the dangers and effects of alcohol and the rise of health-consciousness as a lifestyle.
Drinking alters brain chemistry by releasing an artificial level of dopamine that cannot compete with the normal levels released during other joyful activities, hence making them less pleasurable. Regular drinking also lowers levels of serotonin, GABA and endorphins, the very things that make us feel happy and calm.
So many people quit drinking and end up walking around in a dopamine deficit state, struggling to find joy in anything. That's not a sign that life is boring without alcohol. It just means you need additional support.
A life without alcohol is a life to be proud of, and can help address these challenges over time. Sobriety can create more opportunities to feel aligned with your values and recognize your strengths. For example, you might find yourself getting ahead at work, meeting physical fitness goals, and so much more.
Having an alcoholic drink or two per day is not healthier than abstaining, study shows. An analysis of 107 studies found that, when it comes to lowering mortality risk, some drinking is not better than none.
Overall, when consumed regularly in high quantities, alcohol ages the body faster than natural processes allow.
Although positive changes may appear earlier, 3 months of not drinking can not only improve your mood, energy, sleep, weight, skin health, immune health, and heart health.
In our culture, we idolise people who can hold their liquor. But in reality, if someone drinks a lot and never seems to get drunk, they have developed a high tolerance for alcohol. Tolerance occurs because of your body's remarkable ability to process alcohol.
Close to half of the world's adult population – 45 per cent - is life-time abstainers. The proportion on non-drinkers increases to 58 per cent if those who have not been drinking alcohol the last twelve months are included.
Moreover, alcohol is addictive and affects judgment, making it difficult to control the amount within two drinks. Once more than two drinks each time and three times a week, the life expectancy in males may reduced by 6.86 years compared with nondrinkers in this study.
After One Year: Congrats on making it to 12 months! At this point, your risk of developing all types of disease will be reduced and your bone density will start to increase.5 Keep in mind that everyone is different and will experience different things when they stop drinking.
After a year of sobriety, you'll find you're thinking more clearly, you can remember things better, and you can focus and make decisions better. Those feelings of anxiety and depression that were likely a part of your life after the first few months of sobriety are now gone.
“When you stop drinking, you quickly gain better focus and concentration and even greater physical capability. Dancing, talking to people, being quick-witted – all the social skills you need are sharpened.”
While the specific thoughts can vary from person to person, the longer that we go without drinking, the more our brain craves alcohol to feel normal. The experience is similar to being hungry when we haven't eaten. And just like being hungry, the longer we wait, the more intense the hunger pains.
And even those who love alcohol know that it's just not the best for you and can damage more than just your body. However, there are some people who just don't like to drink–and that's more than okay. Whether it's for health reasons, or just personal reasons, not drinking definitely isn't the end of the world.
Overall, a sober life has a wide array of benefits, including improved physical and mental health. Quitting alcohol may even reverse some of the damage that alcohol can have on your body. Quitting alcohol is a process, and it requires intentional strategies to eliminate it from your life.
The bottom line. It's never too late to stop drinking. The process can challenge your mind and body.
A 2020 study from the University of Michigan shows that over the last two decades, the number of college students who abstained from drinking went up by 8%. And according to a 2022 U.K. study from Drinkaware on alcohol consumption trends, Gen Z is the most sober and sober-curious generation yet.