Secondhand Effects of Drinking 

Imagine waking up refreshed on a Sunday morning, the sun gently streaming through your window, ready to take on the day. But then, as you step outside, you’re greeted by the aftermath of someone else’s Saturday night — loud conversations from the night before still ringing in your ears, the scent of spilled beer lingering in the air, and an overall  sense of unease. You may not have had a drop to drink, but you’re still feeling the consequences.

This is the often overlooked reality of “secondhand drinking.” Other people’s choices can ripple through our lives in subtle yet profound ways. Let’s explore further how alcohol affects not only the person holding the glass but everyone around them as well — sometimes in ways that leave lasting impressions (and not in a good way).

Can You Get Secondhand Drunk?

Yes. Secondhand drinking is a thing. But not in the way we might think. We don’t get intoxicated if we don’t drink alcohol, even if those around us do. Instead, secondhand drinking refers to the negative consequences we may experience due to others’ drinking behaviors. 

Let’s say you don’t drink regularly but your partner does. They stay out all night to party; they prioritize spending on drinks; and they’re not in the best mood the next day. So, even though you may not have had anything to drink, alcohol can still take a toll. Let’s take a closer look at the secondhand effects of drinking.

Secondhand Harms of Alcohol

The alcohol habits of those around us can affect us significantly.

1. Promoting Other Negative Habits

Drinking can promote other negative habits due to effects on our brain and body. Physically, we won’t feel great, and mentally we can feel more out of control, which impacts our motivation, confidence, and stress response. 

Research shows that those who drink regularly are more likely to engage in other unhealthy habits. But their negative habits don’t affect  affect just us. As author Jim Rohn said, “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” If those around us are engaging in negative habits, we’re more likely to do so as well. 

2. Bringing Out the Ugly Side

Alcohol affects areas of our brain that control our thoughts and emotions. When alcohol is involved, it can bring out the worst in us, leading to behaviors we might not engage in otherwise. This includes increased irritability, aggression, or saying things we don’t mean, all of which can hurt our relationships. A study found that in the U.S., an estimated 53 million adults in the last 12 months experienced harm from secondhand drinking, including harassment, ruined property, physical aggression, accidents, and financial or family problems.

Their lowering of inhibitions can lead us to poor decisions, risky behavior, and strained connections that leave lasting scars on our relationships.

3. Straining Relationships

Drinking can strain relationships in many different ways. We may not see eye to eye with the other person’s drinking habits; alcohol can take priority over the relationship; and communication can suffer. 

Relationships take time and effort, which alcohol can rob us of. Alcohol temporarily releases dopamine and serotonin, two “feel-good” hormones, which have us coming back for more. Before long, it can take control. When alcohol is in the driver’s seat, our judgment can be clouded, and we may choose drinking over maintaining meaningful relationships.

So, alcohol not only affects those drinking by straining relationships with others, but it can also make those on the receiving end feel hurt and isolated.

4 .Opening the Door to Accidents

Alcohol impacts our thinking and movement, increasing the chance of risky behaviors and accidents. But alcohol-related accidents don’t just affect the individual who is doing the drinking. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 11,000 lives are lost in the U.S. each year to drunk-driving accidents. Many of them involve victims who didn’t drink at all. 

Even if the accident involves only the person drinking, it still impacts those around them. Have you ever lost a loved one and felt the deep void their loss created in your life? The same goes for alcohol-related accidents. Our actions affect those around us, even if we don’t mean for them to. 

5. Causing Financial Problems

Alcohol can lead to financial fallout because drinking can directly impact our finances. The costs include the direct expense of buying alcohol and the indirect costs of transportation, post-drinking “drunchies,” employment, and more.

When finances suffer, our loved ones may need to pick up the slack. For example, we might not be able to pay the rent or the mortgage. If we were let go from work or needed to borrow money, we may increase the financial strain on our loved ones. All of these scenarios can cause financial problems for those around us, even if they’re not the ones drinking. 

As we can see, alcohol is detrimental to the well-being of those who drink, but its effects are so widespread that even those around them can suffer. Let’s prevent hurting ourselves or others by making more positive life choices!

Tips To Ensure Your Actions Aren’t Harming Others

Whether we mean to or not, our actions affect others. Being more intentional with our actions is beneficial to our own well-being and that of others. There are many ways we can take better care of ourselves and nurture our relationships at the same time.

• Practice self-care. Whether it’s healthy eating, staying active, taking time to rest, or treating ourselves once in a while, taking care of our mental and physical health helps us not only show up for ourselves but also for those around us. 
• Develop a healthier relationship with alcohol. Minimizing and preventing the secondhand effects of drinking improves our own well-being. Take steps to quit or cut back by tracking alcohol consumption, setting SMART goals, and reaching out for support.
• Implement mindfulness. Mindfulness allows us to be present and understand more about ourselves and others. It also allows us to make more intentional decisions, which can have positive impacts on others. 
• Set boundaries. Boundaries are there to preserve relationships, not hurt them. They’re part of healthy relationships and can ensure that we’re respecting ourselves and others. Expressing our feelings, identifying our priorities, communicating clearly, and learning to say no are practices we can implement to set healthy boundaries. 
• Communicate openly. Communication fosters understanding, playing an integral role in positive relationships. It helps us protect our own needs while being considerate of others. 

Just like negative drinking behaviors cause harm to those around us, healthy behaviors can have a positive impact. By implementing these practices, we can take care of ourselves and our loved ones.

The Bottom Line

While drinking may seem like a personal choice, its effects often reach much further than we realize. The secondhand harm — whether physical, emotional, or financial — can deeply impact the lives of those around us. Understanding these collateral consequences is crucial in helping us make more mindful decisions about our drinking to foster healthier environments, not only for ourselves but our loved ones. Let’s raise a toast to making more intentional choices that keep the good times going for everyone!