Women and Alcohol:New York Magazine Article

[beckett]

A link to a sort of interesting article about women and drinking, focusing on the change in women's drinking patterns and behaviors.

I also think it is a perfect example of how/why we need to change the idea of what alcohol is and does. This article clearly harps on the idea that sobriety is the opposite of fun; many of us here know that to not be true.

And why in the world do they not have quotes from people saying, "I was miserible, hopeless, desparate and paranoid when I drank. Sober, I am happy relaxed and confident." We know they could find folks to say it- why are people so afraid to hear it?

http://nymag.com/news/features/52758/?f=most-commented-24h-10

[Sandrea of the light]

This article almost makes it look like alcoholics do well, and get promoted. I was a very functional alcoholic, work ethics, juggling a million things, and then it catches up with you and all goes to hell. Sandrea

[Rogue]

WOW.

I have to say I *really* resonate with aspects of this article, even if the women they describe tend to be pretty young (ironically, I feel more social pressure the more successful--and older I become). Being willing to drink "with the boys" in a male-dominated or high-powered work place is part of the price of admission...it *does* balance out the "bitch factor" ....and more. Leaving out the downsides probably reflects the authors' own ambivalence about drinking. It must be a tough decision not to drink at all as a reporter, where the culture really encourages drinking as a bonding activity.

What are the alternative activities can we engage in that would accomplish the same goals?