What is driving the current “anti alcohol” rhetoric online

[Zellephant]

It seems as if being an “anti alcohol” influencer has become very popular lately - and at least for me, my algorithm seems to like recommending their content to me.

It’s also not being driven by the typical hyper religious Quaker types or Islamists etc - it seems to be coming from normal, everyday folk.

I recently saw an article talking about the billions of dollars the global liquor industry is losing because people are consuming so much less alcohol etc.

Now, to me, this all seems a bit odd. I never trust someone who is a teetotaller without a very good reason. People who claim they don’t touch alcohol because they simply don’t like it or see the point, in my experience are always hiding some other serious issues.

Beer and wine, ciders, mead, whiskey, grappa, gin etc have played such an important cultural role across societies for decades. There are real physical and mental health benefits to responsible alcohol consumption and always have been. Sure, in the same breath, abusing alcohol has always had negative impacts. But overwhelmingly, people who drink, do so responsibly. The majority of people who drink wine at home, or go to the pub with their mates for the game aren’t degenerates.

So, what is up with this cringy social media craze of promoting how much better your life is without alcohol. It seems so fake, and lame - and it’s also hard to believe their is any real commercial interest that would be interested in driving content creators towards this.

 

[saor]

I'll join you in the tidepod hate but to rag on a trend that's popularising the disdain of a drug that's ruined more families than Huisgenoot is an odd battle to pick.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

It seems as if being an “anti alcohol” influencer has become very popular lately - and at least for me, my algorithm seems to like recommending their content to me.

It’s also not being driven by the typical hyper religious Quaker types or Islamists etc - it seems to be coming from normal, everyday folk.

I recently saw an article talking about the billions of dollars the global liquor industry is losing because people are consuming so much less alcohol etc.

Now, to me, this all seems a bit odd. I never trust someone who is a teetotaller without a very good reason. People who claim they don’t touch alcohol because they simply don’t like it or see the point, in my experience are always hiding some other serious issues.

Beer and wine, ciders, mead, whiskey, grappa, gin etc have played such an important cultural role across societies for decades. There are real physical and mental health benefits to responsible alcohol consumption and always have been. Sure, in the same breath, abusing alcohol has always had negative impacts. But overwhelmingly, people who drink, do so responsibly. The majority of people who drink wine at home, or go to the pub with their mates for the game aren’t degenerates.

So, what is up with this cringy social media craze of promoting how much better your life is without alcohol. It seems so fake, and lame - and it’s also hard to believe their is any real commercial interest that would be interested in driving content creators towards this.

Serious question as it is relevant. Are you theist or atheist ?

 

[airborne]

Who cares?

 

[Herr der Verboten]

It seems as if being an “anti alcohol” influencer has become very popular lately - and at least for me, my algorithm seems to like recommending their content to me.

It’s also not being driven by the typical hyper religious Quaker types or Islamists etc - it seems to be coming from normal, everyday folk.

I recently saw an article talking about the billions of dollars the global liquor industry is losing because people are consuming so much less alcohol etc.

Now, to me, this all seems a bit odd. I never trust someone who is a teetotaller without a very good reason. People who claim they don’t touch alcohol because they simply don’t like it or see the point, in my experience are always hiding some other serious issues.

Beer and wine, ciders, mead, whiskey, grappa, gin etc have played such an important cultural role across societies for decades. There are real physical and mental health benefits to responsible alcohol consumption and always have been. Sure, in the same breath, abusing alcohol has always had negative impacts. But overwhelmingly, people who drink, do so responsibly. The majority of people who drink wine at home, or go to the pub with their mates for the game aren’t degenerates.

So, what is up with this cringy social media craze of promoting how much better your life is without alcohol. It seems so fake, and lame - and it’s also hard to believe their is any real commercial interest that would be interested in driving content creators towards this.

Like ****ers who goes…

Better than pizza

or

Sitting is killing you

 

[Herr der Verboten]

Who cares?

Die **** wat op die draad klik
wat ietsie uit tik
druk op pos?

Got laugh at these 2 bit morons. If you really didn't care, you won't share. But my opinion that I don't care matter so hard I can't control my right hand.

/facepalm

 

[Zellephant]

Serious question as it is relevant. Are you theist or atheist ?

Theist through and through… and my bible even tells me in the book of proverbs:

“Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.”

I don’t really see how it’s relevant to my question.

