Innocence Intoxicated: Protecting Our Children from the Liquid Lie
Unravelling the silent infiltration of alcohol norms in our children's lives and fostering a healthier narrative
No one in my house drinks wine. Our friends rarely imbibe in front of my 6-year-old daughter, Zia. And yet, she glamorises wine, unknowingly seduced by a deceptive societal narrative I call the "Liquid Lie."
The Liquid Lie is a pervasive belief system, an invisible but violent undertow that pulls us towards accepting alcohol as normal, nice, natural, necessary, and noble. Despite its toxicity, alcohol has been given an unwarranted halo of sophistication and necessity. From the moment we're born, this lie starts weaving its web around us, setting us up for a lifetime of dependency and struggle.
So, how does this Liquid Lie infiltrate the minds of our children? How does it reach a six-year-old like Zia?
The answer lies in its ubiquity and stealthy pervasiveness. It seeps into young minds through the innocuous-seeming TV shows, movies, books, and advertisements they consume daily. Walk through any street, and scenes of people drinking in pubs, clubs, and restaurants paint an enticing picture of social camaraderie.
Even fairy tales and religious stories are not exempt. Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder dancing in a pub in "Tangled," clinking champagne glasses during the song "Be Our Guest" in "Beauty and the Beast," Santa with his big belly and red nose supposedly from beer, even Jesus turning water into wine — these images subtly endorse alcohol consumption.
By the time we reach our 20s, many of us have unconsciously bought into the Liquid Lie, relying on alcohol to celebrate, commiserate, and self-medicate. This normalisation is so prevalent that excessive drinking often goes unnoticed, excused under the cloak of cultural norms. "Well, they're just drinking alcohol."
But it's high time we pull back this veil and expose the Liquid Lie for what it is.
To protect our children from this harmful cycle, we must live a self-led life, consciously Alcohol-Free As Fuck (AFAF). This doesn't mean we have total control over our children's future choices. Zia, like others, will likely drink alcohol at some point in her life. However, we can model a fulfilling, vibrant life free from alcohol's clutches, demonstrating that we don't need this toxic crutch to experience joy, fun, or relaxation.
To aid this journey, I dive into this topic in-depth in my upcoming book, "The Alcohol Secrets Bible," demystifying the truths about alcohol that society often shrouds. It's a free resource for anyone who wants to understand the Liquid Lie. Share your email address with me, and I’ll ping you a copy when I release it.
Much love and Strive on!
Lee
PS:
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Let's collectively stand against the Liquid Lie. It's time we rewrite the narrative around alcohol and strive for a healthier, more truthful understanding of its role in our lives.