From actors to models, Hollywood has seen a rise in public declarations of sobriety. I’m not talking about those dealing with substance abuse issues, but celebrities that are quitting alcohol for another reason.
Specific reasons have varied, but the general theme has surrounded craving a better sense of wellbeing and wanting to be fully present in the moment. Some have also mentioned that they've been unknowingly using alcohol as a crutch to help cope, and are quitting drinking to take the time to address issues in their life.
Excessive drinking is normalized in university, at a time where social gatherings all surround alcohol, and friendships are formed around swapping stories about the latest drunken escapades. I can only imagine how this is magnified in Hollywood with all the events and parties.
| Jump to it |
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| The effects of alcohol on skin |
| The effects of alcohol on mental health |
| Celebrities who are quitting alcohol |
For years women have been closing the gender gap, and I’m not talking about equal pay. In recent years, women have been closing in on men with alcohol consumption, binge-drinking, and alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol consumption has also risen dramatically during the pandemic, particularly in women. One study shows an increase in heavy drinking days by 41% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Celebrities like Miley Cyrus have publicly shared their struggle to stay sober over the course of the pandemic. Many are spending more time with their thoughts than they’re used to and have been forced to face some harsh truths they've been avoiding.
As the wellness industry has continued to grow and the topic of health has come to the forefront, it’s unsurprising to see celebrities are quitting alcohol in the name of health.
The Effects of Alcohol on Skin
It dries out your skin
Just like drinking alcohol dehydrates your body (hello 14 cups of water after a night out), it does the same to your skin. When you're younger and not yet seeing the damage to our skin, it's easy to ignore.
But as we age, dry skin leads to more wrinkles, sagging, and loss of volume in the face. This fullness and is what keeps your face looking young - and alcohol effectively deflates it.
It makes it less elastic
Vitamin A, a key component in keeping your skin healthy, is reduced by consumption of alcohol. Limiting the amount of vitamin A available can reduce your levels of collagen. Collagen is the protein keeping your joints healthy, and your skin elastic and wrinkle-free.
It makes your eyes puffy
Finally, while we fall asleep quickly after a few drinks, it’s not good quality sleep. The sleep we get after drinking is light sleep.
We miss out on the phases of sleep that are important for body recovery, leaving us feeling groggy. This means waking up not rested, and dark circles and puffy eyes in the morning.
Alcohol and Mental Health
There's a well documented relationship between mental health issues and substance abuse. Those who are suffering from mental health issues who develop of substance use disorders typically turn to it as a coping mechanism, but what about those of us who aren't dependent?
It makes anxiety and depression worse
Drinking alcohol can often make us feel anxious, agitated, or depressed. There’s even a term for it! Coined “hangxiety”, some people feel anxiety in the days after they’ve been drinking. This works against the reason a lot of people drink in the first place - feeling anxious.
Many of us use alcohol to loosen up, and get more comfortable in social situations where we're nervous. This works because alcohol changes the levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine in the brain.
Initially, it floods the brain with GABA, making you feel relaxed, and dopamine, also known as the "happy hormone".
Unfortunately, these effects are short lived. Eventually we end up in withdrawal, dealing with the exact emotions we were trying to avoid in the first place. Left with reduced levels of serotonin, feelings of anxiety and depression can start to take hold.
The feelings of hangxiety are most often felt in people who already experience anxiety or depression. So if you’re having a particularly hard day and want a drink to unwind, you’re not doing yourself any favours by reinforcing the feeling with alcohol.
Celebrities that don’t drink
Adele
After a very public divorce, Adele opened up about the struggles she went through in a vulnerable interview with Oprah. The singer talks about her journey to loving herself, and how she needed to change her relationship with alcohol.
Adele shed light on her use of alcohol to ignore her feelings and problems in her life. She describes how she needed to work on herself saying “once I realized that I had a lot of work to do on myself, I stopped drinking, and I started working out lots and stuff like that to keep me centered”.
Chissy Teigen
From wardrobe mishaps to painful personal losses, Chrissy has always been open with what she’s going through. In recent years she has spoken about her relationship with alcohol and times she was drinking too much.
After receiving a book titled “Quit Like A Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink In a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol” by Holly Whitaker she made the choice to stop drinking.
“I still dunno if I’ll never drink again but I do know it no longer serves me in ANY way. I don’t get more fun, I don’t dance, I don’t get relaxed . I get sick, fall asleep and wake up sick, having missed what was probably a fun night.” via Instagram
Anne Hathaway
In an interview in April 2019, Hathaway described her latest hangover as being so bad that it lasted 5 days. Yikes.
While the drinking isn’t necessarily a problem, the hangovers are so bad they take days to recover from. The moments missed with her family as a result of not feeling well are just not worth the drink.
The actress declared that she won’t be drinking again until she has fewer responsibilities. Anne says will be at the earliest when her son turns 18 years old.
Jennifer Lopez
JLo is the spokesperson for aging gracefully. Making her health and fitness a priority, she's never on to shy away from showing off her progress, and touting the benefits of her lifestyle.
The singer has cut out alcohol, smoking, and coffee in the name of skincare. Considering how fabulous her skin looks, she might be onto something!
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore has a less common history as a child actor, becoming addicted to cocaine at a very young age. Going through her own mental health struggles led her to attempt to take her life at the age of 14, and enter a rehab facility.
Taking back control of her life, she quit drinking. Hitting a recent milestone, Drew hasn’t had a drink in two and a half years! Sitting down with CBS This Morning, Drew says she has quit alcohol because "It was something that I realized just did not serve me and my life."
Blake Lively
Blake describes the ultimate struggle of someone who doesn’t want to drink, but enjoys being social, “I don’t like the effects of alcohol, but I like being a part of it”. Social events typically centre around alcohol, which can sometimes feel alienating as the only person not drinking.
Coming up with her own solution, the actress developed a line of mixers called Betty Buzz. The drinks can be consumed on its own, or be mixed with alcohol. This way you can be included but also stick to your choices.
Wrapping It Up
As someone who has never been a big drinker, it can be hard living in a culture that places alcohol at the centre of every gathering.
Drinking is a social norm, and you're seen as a bit of an outcast if you don't. There's a pressure to join in, and to a degree you still feel that pressure. But society has put an emphasis on wellness, saying no to alcohol is a choice many are making.
While I’m not a fan of things becoming accepted only once they are “on trend”, it’s refreshing to see the choice not to drink becoming less foreign to the broader public as more celebs hop on the bandwagon.
Are you reducing your alcohol consumption lately? Comment below!
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