Like ****ers who goes…

Better than pizza

or

Sitting is killing you

They are legitimately annoying sure - but to be fair, the amount of time the average person spends being sedentary these days is a real health concern. Far more than a some wine with a meal or a decent scotch

 

[warrenpridgeon]

Now, to me, this all seems a bit odd. I never trust someone who is a teetotaller without a very good reason. People who claim they don’t touch alcohol because they simply don’t like it or see the point, in my experience are always hiding some other serious issues.

I hit the sauce during varsity. But now I just kinda don't really drink. From time to time I'll have a beer at a braai or a brandy and coke or a cocktail. My alcohol consumption is measured in months per unit. lol.

Sitting is killing you

It tried killing me. lol. My blood work was a mess.

P.s are you still looking for a RSA drivers license decrypt sdk?

 

[Zellephant]

I'll join you in the tidepod hate but to rag on a trend that's popularising the disdain of a drug that's ruined more families than Huisgenoot is an odd battle to pick.

100% Gaurantee you that there were underlying issues in every single one of those families. Booze might have brought them to the surface - but if it wasn’t booze, it would have been something else.

For every degenerate alcoholic, there’s literally thousands of families enjoying a Bottle of wine over dinner tonight with zero issues. I am not trying to be hardheaded, I understand the issues - we have dealt with addiction within my own family as well.

But I’m more talking along the lines of people like the Dairy of a CEO podcast guy that with a straight face recently said he had one glass of wine at a party, and it ruined his health and sleep metrics for a week. Or all the influencers ragging on about how they don’t need wine to enjoy a dinner and crap - like yeah, sure, you don’t need it, but it sure as hell can improve it.

 

[Zellephant]

I hit the sauce during varsity. But now I just kinda don't really drink. From time to time I'll have a beer at a braai or a brandy and coke or a cocktail. My alcohol consumption is measured in months per unit. lol.

That’s fine. I’m sure you aren’t going around telling people (who aren’t alcoholics), that a bit of beer and wine is ruining their lives, and how much happier they could be if they cut it out.

You, just like a lot of other people, seem to have a perfectly healthy relationship with alcohol.

My wife is kinda in your boat. Me on the other hand, probably qualify as an alcoholic by many people’s definition - I don’t “need” alcohol, but I definately have a preference for having it rather than not. It’s part of my culture, it’s somewhat of a hobby, it’s an integral part of my other hobby (cooking). My life would definately be poorer if I cut out all alcohol from it. I drink wine pretty much every day, except for when I’m racing.

But my bills are paid, my family is cared for, my health is as good as it’s ever been. Not making wine

 

[vigras rojara]

100% Gaurantee you that there were underlying issues in every single one of those families. Booze might have brought them to the surface - but if it wasn’t booze, it would have been something else.

For every degenerate alcoholic, there’s literally thousands of families enjoying a Bottle of wine over dinner tonight with zero issues. I am not trying to be hardheaded, I understand the issues - we have dealt with addiction within my own family as well.

But I’m more talking along the lines of people like the Dairy of a CEO podcast guy that with a straight face recently said he had one glass of wine at a party, and it ruined his health and sleep metrics for a week. Or all the influencers ragging on about how they don’t need wine to enjoy a dinner and crap - like yeah, sure, you don’t need it, but it sure as hell can improve it.

Well if he's the "Dairy of a CEO" guy, he probably prefers a glass of milk...

Seriously though, I think it's mostly that younger people are drinking less these days. Certainly if I look at how my peer group and I used to get plastered all the time at uni and young adulthood, my kids' peer group seem nowhere close.

 

[warrenpridgeon]

Dairy of a CEO podcast guy

This guy is basically a ragebait/sensationalist champ now. His stuff started out interesting but now... meh.

Seriously though, I think it's mostly that younger people are drinking less these days. Certainly if I look at how my peer group and I used to get plastered all the time at uni and young adulthood, my kids' peer group seem nowhere close.

I wonder how much of it is younger generations trying to "prove" they aren't complete degenerates like the shitfluencers (Togi, Adin Ross, Neon etc). So they go "polar opposite"?

 

[Zellephant]

Well if he's the "Dairy of a CEO" guy, he probably prefers a glass of milk...

Seriously though, I think it's mostly that younger people are drinking less these days. Certainly if I look at how my peer group and I used to get plastered all the time at uni and young adulthood, my kids' peer group seem nowhere close.

This is definitely a big part of it - but it’s not accidental, it’s being driven by something, and that’s what I am trying to figure out. The why of it all.

Interestingly, if they do drink, it’s also very different stuff they are drinking. Stuff with funky colourful labels, and made with a **** ton of sugar, cheaply. The ones that do drink, aren’t drinking beer, wine or whiskey, and it’s not just the girls, the boys are into the “chick drinks” too, if they do drink at all.

Yet, at the same time as this “health craze” has them all giving up booze - vaping all kinds of weird stuff is exploding, which is a weird one.

But that said, the problem with the “youth of today” not really partying, is they also aren’t doing a a lot of other stuff. Like dancing, and having sex, or taking any real risks. They seem to be “maturing” in those aspects way too early, like even before their prefrontal cortexes have developed - but that also means less entrepreneurs, less creative thinking, a lot less of a lot of actually pretty important stuff. The kids are way too serious —— but we are probably getting off topic a bit

 

[vigras rojara]

This guy is basically a ragebait/sensationalist champ now. His stuff started out interesting but now... meh.


I wonder how much of it is younger generations trying to "prove" they aren't complete degenerates like the shitfluencers (Togi, Adin Ross, Neon etc). So they go "polar opposite"?

That's that Steven Bartlett chap I assume? Always thought he was a bit shallow.

I'm not sure what's driving it, or whether it's mostly anecdotal. But certainly in the UK at least pub culture is down and those that you see sitting there having a pint aren't the youngsters.

 

[HermeticAnarchist]

Maybe it's astroturfing.

 

[Zellephant]

This guy is basically a ragebait/sensationalist champ now. His stuff started out interesting but now... meh.

Yeah. I also used to find him somewhat interesting in his early days. But sort of lost interest as he got less interesting.

The one or two Dragons Den episodes I saw with him on, he also grated my cheese in a big way…. I kinda wondered if he was there as some sort of joke, because he seemed way out of his depth.

I wonder how much of it is younger generations trying to "prove" they aren't complete degenerates like the shitfluencers (Togi, Adin Ross, Neon etc). So they go "polar opposite"?

Also wonder if it isn’t a little bit about how the entire system has changed, where school gets super serious from Grade R already it seems - and everything is made safe all the time - and then on top of that, they have everything always being out of record and shared with the world on social media. That must be a lot of pressure that can’t be healthy for a young adult.

There’s definitely a lot of epic, foundational memories I have, that would never have happened if we thought it would end up online for the world to see - and I don’t mean “bad” or dark stuff, just same teenage/adolescent silliness -that could easily be taken out of context and turned against you.

That's that Steven Bartlett chap I assume? Always thought he was a bit shallow.

Yeah - him. Even his podcast name is proper pretentious. The only company he was ever CEO of is ones he started. I mean technically, on paper, I am also a CEO - but I would never title myself that - unless of course I do somehow end up appointed CEO of some publicly traded massive multinational or bank or something (which also won’t ever happen).

I'm not sure what's driving it, or whether it's mostly anecdotal. But certainly in the UK at least pub culture is down and those that you see sitting there having a pint aren't the youngsters.

It’s not just anecdotal, or just in the UK. It’s a very real issue in South Africa also, even in student towns like ours.

And it’s a big enough deal that mainstream financial media houses are reporting on it.

The Alcohol Industry Lost $830 Billion In the Last 4 Years, Thanks Largely to Gen Z - RELEVANT

The alcohol industry has survived just about everything: Prohibition. Wars. Recessions. The invention of Four Loko. What it’s struggling to survive right

relevantmagazine.com

Maybe it's astroturfing.

Hey - I played hockey in varsity - Astroturf was responsible for a lot of my hangovers in those years

But yeah, I know what you meant

 

[vigras rojara]

Yeah. I also used to find him somewhat interesting in his early days. But sort of lost interest as he got less interesting.

The one or two Dragons Den episodes I saw with him on, he also grated my cheese in a big way…. I kinda wondered if he was there as some sort of joke, because he seemed way out of his depth.

Also wonder if it isn’t a little bit about how the entire system has changed, where school gets super serious from Grade R already it seems - and everything is made safe all the time - and then on top of that, they have everything always being out of record and shared with the world on social media. That must be a lot of pressure that can’t be healthy for a young adult.

