For many Arizonans, happy hour isn’t about alcohol, it’s about connection

Amanda Berger

Submitted photo/InsideSources

At a time when loneliness is rising and social bonds are weakening, Americans are searching for meaningful ways to connect. And sometimes those connections begin with a toast.”

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OPINION — An 82-year-old Minnesota grandmother recently made national headlines after successfully leading an effort to pass a law allowing happy-hour gatherings at her senior living community. 

The woman, Anita LeBrun, was not fighting for easier access to alcohol. She was fighting for something deeper. 

“Happy hour is our connection, laughter, sharing stories from our lives,” LeBrun explained. “It brings friends together and helps make everyday moments special.” 

That observation deserves more attention, especially as Americans continue debating the role of alcohol in modern life. 

In recent years, media coverage of alcohol has focused almost exclusively on potential risks, and those risks should not be ignored. It is well known that heavy alcohol consumption can lead to serious health consequences. And even moderate consumption is associated with certain health risks, including an increased risk of breast cancer for some individuals. That is why adults should consult their health providers to help determine what is best for them, based on personal risk factors.  

The science surrounding alcohol is more nuanced than what’s often portrayed in headlines. 

A recent study of more than 400,000 U.S. veterans found that adults who consumed alcohol in moderation experienced lower risks of cardiovascular disease, the nation’s leading cause of death, as well as lower all-cause mortality,  compared to those who do not consume alcohol. This means that, on average, moderate drinkers live as long or longer than non-drinkers. The study also found that heavier drinking increases the risk of certain types of cancer. 

The findings of this study reinforce conclusions from the 2024 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consensus review, which served as the scientific foundation for the alcohol recommendations in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The research certainly does not suggest that anyone should drink for health benefits. It does, however, underscore the complexity of the scientific evidence on the health effects of alcohol. 

A question that is perhaps equally important but that receives far less attention: What role does moderate, responsible drinking play in social connection? 

For generations, sharing a cocktail, glass of wine or beer has been a part of many Americans’ celebrations, friendships, family gatherings and community life. 

In recent years, though, there have been fewer opportunities for human connection than ever before, which has led to the epidemic of loneliness and isolation described in the 2023 Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. The advisory said, “Social connection is a fundamental human need, as essential to survival as food, water and shelter.” 

Health officials have increasingly recognized loneliness as a major public-health challenge that poses a serious threat to physical and mental health. According to the CDC, 1 in 3 U.S. adults reports feeling lonely, while one in four reports lacking social and emotional support. The health consequences of chronic social isolation are significant and well documented. 

Loneliness and isolation are not limited to older adults. Young adults are experiencing them, as well. Research shows they are socializing less, dating less and spending less time with friends in person than previous generations. Many are spending fewer evenings out, participating in fewer community activities and forming fewer face-to-face social relationships. 

To be clear, none of this means alcohol is the solution to loneliness. It is not. 

It does mean policymakers, public-health advocates and journalists should avoid dismissing the positive social environments where moderate drinking often occurs. 

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans continue to offer sensible advice that adults should “limit alcoholic beverages” and “consume less alcohol for better overall health.” That recommendation recognizes that adults can make informed choices while balancing both risks and benefits in consultation with their health providers. 

Today’s cocktail culture increasingly reflects that balance. Consumers have more choices than ever before. Friends meeting over happy hour or dinner can order a classic cocktail, a lower-alcohol spritz or a spirit-free mocktail. The modern social occasion is less about drinking more, and more about enjoying time together in whatever way best fits individual preferences. 

That is why LeBrun’s fight for happy hour resonated with so many people. She understood that what mattered most was not what was in the glass. It was what happened around it. 

In 1948, the World Health Organization recognized that “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This principle feels just as relevant today as it did nearly eight decades ago. 

At a time when loneliness is rising and social bonds are weakening, Americans are searching for meaningful ways to connect. And sometimes those connections begin with a toast. 

Amanda Berger is senior vice president of science and research for the Distilled Spirits Council. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to azopinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.