Fascinating stuff! In addition to the generational and lifestyle driven decline in alcohol consumption, the shift away from social gatherings of strangers due to restrictions and lifestyle changes imposed by COVID mitigation; the effects of which, according to businesses dependent on foot traffic and social gathering, are still being felt, clearly impacted both the Tavern and Coffeehouse; with the "Starbucks sanitization" of the latter changing the dynamic of a local, independent gathering place to a generic, sterile, and ubiquitous brand that offer discouraged gathering by the "wrong" people. If alcohol consumption in bars is receding and coffee culture has shifted to a fast-food adjacent model, whatever comes next - whether that's Dutch-style Kofffeshops for cannabis, or something completely different - will need to serve the purpose of encouraging us to gather, linger and focus on the connections we make.
Thank you for this excellent, thought-provoking article. Much of it jibes with my own personal experience. I was a bit surprised that you didn't mention 12 step recovery programs and other groups that help people for whom alcohol and drugs have become a problem to connect with others in meaningful ways without substances. Having been an active member of these groups for 25 years, I can attest to the power of the meaningful social connections and fun we have together, in addition to our shared freedom from active addiction. The "meeting before the meeting" and "meeting after the meeting" (which often involve a local coffee house, ice cream place, etc..) serve to build connections like we used to make in the bar or while passing a joint around at party.
Expectation has a lot to do with things. I noticed in 1972 (yeah, I’m that old) that joints were still being passed around at parties, but instead of stoned rants people were discussing football. It seemed like a loss.
The overall negatives of alcohol on both individual and societal welfare far outweigh the positives. Go to a large metro hospital emergency room on any given weekend, and that will be readily evident. Much like guns, the problem is not alcohol itself; it is the lack of responsibility in its use that causes problems.
I completely agree that, if alcohol is ‘removed’ from society, something else will take its place. Just like religion. Whether we can ‘engineer’ the replacement is another question. And I think you ask the further question well - do we really want to replace alcohol? My observation is that a zero harm environment is impossible (not just in respect of alcohol). For everything that is ‘protected’ or ‘saved’ something else is lost - the safety culture is a good example of this at scale. Should we sometimes accept living with our issues rather than create new ones to tackle? The problem of alcohol might not be so much the alcohol, but the behaviours we license when it is used.
Fascinating stuff! In addition to the generational and lifestyle driven decline in alcohol consumption, the shift away from social gatherings of strangers due to restrictions and lifestyle changes imposed by COVID mitigation; the effects of which, according to businesses dependent on foot traffic and social gathering, are still being felt, clearly impacted both the Tavern and Coffeehouse; with the "Starbucks sanitization" of the latter changing the dynamic of a local, independent gathering place to a generic, sterile, and ubiquitous brand that offer discouraged gathering by the "wrong" people. If alcohol consumption in bars is receding and coffee culture has shifted to a fast-food adjacent model, whatever comes next - whether that's Dutch-style Kofffeshops for cannabis, or something completely different - will need to serve the purpose of encouraging us to gather, linger and focus on the connections we make.
That seems like a very balanced in historical report. Two things that are hard to find in today's media. Thank you
Thank you for this excellent, thought-provoking article. Much of it jibes with my own personal experience. I was a bit surprised that you didn't mention 12 step recovery programs and other groups that help people for whom alcohol and drugs have become a problem to connect with others in meaningful ways without substances. Having been an active member of these groups for 25 years, I can attest to the power of the meaningful social connections and fun we have together, in addition to our shared freedom from active addiction. The "meeting before the meeting" and "meeting after the meeting" (which often involve a local coffee house, ice cream place, etc..) serve to build connections like we used to make in the bar or while passing a joint around at party.
Expectation has a lot to do with things. I noticed in 1972 (yeah, I’m that old) that joints were still being passed around at parties, but instead of stoned rants people were discussing football. It seemed like a loss.
I thoroughly enjoyed your insight. This post dovetails nicely with an article published last July ... "How alcohol helped create ancient civilizations
https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/bjtg3tjugl#google_vignette
Israeli, Y. (2025, July 21). How alcohol helped create ancient civilizations. YNet Global. https://www.ynetnews.com/.
I appreciate the inclusion of potential alcohol substitutes. A hard mindset change isn't going to happen overnight ... But it is happening.
The overall negatives of alcohol on both individual and societal welfare far outweigh the positives. Go to a large metro hospital emergency room on any given weekend, and that will be readily evident. Much like guns, the problem is not alcohol itself; it is the lack of responsibility in its use that causes problems.
People forget all the other uses of alcohol besides getting snot-slinging, gutter-hugging drunk. Like fuel, antiseptic, etc.
NO!
I completely agree that, if alcohol is ‘removed’ from society, something else will take its place. Just like religion. Whether we can ‘engineer’ the replacement is another question. And I think you ask the further question well - do we really want to replace alcohol? My observation is that a zero harm environment is impossible (not just in respect of alcohol). For everything that is ‘protected’ or ‘saved’ something else is lost - the safety culture is a good example of this at scale. Should we sometimes accept living with our issues rather than create new ones to tackle? The problem of alcohol might not be so much the alcohol, but the behaviours we license when it is used.