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beardown@lemm.ee ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

There’s a loneliness epidemic and low alcohol consumption rates are a contributor to that

Getting drunk and then talking to a bunch of people you don’t know is how people meet people. That’s an essential and long running aspect of human socialization.

If you regularly talk to new people and make friends in other ways then that’s fine. But clearly the majority of Lemmy/Reddit users aren’t doing that. And young people in general aren’t doing it either. Meeting strangers irl and chatting them up is how you make friends and alcohol facilitates that

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InternetPerson@lemmings.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

There’s a loneliness epidemic and low alcohol consumption rates are a contributor to that

Are they? Sincere question, haven’t read a report or something like that on that topic.

Regarding the remaining part, I understand how you see that. Seems logical. However, I would claim that this is more of a problem in societies mindset itself and less one tied to alcohol consumption. If people are raised in a way that they learn how alcohol is necessary, and don’t learn other ways, if it’s even incorporated in the particular culture of a society, then it’s not surprising that those people have a hard time finding new friends.
There are plenty of counter examples, e.g., look at other cultures where alcohol is even forbidden or at least its consumption clearly discouraged. Even in western cultures there are plenty of people who found and prefer other ways. But sure, may of course not be the majority yet.

Regarding a loneliless epidemic, I guess there is also a lot more to it than alcohol consumption alone. For example I have picked up on smartphone usage / social media consumption as related on that. (Which is a very superficial statement now, I haven’t read up on that.)

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- beardown@lemm.ee ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I really don’t understand this site’s/reddit’s fear of alcohol. Moderate drinking is not a problem. And it does assist with socializing, which seems like it would be beneficial for most people on here.
  
  The idea that people here are afraid of/resistant to drinking, yet will use cannabis and other materials seems very strange. Just go to the bar and meet some people - it’s fun and it won’t hurt you. Alcoholism is obviously an issue, but alcoholism isn’t caused by moderate drinking. Just don’t be an idiot and you don’t have anything to worry about
  
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  - InternetPerson@lemmings.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    
    Moderate drinking is not a problem.
    
    From a health perspective, it certainly is.
    No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.
    
    And it does assist with socializing
    
    Which is a cultural thing. If people grow up seeing how alcohol is a social catalysator, they don’t learn that it’s perfectly possible to socialize without alcohol.
    
    which seems like it would be beneficial for most people on here.
    
    Idk, if that comes from a well-meant place, but it sounds kinda condescending.
    
    The idea that people here are afraid of/resistant to drinking, yet will use cannabis and other materials seems very strange.
    
    There are not just two kinds of people. From my experience those, who use cannabis or other drugs, are inclined towards alcohol use as well.
    
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