The Dangerous Myth of Alcohol and Success
When someone presents you with a shiny new study suggesting that alcohol might boost your career, your reaction should range from skeptical eyebrow-raising to bitter laughter. While we've long known alcohol's devastating effects on health, some researchers continue playing devil's advocate with dangerous theories.
Edward Slingerland's 2021 book Drunk made the controversial claim that intoxication served evolutionary purposes, supposedly sparking cooperation, creativity, and even urban development. Adding to this narrative, Norwegian sociologist Willy Pedersen suggests alcohol acts as social lubricant, potentially leading drinkers toward higher incomes and educational achievements.
The Flawed Norwegian Study
Pedersen's research team conducted an 18-year study tracking thousands of Norwegians from adolescence into adulthood. Their findings indicated that teenagers and young adults who engaged in binge drinking often achieved better education and earnings compared to non-drinkers.
However, this seductive narrative dangerously oversimplifies complex social dynamics. The study fails to account for how expensive drinking cultures in countries like Norway (with heavy alcohol taxes) naturally favor privileged individuals. What appears as 'fitting in' often reflects pre-existing social advantages rather than alcohol's magical career-boosting properties.
The Sobering Health Reality Check
For anyone tempted by the idea that binge drinking paves the way to success, consider these scientifically proven health consequences:
Liver Damage and Cirrhosis: Regular alcohol consumption overwhelms the liver's detoxification capacity, leading to fat accumulation, inflammation, and permanent scarring. Even moderate drinking patterns increase cirrhosis risk compared to lighter consumption.
Increased Cancer Risk: Alcohol ranks as a Group 1 carcinogen, with ethanol and its breakdown products damaging DNA and increasing oxidative stress. Drinking elevates risks for mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colorectal, and breast cancers—with some risks increasing from just one daily drink.
Brain Damage and Cognitive Decline: Chronic alcohol use associates with smaller brain volumes, compromised white-matter integrity, and poorer performance on memory and executive-function tests.
Cardiovascular Harm: Alcohol significantly impacts blood pressure, heart rhythm, and lipid metabolism. Heavy drinking strongly increases hypertension, stroke, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure risks. The Lancet journal confirms alcohol as a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease and premature mortality.
Immune System Suppression: Alcohol disrupts both innate and adaptive immunity, impairing barrier defenses and reducing T-cell function. Chronic drinkers show higher pneumonia and tuberculosis rates, with alcohol-induced immune dysfunction slowing wound healing and increasing infection vulnerability.
The supposed benefits of alcohol for career advancement remain unproven arguments lacking nuance about class, culture, and gender, while the health risks are scientifically established and severe. Before considering alcohol as any kind of career strategy, remember that the costs far outweigh any unproven benefits.
