Someone just said that they completely understand the problems involved, and so I congratulate them. All the other comments display understanding as well. I suspect that those who do not fathom the complexity simply will not read the article or respond. Let us just stop this thread and move on to the next post.
Great article! Your data about life expectancy around the world is very illuminating. I remember you once said that Spain has a healthy population because people are relaxed in Spain. Maybe instead of panicking about every last thing we’d be better by having universal healthcare and affordable housing in the US to let people live their lives in peace.
Fear is being exploited all over the place, for sure. Climate change is complicated. I think the science is pretty clear -- so I don't agree with the denialists, who I think are generally motivated by money. Reasonable people can disagree on what to do about it. And reasonable people can make the argument that the climate changes with or without human intervention. My understanding is that we're due for another ice age, and it could be that the carbon we've put into the atmosphere is actually holding that off. And then there's the argument that I shouldn't stress about it because I'll be dead anyway by the time it gets really bad.
I work with alcoholics and addicts. I too am a fan of moderation and light drinking, most people are. Unfortunately there are millions of people who lack the ability to drink moderately. To make matters worse they’re in denial about this inability and are utterly incapable of even the slightest bit of insight on the matter.
That doesn’t mean that people should be terrified by others into a life without alcohol. It does mean that if you’re one of the millions of people who have a genetic predisposition to alcoholism you should take heed.
If you were exposed to prison population in ALASKA, I’m sure you witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by generations of alcoholism.
With this in mind along with an even cursory glance at crime and suicide statistics associated with alcohol, perhaps you might consider a more nuanced approach to your critique of those who warn against the dangers of alcohol.
It’s worth mentioning that “light drinking” is the obsession of every alcoholic. So when you’re pushing back against the fear mongers who would have the audacity to deprive you of the ease and guilt free comfort you experience with your light drinking, know this; legions of drunk, poweless, hopeless problem drinkers agree with you and will destroy generations of their family and the families of their victims in an effort to somehow experience what you’re advocating for.
Thanks for taking the time to write this. I am heartened by you taking up for people who are so often judged and scorned. My partner is an alcoholic, as were his father and grandfather. So I know the truth of what you say. It's harrowing for him and for me and for anybody else who's been close to him for the last 40 years. That said, I do dig Chris Ryan's point. And I think that, in addition to the science being misrepresented, there's a puritanical streak in this culture that possibly makes addiction more likely. And there's also a need for presence-- "presence" as in immersion in the moment-- that alcohol feels like it meets. Of course, it ultimately has the exact opposite effect. And therein lies the rub. Or one of the many rubs.
Yes, well said. I've often felt that many (most?) of the addicts I've known were searching for something transcendent. They're looking for "the zone" that some of us find in music, sex, exercise, swelling bank accounts.... A search for transcendence and an escape from suffering can be the same thing.
Thanks for your comments, Chris. I get what you're saying, but I feel like you may have missed my point, which is more about twisting science for alarmist click-bait than it is about how to address addiction as a social issue. I'm advocating for truth in journalism, not any kind of dismissal of the realities of addiction. Whatever the realities of the populations you work with, telling people that even light drinking causes a 30% increase in esophageal cancer is simply false -- according to the research they cited. (Except for Asians.)
I’ve been noticing these articles but thankfully, they were mostly behind a paywall. I do want to drink less but mostly so I’m not the slight bit hung over the next day. I tend to fall into the trap of having a couple of drinks and feeling great so I have a couple more and think that I’ll be fine. I don’t usually feel horrible the next day but definetly not 100% in the balance of things, a couple hours of feeling loose and good isn’t usually worth a day of feeling slightly to moderately off.
Chris, this is a small masterpiece of critical thinking and knowledge of semantics. Most people who read that article do not have the background to fathom the probldms involved.
Great article Chris. There has to be a happy medium though. Growing up in Australia people considered alcohol completely harmless & would even reel back at the suggestion that it was a drug, which obviously it is. Moderation is the key but we can't ignore that alcohol is potentially toxic to every organ in the body. Unlike some other traditionally demonized recreational drugs that will get you life in prison in some countries that are comparitively harmless.
Absolutely, light to moderate drinking would surely avoid any alcohol related health issues caused by overindulgence. They used to say one drink of wine a day was actually good for you. It's hard to keep up with all the 'research'.
I'll never forget a documentary that aired on ABC Australia in 1990 called 'The Devil you Know' made by multiple medical professionals that directly compared Acohol & Heroin. It concluded that Alcohol was considerably worse for a human body than Heroin & that as I previously stated was potentially toxic to every organ in the body.
