“I need a drink” is too often a common refrain. Alcohol consumption in the U.S. has drastically increased since the beginning of the pandemic. Culture often treats alcohol like a cure-all for stress through, in part, messages about how desirable and relaxing it is to drink. However, within hours of the first sip, the process of breaking it down creates interruptions to almost every system in the human body, especially the brain. Furthermore, alcohol use impacts mental health and can increase stress. What if humans looked at alcohol intake with the same scrutiny as calories, sugar, caffeine, and harmful chemicals? Rather than using alcohol to cope, humans can make better choices to move forward as a society. Samantha Perkins is an author, speaker, wellness coach, and proud advocate for living alcohol free. Her first book, Alive AF: One Anxious Mom's Journey to Becoming Alcohol Free explored her relationship with alcohol and how she began to heal from lifelong anxiety through eliminating alcohol and embracing self-care. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx