‘I’m funnier when I drink.’ This and other myths about drinking, busted

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class="search-box__tags-title">Topics</p> <div class="search-box__tag-list"> <ul class="search-box__tags-list"> <li><a href="/en-za/drinking-and-your-body">Drinking and your body</a></li> <li><a href="/en-za/drinking-and-your-mind">Drinking and your mind</a></li> <li><a href="/en-za/support-with-drinking">Support with drinking</a></li> <li><a href="/en-za/about-alcohol">About alcohol</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </header>  <main role="main" id="main-content-wrapper" class="main-content-wrapper pilot " data-polltype="motivation"> <div class="article-detail"> <section class="article-title-section bg-primary-blue-01 text-white "> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-lg-7 col-md-10 offset-md-1 col-12"> <div class="article-detail-content pt-32"> <span class="icon-back-icon-button"></span> <a href="/en-za/drinking-and-your-mind" class="text-white breadcrumb" aria-label="Back">Back</a> <p class="article-category pt-40 pb-8 mb-0 tag"> Drinking and your mind </p> <div class="article-detail-title"> <h1 class="article-item-title" data-id="{CE1BE345-D4B5-4A38-B8CD-CF3C349F1F9B}" data-title='‘I’m funnier when I drink.’ This and other myths about drinking, busted'>‘I’m funnier when I drink.’ This and other myths about drinking, busted</h1> </div> <p class="article-detai-description p-md_2-b pb-32 mb-0"> If you’ve ever wondered how changing your relationship with drinking would affect your social life, you’re not alone. It does, says Dru Jaeger, but in positive ways you never expected. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="configurable-text p-md_1-b p-md_1-t "> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-lg-7 offset-md-1 col-md-10 col-12"> <div class="configurable-text__wrapper"> <div class="configurable-text__content rte" data-animate data-animation="fade-in"><p>We live in a culture where drinking and socialising often seem synonymous. If you're thinking about cutting down or taking a break, you might be wondering if your social life will suffer.</p> <p>Successfully socialising without alcohol can boost your confidence. A night off drinking doesn't have to mean a night on your own. Let's explore some of the myths around drinking and socialising, so you can get out and have a good time.</p> <p> <span class="rad-highlight">If you drink to feel more confident in social situations, realise that the confidence actually comes from you, not a bottle.<br /> <strong>- Dru Jaeger</strong></span> </p> <br /> <h2>'I'm funnier when I drink'</h2> <p>Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, so you and your audience will be more likely to laugh. But alcohol-fuelled humour can be hard to get right. Being sober sharpens your wit, helps you read your audience and ultimately makes your comedy quicker and funnier.</p> <p>Alcohol doesn't make you something you're not. If you drink to feel more confident in social situations, realise that the confidence actually comes from you, not a bottle. Take a deep breath and relax. Listen to others, build on what they say, and let your natural sense of humour shine through.</p> <h2>‘I have to keep up with my friends'</h2> <p>If your friendship group centres on drinking together, change can feel daunting. Many people have friends who are always up for another drink, or suddenly appear with a round of shots. The pressure to join in is real.</p> <p>But despite the social expectations, remember that drinking is never compulsory. If your friends drink, you don't have to make a big deal about your choice not to. Most people will be happy to spend time with you and won't care what's in your glass.</p> <p>If someone offers to buy you a drink, it's often because they want to include you in the group. You're allowed to ask for something alcohol-free! And if you don't entirely trust them not to order a measure of gin with your tonic, offer to help them at the bar.</p> <h2>‘Drinking is the most important part of a party'</h2> <p>For many people who change their habits long-term, one of their most memorable moments is their first big social event. Going to a party and reducing or not having any alcohol can be eye-opening.</p> <p>For one thing, you suddenly notice everyone who isn’t drinking: the <a href="/en-za/about-alcohol/what-you-need-to-know-about-drinking-and-driving">designated drivers</a>, the early shift workers, the<a href="/en-za/drinking-and-your-body/how-does-drinking-affect-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding"> pregnant people.</a> You can always find someone interesting among them to chat with. And the best thing about socialising in this way? You’ll remember all the conversations you had in the morning.</p> <p> <span class="rad-highlight">You might worry about being liked, but liking yourself is more important. Whether you're fun or serious or somewhere in between, it's OK to be you.<br /> <strong>- Dru Jaeger</strong></span> </p> <br /> <h2>‘People who don't drink are boring'</h2> <p>If you associate socialising with drinking, you might imagine that people who don't drink are boring. It doesn't help that we sometimes use the word ‘sober' to mean serious, and there's a common myth that people who stop drinking also stop being fun. If you worry that underneath it all you might be a bit dull, this could hold you back even from cutting down.</p> <p>Being fun and being popular seem to go hand in hand. You might worry about being liked, but liking yourself is more important. Whether you're fun or serious or somewhere in between, it's OK to be you.</p> <p>How many times have you carried on drinking rather than admit that you're just not enjoying yourself? Put yourself first, and be the first to leave a party if you want to.</p> <h2>‘I'm shy and need alcohol as a social crutch'</h2> <p>If you're anxious, you may feel it more strongly around other people, and might turn to drinking to cope. But you're not alone. Drinking to manage<a href="/en-za/drinking-and-your-mind/six-positive-ways-to-manage-social-anxiety"> social anxiety</a> is surprisingly common.</p> <p>However, it can make the problem worse. Social anxiety can be rooted in the fear that, if people really got to know you, they wouldn't like you. Drinking to deal with anxiety is therefore a fairly risky tactic – if you drink too much, you might not make a good impression.</p> <p>Alcohol has a way of making us ignore things, including social anxiety. But you can also deal with your shyness by shifting attention towards other people. Find a friendly-looking person and ask them questions. People enjoy talking about themselves and that can take the spotlight off you for a while.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <div class="feedback-container "> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-10 col-lg-7 offset-md-1 col-12"> <div id="feedbackApp" class="feedback-options column-start-1 column-end-13"> <div class="feedback-inner align-items-center d-flex justify-content-between" v-if="!feedbackGiven"> <div class="feedback-text"> <p class="m-0">Did you find this article helpful?</p> </div> <div class="feedback-right d-flex"> <a href="javascript:;" class="feedback-btn yes" :class="{ active: activeButton === 'yes' }" @click="handleYesClick"> Yes </a> <a href="javascript:;" class="feedback-btn no" :class="{ active: activeButton === 'no' }" @click="handleNoClick"> No </a> </div> </div> <div class="feedback-thankyou" v-if="showThankYou" :class="{ 'fade-in': showThankYouAnimation }"> <p class="m-0">Thanks for your response!</p> </div> <div class="feedback-form" v-if="showForm" :class="{ 'fade-in': showFormAnimation }"> <form class="contact-form" enctype="multipart/form-data" id="contact-form" method="post" @submit.prevent="submitForm"> <div class="contact-us__form"> <p>Thank you for your feedback. 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Thank you!</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <section class="question-outer p-md_1-b p-md_1-t pt-0 "> <div class="que"> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="row justify-content-center"> <div class="col-md-10 col-12"> <h2 class="mb-32"> Are you concerned about the effects of drinking on your body?</h2> <div class="question d-md-flex align-items-center text-white bg-primary-blue-03"> <div class="question__wrapper d-md-flex flex-column justify-content-center flex-grow-1"> <h2 class="question__title m-sm_2-b" data-animate data-animation="fade-in">Whether it's about yourself or someone else, use our drinking self-assessment to understand the risk.</h2> <p class="question__description mb-0">Take the test</p> </div> <div class="question__link d-flex justify-content-end"> <a href=/en-za/audit data-linktype='internal' class="cta--pilot" role="button" aria-label=' Are you concerned about the effects of drinking on your body?'> <span class="cta-question icon icon-chevron-right d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="question-outer p-md_1-b p-md_1-t pt-0 pb-0"> <div class="que"> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="row justify-content-center"> <div class="col-md-10 col-12"> <div class="question d-md-flex align-items-center text-white bg-primary-blue-03"> <div class="question__wrapper d-md-flex flex-column justify-content-center flex-grow-1"> <h2 class="question__title m-sm_2-b" data-animate data-animation="fade-in">If you or someone you know is drinking problematically, our list of support networks is a good place to start.</h2> <p class="question__description mb-0">Get help now</p> </div> <div class="question__link d-flex justify-content-end"> <a href=/en-za/get-help data-linktype='internal' class="cta--pilot" role="button" aria-label='Get help now'> <span class="cta-question icon icon-chevron-right d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <div class="related-articles-section pt-lg-4 pb-lg-4 bg-secondary-violet-03 mt-50"> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="row justify-content-center"> <div class="col-12 col-md-10"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-12"> <div class="h2 related-articles-title mb-sm-1 text-primary-black-01">More like this</div> </div> </div> <div class="related-articles-swiper swiper"> <div class="swiper-wrapper d-flex"> <div class="swiper-slide h-auto "> <a href="/en-za/about-alcohol/did-you-know-beer-wine-and-spirits-all-contain-ethanol" class="related-article" aria-label="Did you know beer, wine and spirits all contain ethanol?"> <div class="article-image"> <picture> <img class="lazy" data-src='/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/in-english/banner-module-images/about-alcohol/did-you-know-beer-ill.webp' alt='Did you know beer, wine and spirits all contain ethanol?'> <noscript> <img src='/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/in-english/banner-module-images/about-alcohol/did-you-know-beer-ill.webp' alt='Did you know beer, wine and spirits all contain ethanol?' /> </noscript> </picture> </div> <div class="article-description h-100 p-sm-2 bg-white text-primary-black-01"> <div class="article-category tag mb-8">About alcohol</div> <div class="article-title cards">Did you know beer, wine and spirits all contain ethanol?</div> </div> </a> </div> <div class="swiper-slide h-auto "> <a href="/en-za/support-with-drinking/how-can-drinking-affect-the-people-around-you" class="related-article" aria-label="How can drinking affect the people around you?"> <div class="article-image"> <picture> <img class="lazy" data-src='/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/en-ZA/how-can-drinking-affect-other-people-hero-SA.webp' alt='Drinking can affect many aspects of your life, and the lives of others, like your family and work colleagues. 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‘I’m funnier when I drink.’ This and other myths about drinking, busted | DRINKiQ ZA