The fading prestige of Alcohol, even in moderation
From Youthful Joke to Midlife Burden
At 18, a hangover was a joke. At 30, it’s a burden. By 45, it feels like betrayal.
This isn’t just a personal observation for people. This same story is worldwide. Alcohol consumption is declining as awareness of its harms grows. Across generations, the meaning of drinking is shifting. Gen Z avoids drunkenness on social media. In some circles, moderation signals class; in others, heavy drinking signals belonging. Context matters too. A glass of wine at dinner is not the same as a beer at 4 a.m. in a crowded bar.
The Symbolic Weight of Drinking
Yet alcohol still carries symbolic weight. Across history it has elevated mood, broken barriers, and marked celebration. In scripture, the first miracle was water turned to wine at a wedding. This was a matter of honor for the hosts and they saved face because of it.
The Problem of Excess
The problem may not be alcohol itself, but excess. One or two drinks a month is very different from one or two a week, yet society often frames it as all or nothing.
Demonising a substance because it can be abused is one thing; demonising it simply because it exists is another. Still, the beauty of a drink has been dulled by overuse. Abuse has stained what was once celebration, leaving even moderate enjoyment under suspicion.
In a culture built on high performance, the cost of lost mornings and slowed productivity is too high.
Science and the Hangover
Science complicates the picture. Occasional drinks may not show dramatic effects and no study has proved that one or two a week cause meaningful brain shrinkage.
However large cohort studies suggest there is no clearly safe threshold. And the evidence lives in our days: restless sleep, sluggish mornings, a fog that lingers.
In a culture that prizes clarity and output, the hangover has lost its badge of honor.
The Alternative Joy
What, then, is the alternative? Gatherings where the raw momentum of conversation carries the night.
Food tastes sharper, connection feels awake, and someone looks at you with truth rather than red eyes.
The deepest reward is in the next day: a clear head, better choices for your body, eating when hungry instead of chasing cravings. The joy is not less but different: rooted in the moment, grounded in the clarity of your why.
Moderation as a Way Forward
Moderation avoids both denial and demonisation. Hard at first, yes, but like any habit it becomes natural.
Each step down, from five glasses to two, is progress toward clarity of mind the next day. A small victory in itself, worthy of joy.
In the end, the choice is always human.