The day after it aired the ABC switchboard lit up like a Christmas tree & the Aussie public were outraged that they would claim such 'rubbish'. They demanded it never air again & in spite of ABC being known to repeat shows ad nauseam, that show has NEVER seen the light of day since 1990. This is the only official reference to it I can find online https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/the-devil-you-know-1990/1043/
Excellent! It seems fear is the major emotion being used now. Let’s be afraid of fricken everything! How about moderation and common sense that our ancestors had? I’m still having wine with my meal like most do in Europe.
I had to grab my laptop so I could comment on this, after reading it on my phone via email newsletter. I just want to say Thank You. This is exactly the reality check I needed after a few months of feeling bombarded with constant bad news and fear mongering. We're so tired of the firehouse of all this anxiety-inducing clickbait. Thanks Chris. You always bring us back down to earth.
Interesting breakdown! As I started reading I wondered “has Chris watched ‘Don’t Die’?” I’m sure you’d have loads to say. Not sure if I can bring myself to watch it yet as the guy seems like a terminal douche
I worked up close in medical settings for the better part of 30 years, and it is a bizarre subculture, only loosely related to normal everyday humans. I've thought long about the reasons for this, but can at least relate that there is a trend toward outright black and white judgmentalism among many practitioners, along with a blithe disregard for any but the most conventional beliefs and practices. There is so much you more to say- haven't even touched on the corruption induced by Big Sugar, Big Pharma, and economic incentives powering misinformation as unquestionable dogma!
Yeah, I worked in hospitals for years. Of course, they see the extreme examples of things going wrong. Don't try to tell an ER nurse that motorcycles are ok! What they see is real as fuck, but it's not statistically representative.
Someone just said that they completely understand the problems involved, and so I congratulate them. All the other comments display understanding as well. I suspect that those who do not fathom the complexity simply will not read the article or respond. Let us just stop this thread and move on to the next post.
Wait a right wing newspaper misrepresenting the surgeon general report and science??!!!! This is outrageous, when did this start happening?
Great article! Your data about life expectancy around the world is very illuminating. I remember you once said that Spain has a healthy population because people are relaxed in Spain. Maybe instead of panicking about every last thing we’d be better by having universal healthcare and affordable housing in the US to let people live their lives in peace.
What are you, some kind of communist?
Here’s hoping
Hi Chris - why should not this concept apply to climate issues? Don’t you think that climate change anxiety is being exploited by other fear traders?
Fear is being exploited all over the place, for sure. Climate change is complicated. I think the science is pretty clear -- so I don't agree with the denialists, who I think are generally motivated by money. Reasonable people can disagree on what to do about it. And reasonable people can make the argument that the climate changes with or without human intervention. My understanding is that we're due for another ice age, and it could be that the carbon we've put into the atmosphere is actually holding that off. And then there's the argument that I shouldn't stress about it because I'll be dead anyway by the time it gets really bad.
Excellent post, Chris. I am tired of the fear-mongering over my pint. Cheers!
I work with alcoholics and addicts. I too am a fan of moderation and light drinking, most people are. Unfortunately there are millions of people who lack the ability to drink moderately. To make matters worse they’re in denial about this inability and are utterly incapable of even the slightest bit of insight on the matter.
That doesn’t mean that people should be terrified by others into a life without alcohol. It does mean that if you’re one of the millions of people who have a genetic predisposition to alcoholism you should take heed.
If you were exposed to prison population in ALASKA, I’m sure you witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by generations of alcoholism.
With this in mind along with an even cursory glance at crime and suicide statistics associated with alcohol, perhaps you might consider a more nuanced approach to your critique of those who warn against the dangers of alcohol.
It’s worth mentioning that “light drinking” is the obsession of every alcoholic. So when you’re pushing back against the fear mongers who would have the audacity to deprive you of the ease and guilt free comfort you experience with your light drinking, know this; legions of drunk, poweless, hopeless problem drinkers agree with you and will destroy generations of their family and the families of their victims in an effort to somehow experience what you’re advocating for.
Thanks for taking the time to write this. I am heartened by you taking up for people who are so often judged and scorned. My partner is an alcoholic, as were his father and grandfather. So I know the truth of what you say. It's harrowing for him and for me and for anybody else who's been close to him for the last 40 years. That said, I do dig Chris Ryan's point. And I think that, in addition to the science being misrepresented, there's a puritanical streak in this culture that possibly makes addiction more likely. And there's also a need for presence-- "presence" as in immersion in the moment-- that alcohol feels like it meets. Of course, it ultimately has the exact opposite effect. And therein lies the rub. Or one of the many rubs.
