Think of Australia and you might envision a laidback, barbecue and booze-loving nation.
But the truth is, while our lazy afternoons and leisurely barbies aren’t going anywhere, Australians are drinking less now than any time in the last 50 years.
According to the Spectator Index, in the last nine years, Australia’s alcohol consumption has dropped by just under 14.5 per cent.
In 2017, DrinkWise reported that 20 per cent of Australians were abstaining from alcohol completely, up from 11 per cent in 2007. Even of those who are drinkers, 63 per cent will consume no more than two standard drinks.
The choice not to drink is becoming something of a movement and brands are hopping on board, keen to provide exciting options of what to drink when you’re not drinking.
You might’ve heard of, or even tried Seedlip, which is the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirits range.
It comes in three expressions: Grove 42 (citrus), Spice 94 (aromatic) and Garden 108 (aromatic), and is best served over ice, topped with tonic and a garnish. For non-drinkers or anyone trying to be more mindful about their drinking habits, it’s a game changer.
There are many reasons why there’s a market for drinks like this, whether it be choosing wellness, wanting to drive, being more productive in work or life in general, or perhaps a cultural background or a decision you’ve made based on family history.
Mamamia spoke to seven women who are non-drinkers to find out their reasons for swearing off booze, and how they cope with people’s reactions to their decision not to drink.
Paula
“I made the decision to stop drinking two years ago and I haven’t looked back. I used to be a frequent drinker: a couple of wines at home at night to wind down throughout the week, then multiple drinks at the weekend while socialising with friends. I realised it was affecting the quality of my sleep throughout the week and on the weekends I’d be hungover and suffering with the ‘hangxiety’ that comes with that.
“When I turned 30, I decided I was tired of feeling sub-par most of the time and the fun times that came with drinking were no longer worth the suffering. Initially I planned to have a month off, but the benefits of stopping were so worthwhile I just never went back to it. My sleep, my skin and my mental clarity all improved – and I saved money. Now, I do yoga to relax in the week and when I am socialising at the weekends, I focus on having good chats with people and being present in the moment, instead of necking cocktails.”
Natalie
“I’ll usually never drink unless it’s a big occasion, like a birthday or a Christmas party. I don’t drink mainly because of the Asian flush (or the Asian glow) and the way it makes me feel. My whole body goes bright red, and my eyes go all glassy. It makes me self conscious, physically uncomfortable, and I hate the comments and questions that come along with it – stuff like ‘why does this happen to you!?’ and ‘are you sunburnt?’ and ‘do you realise you’re all red?’ I also get really hot and sleepy, so it’s just not a good time. If I want to feel any pleasant effects of alcohol I need to drink a small amount over a really long amount of time (I’m talking maybe one drink every 1.5 hours). For me it’s just not worth the fuss.”
Charlotte
“I started running about six years ago. I decided to train for a half marathon and I quickly realised hangovers and early morning long runs were not going to mix, so I put drinking on hold. After the race, I really caught the running bug and signed up for a marathon. Now running is such a huge part of my life that there just isn’t room for drinking anymore. I do lots of my runs early in the morning before work and there is no way I could do that if I’d had a couple of drinks the night before. I also want to recover well between sessions so that means lots of water and good quality sleep. I feel great and can honestly say I don’t miss it.”
Amira
"I come from a family where not drinking is not uncommon. In my younger days, alcohol was something that kids picked up to look more 'cool'. I never felt the need to do that. As I grew up I saw people start revolving their lives around it, like it's the go-to thing when they are happy and the go-to thing when they are sad. Somehow the idea of something taking a hold over you like that does not sit well with me. I have a tendency to stay away from things that kind of make you dependent on them, even if it's simple stuff like tea or coffee. So I have willingly kept booze out of my life."
Rikki
Sarah
"I stopped drinking for many reasons. First, I realised I couldn't have a healthy relationship with alcohol. I hated the hangxiety I had after a night of drinking and I wanted to spend my weekends doing more exciting things than binge drinking. It was really important for me to find out who I was without alcohol and to take my health more seriously. My experiences have been purely positive as I have a supportive group of friends and boyfriend. My friends used to think I was the party pooper and boring for not drinking, but they soon realised I am just as much fun without alcohol. And these days there seem to be tribes of people not drinking, and many more non-alcoholic drink options. Another bonus of not drinking is I've saved money as I'm not spending money on alcohol, Ubers and food (aka 24-pack of nuggets at 2am) as well. I've found myself having more energy, alertness and happiness."
Millie
"When I was in my early 20s, my mum passed away. I grieved hard. I fell into a deep depression and I decided not to drink at all because drinking can cause grief to worsen. It can also become addictive and I didn’t want to fall into a substance addiction - of any kind - to help me cope. Around my mid-20s I was also medically diagnosed with IBS. Alcohol and IBS don’t mix well. Alcohol triggers symptoms in me, it also exacerbates any current symptoms I may be experiencing. Even a sip of alcohol can trigger an IBS episode or an IBS flareup so with the two things involved - grief/depression and IBS, I made a very conscious decision to not drink alcohol. It’s a strange thing that people are questioned all the time when they refuse to drink. It would be great if it's simply accepted when someone says no to a drink."
The images used are stock images. The women in this post are known to Mamamia.
Feature image: Rikki Waller/Supplied.
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