Shopping season is here, and that means getting gifts for teachers, neighbors, friends, loved ones, and whoever else you are grateful to have in your life.
Back in the day, my go-to used to be wine or liquor as a gift because everyone drinks, right? NOPE. That was just me in my own little alcohol world, thinking everyone drank as much as me and would be ecstatic to get a bottle of wine.
I failed to realize that there are people out there who don't drink or who are struggling with their alcohol consumption.
Potentially gifting someone alcohol who is struggling to remain alcohol free or is having a tough year with their mental health is not a gift.
❌ Can we start rethinking giving alcohol as a gift and look at the harm alcohol causes for many people and their families?
❌ Can we stop saying, "Thanks for dealing with my kid this school year. Here's some wine to help you handle being a teacher in these chaotic times."
What does a teacher really need? Maybe a gift card for school supplies. Maybe a gift card to LITERALLY anywhere. Maybe I'm biased, but that's what I do.
Anyway, back to the subject of gifting ANYONE alcohol. I know those of you who are sober understand the etiquette, but for those who don't, please rethink WHO you are giving it to.
And if you are sober and you receive a bottle of wine as a gift...
👉🏻 You can re-gift it to someone who you know without a doubt doesn't have a problem with alcohol (I will say though, don't assume because there are a lot of women struggling who don't seem like they are).
👉🏻 Dump it down the drain.
👉🏻 Tell the person you can't accept the gift because you're not drinking.
People don't know what they don't know, and gifting alcohol has become so normalized that people may not even think of the harmful effects. I never did. But that's why I'm posting this; if you know better, then it's time to do better.
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