If you’re reaching for a glass of wine to unwind, you’re in good company. That’s how holiday weekends were built, right?
After giving up alcohol 9 years ago, I’ve come to question what I used alcohol to manage, soothe, or numb in the first place. It’s been a journey indeed. But what I didn’t expect? The massive amounts of research on alcohol… and it’s alarming!
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about preaching. It’s about saying, “Hey, some of what we’ve always believed might not hold up under scrutiny.” So here’s what the science is saying right now:
- Even one drink a day increases breast cancer risk—by about 2 extra cases per 100 women compared to drinking less than once a week.
- Alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it’s been officially linked to several cancers—from liver to throat to breast.
- Light to moderate drinking shows shrinking brain volume over time—on par with 1–2 years of aging per extra drink. (Hello Alzheimer’s!)
- And the myth of a “heart-healthy glass” is collapsing under newer, cleaner studies that show no meaningful benefit. Zero. Zilch. Nada.
If that gives you pause—even a little—that’s powerful. Because part of not settling is reexamining what once felt harmless. I thought I was “normal” and just doing what everyone else was doing. That didn’t make it right, let alone normal, nor harmless.
Your Tonic for the Week:
This holiday weekend, do one small experiment: notice how that first or second drink lands—does it really relax, or does it just dull?
How do you feel seeing your answer up close and personal?
Make space to question the habit rather than defaulting to it.
What I’m Loving This Week:
A weekend without a drink of course! And real rest that didn’t involve escaping. It’s the kind of weekend a cup of herbal tea can’t compete with (but good to have in hand!)
Your Next Thought:
I’ve been tossing around some ideas and would love YOUR thoughts…
I strongly believe we all are craving in-person experiences to go deeper. I’m not one to just be online. It has benefits, yes, but real transformation occurs when we are in person and together. Agree?
Think mini retreat paired with a refreshing quench of what your soul truly desires.
Would you be up for exploring that with me someday soon? Send me a message “Tell me more” and I’ll keep you in the loop when I have dates on the calendar.
