Drinking against your beliefs

The effects of alcoholism on society nowadays are huge. Alcohol has been deeply embedded within society from as far back as we can remember. It has become a big part of most traditions and celebrations, and alcohol advertising contributes to the idea that alcohol is needed for these celebrations. There are many reasons as to why people drink, but it’s amazing how many people push their principles to one side when it comes to alcohol. Has society become so alcohol crazy that it sways people to betray their own beliefs? Religion has always been an interesting factor when it comes to drinking alcohol, as there are many religions that forbid it, as they see alcohol consumption as sinful. However, drinking alcohol has become a popular social activity amongst young people, and because of this, many of the younger generations are going against their religious beliefs, to fit in with their fellow peers. This goes for personal beliefs too. Veganism or vegetarianism for example. Not all alcohol is classed as vegan or vegetarian, because of the way in which it is made. Animal-derived products are sometimes used in the production of alcohol. This can include ingredients such as albumin (from egg whites), casein (protein from milk), chitin (from shells of crabs), lobsters, gelatine (bones and connective tissue of cows or pigs) and isinglass (from fish bladders). A lot of the time this is ignored, as social drinking takes over. Illnesses are another example. A lot of people suffer from IBS, and alcohol is a massive trigger of it. Many people would rather suffer from the flared-up symptoms the day after, rather than miss out on the night out. It has become clear that the younger generation in the UK has a real fear of missing out and drinking in excess to fit in. It can be very difficult within society nowadays. When almost all social activities are based around drinking, it really is no wonder that we are an indulgent generation. Universities are an example of this. If you do not drink, sadly there is very little left in university culture. The first week of university is Fresher’s Week, which is a week of constant drinking. It doesn’t stop after that, however, as most of university life is spent drinking large amounts. It appears the increase in alcohol consumption has got slightly out of hand, as it is constantly surrounding us, and people struggle to say no. Stress is another big reason for people drinking alcohol, as people turn to alcohol to ease stress. This is ok if the drinking is controlled, and for many, controlled or moderate drinking can be an option, but for others, it is not. When social drinking becomes an alcohol addiction, it starts to become a problem. Of course, there is your typical alcoholic, but the stereotype does not fit all. Many young professionals are suffering, and drinking to excess. They are drinking so much that they do not remember their nights out, or they cannot recall how they got home. Some cases are so severe that the individual ends up in hospital. It seems that young professionals drink regularly (even more than students nowadays), often with consequences which are impacting their health, their safety and also personal relationships. Historically alcohol has played a large part in British society, however, the rise in alcohol consumption in the UK has increased so significantly that it has now become a cause for concern. People are drinking a lot more than the recommended daily limit; most of these people are unaware of the damage their drinking is causing themselves and the people around them. The UK has slowly but surely become the “addiction capital of Europe,” with increasing alcohol abuse leading to societal destruction. British society has become widely known for its binge-drinking, and I tell you something, this is not something for us to be proud of.