Episode 76: Women and Alcohol

Jul 8

In this episode of Euphoric The Podcast, Karolina and Danielle discuss the culture of women and alcohol. Explore myths around alcohol, the role of patriarchy in the alcohol industry, and the power of marketing. Feel empowered to live alcohol-free, create your own glamour, and break away from playing small.

A History of Patriarchy

Throughout history, women have been taught to play small, numb their emotions, and not be disruptive. During the 50’s and the 60’s, feeling unfulfilled, smothered, and purposeless, emotional health struggles were common among women.

Rather than acknowledging the root cause of these symptoms, doctors prescribed Barbiturates, pills to numb emotions, and keep women calm and detached from themselves and their reality.

As time progressed, women began receiving freedoms they were due, but a culture was born implying that women could only have more liberties with the expectation of maintaining all other responsibilities.

Today, women still receive less pay to the dollar for their labor as men do, and it is even worse for women of color. Women also invest more time on unpaid labor at home than men do.

Understandably, this has led to high levels of stress, overwhelm, and anxiety. Instead of reevaluating the system, the alcohol industry capitalized on these struggles. Holly Whitaker implies in her book, Quit Like A Woman, that alcohol is a tool of the patriarchy.

From having a glass of wine to unwind or being able to drink like one of the guys, alcohol is promoted as a culture to make women more equal to men, when in actuality, it keeps them from owning their worth and living out their fullest potential.

When you remove alcohol from your life, you experience the beauty of no longer numbing out the parts that leave you unhappy or unfulfilled. Instead you are able to see them. When you see your life as it is, you have the incredible ability to change it. This is a counter-cultural and empowering way to say “no” to the patriarchy.

Marketing and the false promise of glamour

Over the decades as alcohol consumption among women has increased, the marketing campaigns have only become more clever, from creating low calorie drinks and colorful cocktails, to promoting the use of alcohol to signify success, power, and glamour.

It is often said that a glass of red wine per day offers health benefits for women, when recent studies show drinking just two alcoholic beverages per week increases a woman’s chances of breast cancer by 15%.

Through the feminization of alcohol, women are taught that drinking is representative of success and glamour. Having a glass of champagne on the beach at sunset has become a status symbol.

Recalling a recent impromptu trip to New Mexico, Danielle explains the difference between false glamour and joy, and creating true, satisfying joy. Instead of going out for drinks and waking up hungover, her and her friend spent time exploring cities, picnicking in the grass having genuine conversations, and buying fancy spices. She was creating glamour in ways that were lasting and genuine.

As for me, I find simple pleasures in going to the sauna or buying celery juice for myself. There is a common perception that certain luxuries are too expensive; however, when you acknowledge how much money is spent on alcohol, other forms of self care become financially realistic and exceedingly more satisfying.

If you were to create a life for yourself free of alcohol, what glamour would you fill your days with? Would it be a monthly facial or a gym membership with a sparkling pool? When you step away from what the alcohol industry decides is glamorous and create it for yourself, you will find deep, authentic, and lasting joy.

Empowering yourself and saying “no more” to playing small

In Enjoli, an essay included in Kristi Coulter’s book Nothing Good Can Come From This, she shares that there is no acceptable way to be a woman. We live in a world of either/or. Either you are promiscuous or you are prude. You are lazy or you work too much. You are weak or you are difficult. Drinking then becomes a way to escape this lack of acceptance.

Additionally alcohol has long been an easy way to become “one of the guys”. Have you ever chugged a beer to be accepted by the boys? Do you find pride in having a high alcohol tolerance? Women have been tricked into thinking that alcohol will make them feel big, when truthfully it leaves them playing small.

Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind, explains how children pick up on parents' drinking. They notice changes in personality and make associations to alcohol based on these observations.

In my coaching work, I’ve noticed mothers feel motivated by the possibility of truly being present with their children. They are grateful to be able to show their kids what healthy coping mechanisms look like, instead of turning to alcohol.

You have the capacity to feel empowered, confident, and present in new ways. Choosing to be alcohol-free is a claim for your health and your power, as you say no to numbing out and staying small.

“True empowerment looks like choosing your well being first, choosing your self-love first, choosing your dreams first. Choosing to have the strength to feel your emotions instead of numbing them. Whatever we're promised, in a glass of rosé is so false.” Karolina Rzadkowolska