Was it a ferret, a badger, a monkey, or a bird that first stumbled across a pile of fallen wild plums that had perfectly fermented, turning the sweet sugars into delirious alcohol and sending that creature off into the woods a happier and more confident being? When the Chinese first began making a derivative of sake with rice, millet, grapes, and honey in 7000 BCE, how long did it take for “that guy” to start pounding it before lunch on the regular? The early Egyptians used beer to pay workers while they worked. Islamic
rules started out preventing drunken prayer before it turned into no drinking entirely. Alcohol has been so many things for so many cultures from a catalyst for enjoyment and celebration to a destroyer of lives and happiness. As the holidays approach, the opportunity once again arises to celebrate, feast, congregate with family and friends, and drink.
For some of us, that “drink” is just that. Complete control, total self-discipline, “I’ve got a big day tomorrow starting early” kinds of self-guidance—the type of clarity used in missile launches and forensic military work. For others, that first drink is the feral launching pad for an evening of indulgence followed by a morning of sobriety resolutions. What is it about alcohol? Why are we not satisfied with that initial euphoric buzz, that soft warm internal glow, and instead keep stoking the fire all night into a self-imposed effigy, awaiting the gas-fueled explosion? A bike-riding philosopher once said, “Never miss an opportunity to shut the heck up.” That never happens when alcohol is involved. We talk too much, we are the worst listener at the table and our understanding in that moment of how we are perceived by others is completely shot.
But a newfound awareness around alcohol is gaining traction. From Andrew Huberman
to The Wall Street Journal, science and opinion are changing around the effect of alcohol on one’s system. Boulder County restaurant operators as well as national distributors and producers, have all consistently reported a decline in alcohol sales in 2024. As opposed to the chaos and uncertainty created by COVID that had everyone drunk in their pajamas by breakfast, our current uncertainty around the economy, the election, and people, in general, striving for better health and physical and mental clarity this year have people drinking less, or not at all. Ozempic has also reduced consumption on a host of levels, and while that use is probably less in Colorado than it is nationally, we have always had a bent toward health and wellness.
So, the choice is yours this holiday season. Lean in and go big, make the commitment to drinking early and often, and have a raucous and boozy holiday season—while keeping it safe, under control, and in pace. Or try to tone it down this year, embrace the one (or two) and done mentality, slow it down, and practice your listening skills. The people you are celebrating with are probably near and dear to your life and heart. Make sure to remember the events because we never know when they won’t be available in
our lives again.