8 Comments
User's avatar
Roldano De Persio's avatar

Alcohol is unequivocally linked to cancer. This is not a matter of opinion but a scientific fact. I am not preaching morality; I am simply stating the truth. Unfortunately.

Expand full comment
Kimberly Anne's avatar

Interesting read, thank you. I’ve been sober for over 16 years. My father is an alcoholic wine “connoisseur” who places alcohol above family, health and friends. Alcohol is poison, there are many facts about this. And yet I honestly don’t see the majority of the world ever giving it up. I am surprised to hear that the wine industry is worried or even trying to make non-alcoholic wines. We already have fruit juice mixed with sparkling water. And non drinkers are such a small percentage!

Expand full comment
Gastroillogica's avatar

Thank you for the thoughtful comment! I know a lot of men like your father, what I call “old guy wine” even when they aren’t that old. Normally they have normalized wine consumption so much that it’s their only reason for happiness and as you say, even above family - sadly.

I have high hopes that there’s a societal shift, perhaps helped by the fact that the Lancet study conclusions are under everyone’s eyes. An alcohol free life is as interesting as ever in this time of alternatives.

Expand full comment
Kimberly Anne's avatar

Ohhh I love that "old guy wine"!!!! YES, you totally nailed it!!!

I am thrilled to hear that you have high hopes re: a societal shift! I'm going to look up the Lancet study now! The best book I ever read on the subject is called: Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker because she explains, in detail, the true effects of alcohol. I wish everyone (men too) would read it!!

I love living an alcohol free life! It doesn't mean I don't have fun!

Expand full comment
Gastroillogica's avatar

Thank you for the recommendation! I will round up some Substack readings that deal with no alcohol in the coming weeks to publish a review :) the more, the merrier!

Expand full comment
Kimberly Anne's avatar

Oh wonderful! I look forward to that 😊

Expand full comment
Albert Molins Renter's avatar

By allusion. I will have to write an article to answer yours, but for now, a few things:

I have been writing about food and gastronomy for too long not to know that alcohol is addictive, toxic and carcinogenic and that there is no safe dose.

And despite that, I drink alcohol. I only drink, coffee on the side (always sugar-free), water, wine and beer. I reserve alcohol for the weekends and rarely exceed a little less than half a bottle of wine shared with my eighty-year-old father. And there are many weekends when I don't even have that, but there are others when I have much more than that, and in general, I like tasting much more than drinking.

I prefer wines with little alcohol.

I agree with Nero that non-alcoholic wines have nothing to do with wine culture. They are sugary bombs, the latest nonsense from the food industry. You don't want to drink wine because it has alcohol? Perfect. Drink something else.

And finally, living is dangerous and goes against health because it is something that leads irremediably to death. Overall, it's about being reasonably happy before that happens, whether it's with a glass of that Burgundy that drives you crazy or with that kombucha prepared by a ragged hippie. It doesn't matter to me. By the way, you and your intestines will die anyway (just joking, Sara. I don't want you to die, as you can imagine)

I hope these lines find you - and your intestines -really well :-)

Expand full comment
Gastroillogica's avatar

Come for the gastronomic debate, stay for the black humor 🤭 it’s absolutely always interesting to talk about wine or not wine with you, and not only because you’re able to articulate vehemently from “the other side” but also because you know how to do so with class and knowledge.

I love that you recognize the damage and like to drink anyways - a dramatically different stance from many new “bro” style sommeliers that are so much in denial and that are so deprived of basic culture that, instead of banterin and argumenting as we do, start threatening any one with a different mindset.

So kudos to you, as always - and I am waiting for the reply letter 🤩 as you know!

Expand full comment