We have wanted to write about pro-drinking culture for a while, but it’s hard to know where to start. How do you capture the challenge that is constantly wading through memes and references to alcohol as a cure-all, a social lubricant, a health drink?
This article, though, we thought was a great example of how articles that encourage us all in our bad behavior with regard to drinking can be misleading.
A reader might be forgiven for thinking that drinking will help you learn French based on the headline of the article, “Drinking Alcohol Can Help You Speak Foreign Language Better.” Let’s head to the bar for some tequila and learn Spanish while we’re at it, right?
Wrong. We must always train ourselves to question these headlines. When we want to justify drinking, we absorb them without question. But our media in general is biased toward alcohol, so headlines that support drinking are more common than they should be.
Here’s what’s wrong with the picture painted by this article:
The study in question had only 50 participants. That’s really, really small; hard to make a definitive argument with 25 people per study cell.
The participants who had alcohol were only rated higher on pronunciation, not on grammar, vocabulary or argumentation. I’ve spent enough time studying Spanish to know that the people in my class who spoke it most fluently were those with the strongest vocabulary and grammar - not always the best pronunciation.
The participants had about one drink. How often do you just have one? I’d guess the picture would be different, even after two.
In short, if you plan on learning a new language, the first step isn’t a trip to the wine cellar. It’s a trip to the App Store for some Duolingo or to Google to find an in person class.
If you’re starting to question the pro-drinking culture, and question the role of alcohol in your life, we’d love to help you cut back or quit. Drinker’s Helper is an app that provides motivational exercises, drink tracking and insights into why you drink, and a support group of your peers to help you make needed changes. Try it free for a week before joining!
