Why I Never Compare Drugs To Alcohol
Comparing alcohol to other drugs isn’t helpful, and it’s not fair.
Alcohol is different. It’s legal, expected, encouraged, but most importantly, there is a non-use problem ~ we’re judged for not taking it.
If you stopped using cocaine, society wouldn’t pressure you to use it. No one would say “but why?” But with alcohol, we’re often made to feel like we’re doing something wrong for saying “no”.
Most people aren’t high risk / dependent with alcohol, but feel stuck in patterns that don’t serve them ~ often because of social pressure.
Stopping drinking for me was a lifestyle upgrade. I didn’t need a stick ~ I needed a carrot. I quit because of hangovers. My body kept reminding me alcohol wasn’t worth it, and the only reason I didn’t stop sooner was because of stigma.
That’s why at Arclett, we never focus on what we’re giving up. We only focus on what we’re gaining, and compare alcohol-free living to going to the gym, less screen time, or eating healthier.
I believe when we remind people that weekend mornings can look attractive, like a sunrise hike, and not a hangover ~ we’re inviting possibility, not pressure.
That’s why we’re making an alcohol-free life visible, attractive, and normal ~ so people aren’t judged if they want to cut back or stop.
We’re not anti-alcohol, we don’t highlight the risks, or use scare tactics. We just show what’s possible ~ not what’s problematic.
Because the issue with alcohol isn’t just use. It’s non-use.
No other drug in the world has a non-use problem.
Our work isn’t just changing behaviour. It’s changing perception. Because I see many organisations tackling alcohol use ~ but very few tackling non-use.
Prevention starts with normalising non-use. Because when people feel safe and empowered to say no without judgement, pressure, or having to explain 'why' ~ they’re far less likely to slip into patterns they later want to change.
In 2025, people don't need a warning. They need permission.
If we fix the non-use problem, we can prevent misuse, before it starts.
