Men, Mental Health and Alcohol 

November 30, 2023 Gemma Mills

Men experience significantly more problems with alcohol than women. Research shows that men are more likely than women to drink excessively, with some 21% reporting binge drinking, compared to 13% of women. Men are also more likely to take risks whilst under the influence, such as drink driving.

So, as November 19th is International Men’s Day, let's start the conversation about men’s mental health and the correlation with alcohol consumption. The more openly we can have this conversation, the easier change can happen.

Why Do Men Face More Struggles with Alcohol Consumption?

There are several different reasons that men face more struggles relating to alcohol consumption than women. Here are just some of those.

Traditional Masculinity

In most films, TV shows or reality shows, men are pictured holding alcoholic drinks. Whether it’s James Bond with a Martini or Don Draper with an Old Fashioned, no strong male character is complete without alcohol. This trend continues outside fictional contexts with phrases like “Don’t be a girl, just have a beer”.

Masculinity is so tied to being a strong, tough man. You should be able to drink more alcohol than anyone else, not get hurt, not be sensitive, not care for yourself and stay strong at all times.

When masculinity is so tied to whether or not you drink alcohol, how much you can drink and even which alcoholic drink you choose, it can feel emasculating to quit drinking. It may make you feel like you are not strong enough, not manly enough and not living up to expectations placed.

The societal expectations of being strong keep many men drinking even when they no longer want to.

Suppressing Negative Emotions

The idea that men are not emotional is central to the tough, strong man image. The “man up” attitude gives men limited space to feel hurt, to cry and to feel negative (and some) positive emotions. Instead, men are expected to be dominant, the breadwinner and stay strong constantly. And this negatively affects men's mental health.

Because of this, men often grow up without being able to process negative emotions. Alcohol helps lower people’s inhibitions making it easier for men to bond and “deal” with difficult emotions when drunk. But it can also quickly become a way for men to suppress the emotions that they do not know how to process. It can become a bottleneck to processing emotions.

Less Likely to Reach Out for Help

On top of being less able to deal with difficult emotions, men are less likely to reach for help. This is because reaching out for support with mental health or alcohol-related issues requires vulnerability. This vulnerability is something that men are often not allowed to perform. It makes them feel like they are being too weak.

A UK-based research by the Priory found that 77% of men have struggled with common mental health symptoms at some point. Despite this high number, only 40% of men have ever spoken to anyone about their mental health. When asked why, 29% said they were too embarrassed to ask for support, and another 20% said it was because of the negative stigma surrounding men's mental health.

When other mental health statistics are so high for men, it shows just how damaging it can be to feel like you cannot reach out for support. And, sadly, instead of reaching out for support, it is much easier to reach out for alcohol instead.

How Can Men Start Cutting Down Alcohol Intake?

Thankfully, with the rise of the “sensitive man” things are slowly beginning to change. People like Tom Holland, Ed Sheeran and Daniel Radcliffe represent a different type of masculinity that is less tied to the tough alcohol-drinking image of the past. It gives men more space to have emotions and to learn to deal with negative emotions more healthily and safely.

So, for men wanting to lower their alcohol consumption for whatever reasons, here are three things to remember.

1. Find a Strong Reason to Cut Down

The easiest way to make a change in your life is to find a strong reason to want to change. According to Club Soda, there are six main reasons that men want to change their relationship with alcohol, so if any of these ring true for you, then keep it in mind and let it motivate you:

To gain or regain control over alcohol consumption, their behaviour, responsibilities and life.
To help their mental health. Alcohol is a depressant and can exacerbate mental health symptoms.
To get better physical health.
To improve fitness and energy levels.
To improve relationships.
To save money.

Whatever the reason you are choosing to cut down on alcohol, finding strong motivation will help make the process much easier for you.

2. Reach Out for Support

While it can be hard for many men to reach out for support, there is absolutely no shame in asking for help. Support can come from your family, friends, colleagues and professionals. Some people may tease you for giving up alcohol initially, but most people will be respectful and want to help a friend when asked. Being honest with your friends about wanting to cut down on alcohol can even help them do the same thing.

You may need to reach out for professional support when quitting alcohol. There is a lot of support out there to help people quit alcohol. This could be the best thing you ever do for yourself.

3. Be Kind to Yourself

Quitting alcohol, reaching out for support, admitting you are struggling and doing something to help your mental health are all difficult things to do. So, if you are going through this process right now, be kind to yourself.

If you can treat yourself with kindness, care and empathy, you will be able to help yourself. After all, you deserve to be treated with kindness and empathy.

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Each alcohol-free subscription box is filled to the brim with delicious alcohol-free goodies. JOMO only includes the best products from the most ethical and sustainable brands. So you can switch out your alcoholic cocktails for delicious alcohol-free cocktails, and help yourself to help yourself.