Share This Article
People often start a relationship with someone who looks like them . In general, they are about the same size, have similar education levels, and are equally attractive. But they are never completely the same , because everyone is unique.
Even though you and your partner are a good match, it also means that you have your own opinion, preferences and different habits. And that’s not a bad thing at all. Usually it is the differences that make a relationship beautiful. You can help each other grow and learn new things about life. But the differences can also become a problem in a relationship, as is the case with alcohol use.
Alcohol and relationships
You don’t have to be an alcoholic to realize that drinking can cause relationship problems. Think back to the biggest arguments you’ve had with your partner. Then think about how often these arguments occurred while one or both of them were under the influence of alcohol. And?
The answer may surprise you, because you’ve never thought about it that way. There’s a good chance that some of your biggest relationship conflicts occurred when you were having a drink. Whether you were slightly tipsy, a bit tipsy or fed up: alcohol is a catalyst for relationship problems.
What alcohol does to your relationship
People drink alcohol for different reasons. You drink because you think it is good for the atmosphere, as an escape from stress or perhaps even to relieve physical complaints. Whatever the reason, drinking alcohol too much or too often can be harmful to the relationships in your life, even if you are not a problem drinker.
Studies consistently show that drinking – especially when it’s a lot – has a negative impact on romantic relationships. And while this may not lead you to transition to an alcohol-free existence, it does make you think. These studies tell you what alcohol does to your relationship.
ALSO READ: 5 Ways to Distance Yourself Emotionally
One heavy drinker increases the chance of divorce
In 2013, the University at Buffalo published a survey of 634 couples who were newly married when they participated in the study. These couples were followed for nine years to find out whether alcohol consumption negatively affects marriage. At the end of the nine years, the American researchers found that a marriage in which one spouse is a heavy drinker (6 or more drinks at a time) and the other is not, is most likely to divorce. Of the couples where this applied, half split up.
But what if both spouses are heavy drinkers? Then it is apparently not a problem for the relationship. The divorce rate among two heavy drinkers was the same as for couples where neither of them were heavy drinkers. Of these couples, 30 percent ultimately divorced.
ALSO READ: Is She No Longer Interested? Reasons, Signs and Signals
Heavy drinkers who are women increase the risk of divorce
The University at Buffalo research does not stand alone. Over the years, several researchers have looked at the link between alcohol use and divorce. For example , another study from the same year, published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research , is much the same.
This study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health followed 19,977 married couples over a period of 15 years. The researchers asked questions about their alcohol consumption to discover how likely these couples were to divorce.
The results showed that drinking a lot increases the chance of divorce. This applies to both men and women. But there is a gender difference: when the woman in the relationship is a heavy drinker, the chance of divorce increases more than when the man is a heavy drinker. And like their American colleagues, the Norwegians also found that two non-drinkers and two heavy drinkers have a lower risk of divorce.
ALSO READ: 7 Signs That A Relationship Could Become Dangerous
Alcohol is not always bad
Now you might think that drinking alcohol is always bad for a relationship. But it isn’t, researchers from the University at Buffalo said in response to an earlier study. In this study, 69 couples were questioned about their alcohol consumption.
“For example, it turns out that drinking together rather than apart is clearly good for relationships,” said Ash Levitt , a researcher at UB’s Research Institute on Addictions. “People who drink with their partner report having more intimacy and fewer relationship problems the next day, compared to people who drink separately from their partner or don’t drink at all.”
These beneficial outcomes for relationships are noticed if one does not drink too much, for example one to three drinks. The bad outcomes for a relationship – such as less intimacy and more relationship problems – are especially true when drinking increases, such as four or more drinks.
ALSO READ: Leaving A Partner: 11 Steps To Go Through
Drinking as much and socially is actually good
Another group of American researchers from the University of Michigan discovered that (older) couples who share similar drinking habits are happier than couples with different drinking habits. The researchers wanted to know what effect drinking has on older couples and discovered that couples who drink the same amount have fewer relationship problems than couples who have different drinking habits.
Of the 4,864 participants in the study, 62% indicated that they sometimes drink alcohol, while 38% never did so. Those who did drink alcohol consumed an average of 4.8 drinks per week, which indicates that they were not problem drinkers and were more likely to be social drinkers. The consensus among scientists is that social drinking does not have a negative impact on a relationship, but problem drinking does.
P.S. Are you already following Gistinger.com on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter?