Don’t go it alone this Christmas
The festive season is under way, and we’re wading through the booziest time of the year. Office parties, end of year drinks, banquets and big nights out see liquor sales skyrocket over the Christmas and New Year period. For me, December means one thing — rum balls. Made strong with real rum, not essence. It’s never Christmas without them.
The holidays bring with them mixed emotions — joy, nostalgia, grief, stress and sadness. Financially, it’s rough going, especially for those on low or no income. Socially, it can be taxing, too. Dealing with the rellies and other people’s expectations can be hard. It’s the loneliest time of the year for a lot of people. The whole period can serve up a face-smacking reminder of one’s own sense of isolation.
Some people are home-bound, with limited mobility or chronic ill-health, and others are in hospital. There are members of our community — they may even live on your street — who don’t have anyone to spend time with. Do you know them? It’s worth reaching out. And once again, many West Aussies are separated from loved ones, and some are in quarantine due to pandemic-related border controls— reunions can’t come soon enough.
However, if you’re battling mental health, alcohol and other drug issues, the silly season can be a real beast. Staying sober is a struggle, and when the world is partying around you, sobriety is all that much harder.
The long-term trend of declining liquor consumption in Australia was upended with the onset of the pandemic. We are now consuming more alcohol than in the previous 15 years. About 70 per cent of adults drink alcohol in a month, with sales increasing for ready-made mixed drinks, wine and spirits.
Despite the bad rap younger generations tend to receive, the health and socially conscious gen Zs are fast becoming the nation’s teetotallers, 18 to 24-year-olds drink less alcohol than all other generations. It’s the baby boomers we’ve got to worry about. According to a recent survey by Melbourne-based social enterprise, Hello Sunday Morning, 64 to 75-year-olds consume the greatest amount of alcohol in the country.
Additionally, about 15 per cent of boomers are classified as high risk, downing more than 30 drinks a week. Feelings of depression, loneliness and isolation are commonly reported for this group too, especially males. It’s a significant public health issue and their wellbeing is a concern.
Hello Sunday Morning’s Daybreak app has proven to be very popular. It’s designed to help break the cycle of alcoholism through a supportive online community, informed by lived experience. Participation is anonymous and secure, and the service is free for Aussies. If you’re ready to transform your drinking habits, or know someone who might be interested, it’s worth checking out.
Additionally, the Mental Health Commission provides a confidential 24/7 counselling service, the Alcohol and Drug Support Line. It’s available for anyone in WA who might need to chat or seek advice about their own or someone else’s wellbeing.
It’s great to let your hair down, and you can absolutely enjoy your time booze-free, too. The market for non-alcoholic drinks is booming and you can find plenty of options in the supermarket, bottle shop and online. Plan ahead, set your boundaries and tell people in advance that you’re not drinking. Connect to your support squad.
If the pressure heats up at any time, take a break, escape the crowd, go for a walk and find a peaceful spot outside in nature to decompress. And for everyone’s sake, hold on to your demerit points — don’t drink and drive. Even if you think you can, chances are you probably can’t. If you’re struggling at this time of year, please reach out for help, people care and you don’t need to do it alone.
Alcohol and Drug Support Line: 08 9442 5000 (metro), 1800 198 024 (regional) Lifeline: 13 11 14
This article was first published in The West Australian in Renée Gardiner’s weekly column in Agenda, 18 December 2021.