Published by | | | Few things permeate social life in the United States as much as alcohol. Bottomless mimosas are a fixture of brunch outings. Scores of celebrities have launched their own wine, vodka, gin and tequila ventures. And almost every holiday — from St. Patrick's Day to Halloween — prompts excessive drinking, including earlier this month as revelers raised and clinked their champagne glasses to ring in 2022. The onset of covid didn't curb this habit, even as it effectively shut down the country, hitting bars and restaurants the hardest. Retail alcohol sales spiked 20 percent during the first six months of the pandemic. And according to a 2020 study, Americans drank 14 percent more often in response to pandemic-related stress — especially women, who increased their drinking by 41 percent compared to before the pandemic. Some people switched to wine nights and "quarantinis" at home. Others learned to brew their own beer. And friends and colleagues pivoted to Zoom happy hours. | | | But lockdown has also fueled another trend. Away from the pressure of social settings and nightlife, many people have taken a hard look at the role alcohol plays in their lives. And the growing popularity of "mocktails," nonalcoholic beverages and sober bars have made it easier for them to abstain from drinking. A break from booze doesn't just serve those who have found their drinking problematic, experts say. Many people are simply curious about sobriety and the many health benefits associated with it. "A month off and then some can do so much good for your overall well-being, your memory, your sleep, your digestion," said Sabrina Spotorno, a clinical social worker and credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselor at Monument, an online platform for alcohol treatment and recovery. "The sky's the limit, really, as you phase out from that relationship with alcohol." As the pandemic barrels into its third year, more people are considering a reset — whether it's due to exhaustion from heavy drinking spurred by covid, an emerging sober curiosity or interest in the popular new year tradition, Dry January. If you want to take a pause from alcohol this month or explore a short-term abstinence from drinking, experts have tips on how to start. | | | | Three need-to-know stories | | (Paul Sancya/AP; Joe Martinez for The Washington Post; Justin Sullivan, Chip Somodevilla/Getty; Washington Post illustration) | 01.A year after hundreds of rioters stormed the Capitol, many women of color in Congress say they don't feel like the insurrection is truly over, writes Lily reporter Anne Branigin. With the Jan. 6 committee still deep into its investigation of that day, these lawmakers say a sense of closure eludes them. "I can honestly say I feel less safe in this building with every passing day," said Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.). 02.More than 4,000 children were hospitalized with covid-19 across the nation last Wednesday, Washington Post figures show, marking a new high that towers above previous peaks set during the summer when the delta variant was driving up infections. The tally, which includes confirmed as well as suspected pediatric covid-19 patients, reflects a steep rise in infections in that group. 03.A New York City bill says employers in New York City must now list salary ranges on job postings — a move experts say could help close the wage gap. The legislation follows similar transparency bills that have recently passed throughout the country, including in Colorado, Maryland, Rhode Island, Washington, California, Nevada and Connecticut. The city's new mayor, Eric Adams, has until Jan. 14 to sign the bill into law. | | | | | (Jones/Daily Express/Getty Images; Washington Post illustration) | April Ashley, a British model, actress and jet-set socialite who became known as a regal trailblazer for transgender women, died Dec. 27 at a hospital in London. She was 86, and had been in poor health for some time, said filmmaker Tim Brunsden, who confirmed her death. In 1960, Ms. Ashley became one of the first British women to undergo gender-confirmation surgery, undergoing the procedure at a time when it was extremely rare and the movement for transgender rights was in its infancy. Emerging from surgery, she rose to become an elegant fixture of London society in the swinging 1960s, propelled in part by her bold style and mischievous personality, writes Harrison Smith in The Washington Post. | | | | But before we part, some recs | | (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post) | María Alconada Brooks Art director, The LilyWhat I'm watching:"Can't Get You Out of My Head." This six-part documentary by BBC filmmaker Adam Curtis is the history of the modern world, and examines the power structures and political processes that got us here. What I do when I have hiccups: Both of my grandmothers taught me valuable advice: One said to always wear decent underwear, because you never know if you'll have a medical emergency. The other taught me how to get rid of hiccups. To do so, drink a glass of water with your torso bent down, and drink upside down. The glass should lay over your bottom lip. I would love to hear what life advice you got from your grandmas; feel free to DM me on Instagram. What I can't stop playing: Truco, which means trick in English. It's a very popular game in Argentina that you play in couples (so two vs. two) with Spanish cards. It's pretty much about lying and making your rivals believe you got the best cards — using facial expressions to let your partner know which cards you actually got and made-up phrases to provoke your adversaries. | | | | | |
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