Why do they drink alcohol in Latvia? And why are there those who don’t drink a drop?

Not drinking alcohol is almost like radicalism

Despite the fact that Latvia is currently considered the leader in alcohol consumption in the world, in practice it is clear that in certain groups of society the role of strong drinks is decreasing. Those who never exceed the legal limit of alcohol are residents with high incomes and higher education (43%), people leading a generally healthy lifestyle (44%), women (46%) and older people over 65 years of age (47%) , according to data from the eighth annual Health Index study.

“With the change of generations, there is an increasingly noticeable trend towards an increase in the number of people who rarely drink soft drinks or do not drink them at all, especially among young people. Moreover, this is done not so much because of health restrictions and out of necessity, but because this group has a different outlook on life, self-confidence and the courage to be different, to change the usual. However, the personal choices of this minority are comparable to radicalism, since they are often forced to “go against the grain” and overcome habits and traditions. For this reason, teetotalers sometimes try in various ways to hide and disguise this, although the opposite is necessary – publicity is needed so that refusal to drink alcohol becomes the norm in society. I’m glad that this is gradually changing – both loved ones, celebrities, and opinion leaders on social networks are starting to talk about this more openly and not hide their choice, thereby inspiring others,” says narcologist, CBT therapist Ilze Maxima.

Do you really need to make excuses?

“Alcohol is often credited with promoting socialization and has historically been an integral part of various holidays and get-togethers. A teetotaler may often be faced with questions about whether he is driving, whether he is pregnant, whether he is taking medication, and with exhortations to drink “to the health of the hero of the day.” However, this trend is changing more and more clearly – people value time spent together without drinking alcohol, and it does not matter what is in the glass – beer, water or a cocktail of birch sap. In addition, more and more manufacturers are offering non-alcoholic versions of popular drinks that are almost identical in taste, but without alcohol content, and are a good alternative to alcoholic drinks,” adds Apotheka certified pharmacist Alina Fleismane.

As experts admit, there is no specific formula for reducing social pressure, but it is recommended to practice this habit as often as possible – this way people around you will increasingly perceive it as the norm and pay less attention to it. Also, when preparing for the holidays, it is important to take care of your festive mood – what and how to refresh yourself. This doesn’t mean spending the holidays drinking only water; you can also choose an aesthetic design for non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy the process – beautiful glasses, non-alcoholic cocktails, drinks with different flavors and ingredients – from ice cubes to pieces of fruit, mint, and other herbs and even slices of rhubarb or cucumber.

It is a mistake to believe that there is a safe dose of alcohol

“Contrary to previously accepted knowledge, modern research confirms that there is no safe dose of alcohol. Any amount of alcohol is carcinogenic and harms the body, affecting all organ systems down to the cell nuclei. When you give up alcohol, the body is protected from the load caused by intoxication, the functioning of organs is not harmed, and there is no negative effect on cells and their genetic code. At the everyday level, the body functions more smoothly, every minute of the day can be used more efficiently, and all the body’s resources, including cognitive, concentration and memory, metabolism and sleep cycles return to normal,” emphasizes the benefits of reducing alcohol consumption, narcologist Ilze Maxima .