I like the article but I don't agree that somehow not drinking gives you a more real/unfiltered view of reality (and maybe sufferance as the author describes).
Personally I don't love the narrative of the "pure" or "natural" way of living. Sure, alcohol is not a natural experience for which your body was designed, but so is caffeine to enhance your brain alertness, the amount and types of calories we eat every day, the use of internet and all the various devices, and many more behaviors.
The point is, our lives are so irreparably artificial (and note: I'm not against the notion) that I would urge anybody to drop the "realness" argument as a reason to do anything.
Your perception of reality is given by chemicals in your brain. If you decide that alcohol is bad for your existence, then great for you, but I find it a bit condescending (and pointless) to say that those who use alcohol are "less honest" about their reality.
Personally I don't love the narrative of the "pure" or "natural" way of living. Sure, alcohol is not a natural experience for which your body was designed, but so is caffeine to enhance your brain alertness, the amount and types of calories we eat every day, the use of internet and all the various devices, and many more behaviors. The point is, our lives are so irreparably artificial (and note: I'm not against the notion) that I would urge anybody to drop the "realness" argument as a reason to do anything.
Your perception of reality is given by chemicals in your brain. If you decide that alcohol is bad for your existence, then great for you, but I find it a bit condescending (and pointless) to say that those who use alcohol are "less honest" about their reality.