This Money-Making Venture Tells Us We Can Drink Safely

This, from Sunnyside -- Mindful Drinking, came to me via Facebook. Below it, I will tell why we need to stay away from this for-profit business.

"I cut my drinking down by 90% and feel like I’ve found a cheat code. Of course, you know that alcohol is bad for you, but do you really know what gains you’ll see if you start to drink less?

"Changing your drinking habits doesn't have to be all-or-nothing, and you don't need to know what you want your final outcome to be. Not sure if you want to cut back a bit or a lot?

"I promise if you cut back on your alcohol, you may experience the same powerful benefits that I have.... Maybe challenge yourself to take a short break from drinking. Or try only drinking on weekends. Or simply try to cut your consumption in half.

"What helps me stay on track?

"I joined the #1 alcohol moderation app called Sunnyside. They help you track your progress with charts and analytics, read through resources and exercises, and hangout online with an awesome community of people like you who want to cut back.

"So, does it work? Sunnyside members reduce their weekly alcohol consumption by 30% on average after 90 days. For me, I cut back 90%, & the majority of Sunnyside members still drink alcohol.

"It’s truly an alcohol moderation app. This is the new health craze that’s going to blow your mind and help you crush your goals. Sounds crazy, right?

"Think you can do it? Join now and get a 15-day free trial."

AA and the rehab programs I am familiar with teach us there is no returning to alcohol without our addictions taking us over again. I turn once more to The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure by Chris Prentiss. He argues that alcoholism isn't a disease, but a response to some sort of physical or emotional stress. Figure out the stress and have it treated effectively and our addiction will be cured. So I was surprised to read in later chapters that he, too, insists we alcoholics can never drink again. Even a little bit:

"No, you cannot ever use addictive drugs or alcohol again. That means not even one sip of wine, once.... Cure means that you can feel physically and mentally good without the use of addictive drugs or alcohol.... If you start believing that you can drink socially...you're on your way back to dependency."

Sunnyside strikes me as a company making money by telling alcoholics what they would like to hear: A little drink now and then won't hurt you. Do you know of anyone addicted who can later drink safely? I don't. And I'm not willing to test the theory.