Summary

Jennifer Lopez's decision to launch an alcoholic beverage brand despite being sober and married to Ben Affleck, another sober celebrity, has sparked debate, but the author emphasizes personal responsibility in alcohol consumption and the benefits of sobriety without advocating for prohibition.

Abstract

The article discusses the controversy surrounding Jennifer Lopez's recent venture into the alcohol industry, considering her and her husband Ben Affleck's sobriety. While some view her business move as hypocritical, the author, who has personally benefited from quitting alcohol, does not advocate for prohibition. Instead, the author promotes individual accountability and acknowledges that some people can consume alcohol responsibly. The piece highlights the significant improvements in the author's life since giving up alcohol, including better physical health, youthful appearance, financial success, emotional stability, and overall optimism. The author encourages readers to focus on their personal achievements and the positive changes in their lives rather than criticizing others' choices.

Opinions

The author believes that alcohol can be a destructive poison but also recognizes that not everyone struggles with its consumption.
Personal responsibility is a key theme; the author emphasizes that individuals should be accountable for their own actions and choices regarding alcohol.
The author is a strong advocate for quitting alcohol, citing numerous personal benefits experienced since becoming sober.
There is a view that prohibition is not the solution to the problems associated with alcohol; instead, the focus should be on treating and supporting users.
The author suggests that society is increasingly looking to blame external factors for personal issues rather than taking self-accountability.
The article conveys that time and energy are better spent on personal growth and achievements rather than getting upset about others' decisions, such as Lopez's choice to sell alcohol.

The 1 reason I just don’t care if sober Jennifer Lopez sells alcohol

The decision by Jennifer Lopez to start her own alcoholic beverage brand sure had a lot of people up in arms recently, didn’t it?

It wasn’t the act of selling booze so much as the fact Lopez notably doesn’t drink and she’s married to one of the biggest-name sober celebrities there is — Ben Affleck.

On the one hand, I suppose I get it.

Affleck almost wrecked his life on the poison and countless millions of others have too.

For Lopez, from what I can gather, it’s more of a health and fitness thing. The singer is in incredible shape for 53 years old, and I’m sure passing on the trash calories provided by sleep-destroying booze is a big part of that.

It’s hypocritical for her to sell alcohol, people argue.

Jennifer Lopez. (Credit: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from Washington D.C, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Alcohol is a destructive poison

Now don’t get me wrong: it’s undeniable that alcohol is a destructive poison.

If you’ve read any of my writing here, you know I’m an extremely vocal and vehement supporter of quitting drinking.

Since I dropped alcohol last summer, there have been so many massive, massive improvements in my life:

My physical health has improved in countless ways
I look younger and less haggard
I achieved my lifelong dream of starting a highly profitable business
I’ve made more than $13,000 in eight months as a direct result of quitting
My mood is happy and stable
My sleep quality is incredible, which supports all of the above
It has given me the most priceless gift of all: optimism

But one thing I’ve never advocated for is prohibition.

You see, I’ve always tried to take responsibility for my own life.

I honestly believe that, more and more every day, we’re becoming a society of people who always need to blame someone or something else for their problems in life.

They never want to ask hard questions of the person staring back at themselves in the mirror.

The fact of the matter is, some people are able to consume alcohol in a relatively responsible way.

And while pouring poison down your throat may seem like borderline insanity to you or me, I believe adults should behave as they see fit.

Just because I allowed alcohol to escalate its toehold on my brain and body to a full-scale takeover, it doesn’t mean I’m going to take to the streets screaming and yelling about how nobody should be able to drink.

There’s a reason jurisdictions are moving to decriminalize and put safeguards around access to drugs, too.

By restricting access, you push the substances back onto the black market. This supports organized crime and further stigmatizes users, criminalizing them instead of treating them.

Focus on your wins

One message I always try to convey to my kids and, well, anyone who is complaining about anything really, is to control what you can control.

Let the rest go.

So Jennifer Lopez has an alcohol brand.

Who cares.

If you’re a sober person, focus on that. Focus on how much better you feel because you quit drinking.

Focus on how great your sleep is, or on the weight you lost. Appreciate the extra coins jingling around in your pocket.

If, like me, you’ve quit alcohol, you suddenly have all this extra time and energy now to do and be whatever you want.

Why on earth would you waste it getting mad online?

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