There’s definitely a lot of epic, foundational memories I have, that would never have happened if we thought it would end up online for the world to see - and I don’t mean “bad” or dark stuff, just same teenage/adolescent silliness -that could easily be taken out of context and turned against you.


Yeah - him. Even his podcast name is proper pretentious. The only company he was ever CEO of is ones he started. I mean technically, on paper, I am also a CEO - but I would never title myself that - unless of course I do somehow end up appointed CEO of some publicly traded massive multinational or bank or something (which also won’t ever happen).

It’s not just anecdotal, or just in the UK. It’s a very real issue in South Africa also, even in student towns like ours.

And it’s a big enough deal that mainstream financial media houses are reporting on it.

The Alcohol Industry Lost $830 Billion In the Last 4 Years, Thanks Largely to Gen Z - RELEVANT

The alcohol industry has survived just about everything: Prohibition. Wars. Recessions. The invention of Four Loko. What it’s struggling to survive right

relevantmagazine.com

Hey - I played hockey in varsity - Astroturf was responsible for a lot of my hangovers in those years

But yeah, I know what you meant

Yeah, there are loads of people on social media who are more famous for being "influencers" than anything else and yet ridiculously they still have huge followings...

This is an interesting topic though - very interested in people's thoughts on it.

 

[airborne]

Die **** wat op die draad klik
wat ietsie uit tik
druk op pos?

Got laugh at these 2 bit morons. If you really didn't care, you won't share. But my opinion that I don't care matter so hard I can't control my right hand.

/facepalm

Lol, says the same d00s who posts useless trash all over the forum.
Calm down fool.

Less alcohol consumption is a great thing, alcohol is extremely detrimental to society
Maybe in a more sane society everyone who would have drunk alcohol will smoke weed.
Or hows about not needing to use any substance to relax and connect with others, what revolutionary idea

 

[Cray]

It seems as if being an “anti alcohol” influencer has become very popular lately - and at least for me, my algorithm seems to like recommending their content to me.

It’s also not being driven by the typical hyper religious Quaker types or Islamists etc - it seems to be coming from normal, everyday folk.

I recently saw an article talking about the billions of dollars the global liquor industry is losing because people are consuming so much less alcohol etc.

Now, to me, this all seems a bit odd. I never trust someone who is a teetotaller without a very good reason. People who claim they don’t touch alcohol because they simply don’t like it or see the point, in my experience are always hiding some other serious issues.

Beer and wine, ciders, mead, whiskey, grappa, gin etc have played such an important cultural role across societies for decades. There are real physical and mental health benefits to responsible alcohol consumption and always have been. Sure, in the same breath, abusing alcohol has always had negative impacts. But overwhelmingly, people who drink, do so responsibly. The majority of people who drink wine at home, or go to the pub with their mates for the game aren’t degenerates.

So, what is up with this cringy social media craze of promoting how much better your life is without alcohol. It seems so fake, and lame - and it’s also hard to believe their is any real commercial interest that would be interested in driving content creators towards this.

From someone who loves beer and whiskey, you are way too invested in judging other people's life choices.

 

[supersunbird]

It seems as if being an “anti alcohol” influencer has become very popular lately - and at least for me, my algorithm seems to like recommending their content to me.

It’s also not being driven by the typical hyper religious Quaker types or Islamists etc - it seems to be coming from normal, everyday folk.

I recently saw an article talking about the billions of dollars the global liquor industry is losing because people are consuming so much less alcohol etc.

Now, to me, this all seems a bit odd. I never trust someone who is a teetotaller without a very good reason. People who claim they don’t touch alcohol because they simply don’t like it or see the point, in my experience are always hiding some other serious issues.

Beer and wine, ciders, mead, whiskey, grappa, gin etc have played such an important cultural role across societies for decades. There are real physical and mental health benefits to responsible alcohol consumption and always have been. Sure, in the same breath, abusing alcohol has always had negative impacts. But overwhelmingly, people who drink, do so responsibly. The majority of people who drink wine at home, or go to the pub with their mates for the game aren’t degenerates.

So, what is up with this cringy social media craze of promoting how much better your life is without alcohol. It seems so fake, and lame - and it’s also hard to believe their is any real commercial interest that would be interested in driving content creators towards this.

What about it being too expensive? Bars and similar are taking the mickey. Even at the liquor stores pricing is OK but not great, R100+ for a six pack.