When Humour Stops Being Harmless: Alcohol, Drugs, and Culture
There was a time when it was common to joke about mental illness, or to use diagnoses as shortcuts in conversation. People would say “They’re cuckoo!”, “She’s psychotic,” or “I’m so OCD” to mean “that person is not okay” or “I’m quirky and unique.” There was a time when it was common to joke about disability, or use diagnoses as slurs and shortcuts for expressing hostility or opinion.
For decades, these comments went unchallenged. Decades previously, commentary about the "hysterical woman" were also not challenged. They were treated as harmless, easy to make a point with, even funny. But over time, many of us came to understand how damaging and reductive this language is. Joking about mental illness or disability minimises real suffering, excludes people who live with those conditions, and reinforces stigma.
Today, many people, communities, workplaces and groups know better. Parents, teachers, leaders and trainers encourage healthier language, and many of us now catch ourselves before making jokes at the expense of mental health or disability. It wasn’t easy — it felt awkward at first — but the shift happened because people were willing to do the work.
Now it’s time for the next frontier.
A New Frontier: Alcohol and Drug Humour
Casual humour about alcohol and other drugs still flows through our culture unchecked.
-
“Wine o’clock.”
-
“I need a drink after that.”
-
[Hand gesture of smoking a joint after a tough day.]
These are often meant lightly, but they carry hidden assumptions:
-
That alcohol or drugs are the default way to cope with stress.
-
That everyone in the room is comfortable with, or has access to, those coping strategies.
-
That these references are universally funny, harmless, and shared.
In reality, they are none of those things.
For people in recovery, people living with addiction in their families, or people whose trauma is linked to substance use, these “jokes” can land as dismissive and alienating. They signal that inclusion is conditional — that the mainstream assumes alcohol or drugs are part of everyone’s life.
Culture Reinforces the Message
Mainstream content backs this up at every turn.
-
Modern songs like Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)”, P!nk’s “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)”, or The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face” portray alcohol and drugs as fun, release, and lifestyle.
-
Classic songs like Sinatra’s “One for My Baby” or Hank Williams’ “There’s a Tear in My Beer” framed drinking as justified sorrow, almost noble.
The story has shifted from “drinking is how you cope with heartbreak” to “drinking is how you party and celebrate” in the loud times while "alcohol or other drugs can help you ease your worries and the stress of the day"— but the thread is the same: alcohol and drugs are treated as normal, acceptable, and unquestioned solutions.
If we want to move this cultural mountain, we have to do it one stone at a time.
What Next? Small Shifts, Big Ripples
The goal is not to shame or police people, but to increase the options. Trainers, leaders, and everyday role models can practice redirection in the moment — gently adjusting language without making anyone wrong.
If this is you. Here are some options
Example reframes:
-
“Wine o’clock” → “Good idea. Time to reset.”
-
“I need a drink after today” → “I need a break too — maybe a walk, a chat, or some fresh air.”
-
“Beer fixes everything” → “I love a laugh with friends" or "Its nice to pause away from the pressures.”
And beyond reframes:
We can also expand what breaks look like. Imagine if nervous system resets were as common as coffee runs or “wine o’clock” jokes:
-
Mouth and face stretches
-
Arm and leg swings
-
Breath breaks
-
A simple “one moment” hand signal to pause and reset
These shifts validate the need for stress relief without making alcohol or drugs the centrepiece. They model healthier, more inclusive strategies that everyone can access.
The Role of Trainers and Leaders
Organisations — especially those working with diverse communities, like schools, universities, or service providers — carry a special responsibility. When they normalise alcohol and drug humour, they risk undermining inclusion for the very people they aim to support.
But when they take the lead in shifting language, they:
-
Validate the need for coping and connection without exclusion
-
Model alternatives that work for everyone
-
Show that humour doesn’t have to minimise harm to be funny
Knowing Better Means Doing Better
Cultural change never happens overnight. It takes leaders willing to model something different, trainers who risk the awkwardness of rephrasing, and communities ready to support each other in trying new ways.
Just as we have moved away from mental illness as a punchline, we can move away from minimising alcohol and drugs.
It may feel strange at first. But every time we redirect, every time we offer an alternative, every time we choose healthier humour — we take one more stone from the mountain.
And eventually, the mountain moves.
No comments:
Post a Comment