The consumption of alcoholic beverages tends to increase during the holiday season, driven by family get-togethers and celebrations. For psychiatrist Alessandra Diehl, member of the advisory board of the Brazilian Association for the Study of Alcohol and Other Drugs (Abad), This consumption increases risks to physical and mental health and brings harm to social relationships.
The expert highlights that there is no safe consumption of alcohol. She remembers that recent documents, ratified by the World Health Organization (WHO)reinforce that any amount ingested can cause harm.
“Among the main problems observed during this period are falls, poisoning and reduced supervision of children in environments with drunk adults,” he says.
“It is very common at this time for pediatric emergency rooms to receive cases of children drinking alcohol because adults do not supervise adequately”, he adds.
The psychiatrist also highlights the increase in aggressive episodes and the risk of mixing with medications.
“People lose critical judgment and end up putting themselves in risky situations, such as driving while intoxicated, in addition to increased aggression and family conflicts,” says Alessandra.
For those who already face problems with alcohol, the end of the year represents an especially delicate period.with a greater risk of relapses.
“It is a period in which drinking is widely available, and our culture heavily glamorizes alcohol, which increases the vulnerability of those in recovery”, he warns.
“Drinking cannot be the protagonist of parties. When we glamorize alcohol, this can be a trigger for emotionally vulnerable people”, he adds.
The psychiatrist also draws attention to the impacts on mental health. According to her, many people turn to alcohol as a way to deal with sadness, anxiety and frustrations common at this time of year.
“Alcohol ends up being used as an anesthesia to deal with this discomfort, but this can worsen existing symptoms of anxiety and depression”, says Alessandra.
Alcohol and youth
Another point of concern is the increase in consumption among teenagers. In September 2025, the 3rd National Alcohol and Drug Survey (Lenad III)carried out in partnership by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp). While the proportion of adults who drink decreased compared to previous data, consumption among teenagers grew.
In the adult population, the proportion of people who drink regularly fell from 47.7% in 2012 to 42.5% in 2023. Heavy alcohol consumption (60g or more on one occasion) increased among minors, rising from 28.8% in 2012 to 34.4% in 2023.
“There is no ‘drinking in moderation’ for teenagers. They cannot drink, by law, and their brains are still developing, which can be impacted by alcohol consumption”, says Alessandra Diehl.
The psychiatrist criticizes the attitude of families that allow or encourage consumption at home.
“Saying that it is better for teenagers to drink under supervision is an extremely permissive and misleading statement. Prevention involves a more active family presence and clear messages that alcohol should not take center stage in celebrations”, says Alessandra. “You can say: here at home, drinking is not the main thing, and you, as a teenager, are not going to drink.”
