The Effects of Happy Hour Culture on Your Well-Being
“Happy Hour” refers to the discounted drink prices some establishments provide to customers during the evening. Happy Hour usually begins at 5:00 – the end of the work day. Attending “Happy Hour” to relieve work-day stress, school pressures, relationship troubles, or financial worries can become a habitual coping mechanism, rather than an opportunity to unwind from the day.
Impact On Life
Beginning at a young age, many social settings encourage alcohol consumption, creating the belief that people are more interesting and engaging when they have over-consumed. For many, this habit of social drinking has become a large part of daily life, with short- and long-term physical and mental health effects appearing soon after. Some may even begin to doubt themselves and become masked by substance.
“Come on, stay for another drink”. It is heard time and time again. Whether it’s influence from an inner voice or outside pressures, drinking can begin to take priority over other aspects in life. Just like that – schedules seem to revolve around drinking and nothing else matters. In reality, friendships are tarnished and jobs are either lost or receive less effort.
As someone becomes dependent on alcohol, they may develop issues with anger, causing tension between themselves and those they love, cracking the strong foundation these relationships were built upon.
Make A Change For National Alcohol Screening Day
It can be hard to break a routine. Habits are familiar comforts, and altering a routine may feel different and out of place. For those who prioritize times to drink, changing the routine may seem daunting. However, remaining in a cycle of unhealthy habits can do more harm than good. In order to break away from a habit you would like to change, take some time to think about how often you engage in this behavior, and how much you rely on it. How does the behavior impact your life?
National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD) is April 6, 2017.
NASD is an outreach, education, and screening initiative that raises awareness about harmful and dependent drinking behaviors and connects individuals who are at risk with treatment options. If someone is concerned about their drinking habits, encourage them to take an anonymous screening at howdoyouscore.org. The screenings consist of a few questions designed to determine if an individual has symptoms consistent with alcohol use disorder. Once completed, the screening provides you with valuable feedback, resources, and contact information for local treatment.