Yes, well said. I've often felt that many (most?) of the addicts I've known were searching for something transcendent. They're looking for "the zone" that some of us find in music, sex, exercise, swelling bank accounts.... A search for transcendence and an escape from suffering can be the same thing.
Thanks for your comments, Chris. I get what you're saying, but I feel like you may have missed my point, which is more about twisting science for alarmist click-bait than it is about how to address addiction as a social issue. I'm advocating for truth in journalism, not any kind of dismissal of the realities of addiction. Whatever the realities of the populations you work with, telling people that even light drinking causes a 30% increase in esophageal cancer is simply false -- according to the research they cited. (Except for Asians.)
I’ve been noticing these articles but thankfully, they were mostly behind a paywall. I do want to drink less but mostly so I’m not the slight bit hung over the next day. I tend to fall into the trap of having a couple of drinks and feeling great so I have a couple more and think that I’ll be fine. I don’t usually feel horrible the next day but definetly not 100% in the balance of things, a couple hours of feeling loose and good isn’t usually worth a day of feeling slightly to moderately off.
Now there is a boom in non-alcoholic drnks being served at bars. So someone is profiting from this simplistic news report.
Chris, this is a small masterpiece of critical thinking and knowledge of semantics. Most people who read that article do not have the background to fathom the probldms involved.
I’m a huge fan Mr. Krippner!
Great article Chris. There has to be a happy medium though. Growing up in Australia people considered alcohol completely harmless & would even reel back at the suggestion that it was a drug, which obviously it is. Moderation is the key but we can't ignore that alcohol is potentially toxic to every organ in the body. Unlike some other traditionally demonized recreational drugs that will get you life in prison in some countries that are comparitively harmless.
Agreed. The happy medium would be light to moderate drinking, no?
Absolutely, light to moderate drinking would surely avoid any alcohol related health issues caused by overindulgence. They used to say one drink of wine a day was actually good for you. It's hard to keep up with all the 'research'.
I'll never forget a documentary that aired on ABC Australia in 1990 called 'The Devil you Know' made by multiple medical professionals that directly compared Acohol & Heroin. It concluded that Alcohol was considerably worse for a human body than Heroin & that as I previously stated was potentially toxic to every organ in the body.
The day after it aired the ABC switchboard lit up like a Christmas tree & the Aussie public were outraged that they would claim such 'rubbish'. They demanded it never air again & in spite of ABC being known to repeat shows ad nauseam, that show has NEVER seen the light of day since 1990. This is the only official reference to it I can find online https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/the-devil-you-know-1990/1043/
you can't take away my m&m's AND my malbec.....come on!! cheers to more common sense in 2025!!!
Excellent! It seems fear is the major emotion being used now. Let’s be afraid of fricken everything! How about moderation and common sense that our ancestors had? I’m still having wine with my meal like most do in Europe.
Amen. Now apply that same type of perspective to the fatphobia, fat-shaming, and concern trolling that runs amok. (Not from you, just in general.)
I had to grab my laptop so I could comment on this, after reading it on my phone via email newsletter. I just want to say Thank You. This is exactly the reality check I needed after a few months of feeling bombarded with constant bad news and fear mongering. We're so tired of the firehouse of all this anxiety-inducing clickbait. Thanks Chris. You always bring us back down to earth.
Interesting breakdown! As I started reading I wondered “has Chris watched ‘Don’t Die’?” I’m sure you’d have loads to say. Not sure if I can bring myself to watch it yet as the guy seems like a terminal douche
Haven't seen it, but not into terminal douches.
I worked up close in medical settings for the better part of 30 years, and it is a bizarre subculture, only loosely related to normal everyday humans. I've thought long about the reasons for this, but can at least relate that there is a trend toward outright black and white judgmentalism among many practitioners, along with a blithe disregard for any but the most conventional beliefs and practices. There is so much you more to say- haven't even touched on the corruption induced by Big Sugar, Big Pharma, and economic incentives powering misinformation as unquestionable dogma!
Yeah, I worked in hospitals for years. Of course, they see the extreme examples of things going wrong. Don't try to tell an ER nurse that motorcycles are ok! What they see is real as fuck, but it's not statistically representative.