Steve Tutty, Associate Director, Cognitive Behavioral Clinical Services:

A few days ago I decided to approach drinking alcohol in a mindful way. I thought about the steps our clinical team developed for mindful breathing and eating… and the process that unfolds when you observe, describe, and participate in each moment.

I opened a cold beer and followed those steps – gently pouring the beer into a pint size glass and observing its color, aroma, and carbonation. After a few moments, I took my first sip. I let it remain in my mouth and swished it from side to side before swallowing. I was struck by the amount of carbonation and acidity I could taste. After a few moments, I took another sip…and was fully present for the experience. By the time I had consumed half the beer, my stomach was full and I ended up pouring the remainder of the beer into the sink.

Like binge eating, binge drinking is an American pastime. We know that approximately one fifth of adults in the United States regularly engage in binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as consuming more than five alcoholic drinks (including beer, wine, and liquor) for males, and four alcoholic drinks for females in one sitting – usually in two to three hours.  In young adult college populations, the rate of binge drinking is much higher – often between 40-50%.

People binge drink for many reasons. For one, alcohol is widely available unlike other substances. I remember when I lived in Arizona some of my friends would visit a beer and wine “drive in” after work. This “drive in” made drinking alcohol very convenient and accepting. My friends would view it like a fast food chain.
In addition, alcohol is very effective in helping one relax. It takes the edge off. When people drink their heart rate and breathing slows down, while the emotional tension and worry fade away…at least for a while. Not a bad combination. It’s no wonder alcohol has become our national lubricant, despite the known health and psychological consequences.

My experience drinking beer mindfully shifted a few things for me. For one, I realized that I don’t enjoy drinking beer as much as I thought I would. The taste and carbonation really wasn’t satisfying. In addition, this experience made me realize how old habits (i.e., mindless drinking) can mask the true nature of alcohol. There are plenty of other healthier ways to unwind.