GREAT ARTICLE –
JAN. 9, 2026 – Describing his time drinking as 10 years of fun, then 10 years of fun with negative consequences and another 10 years of only negative consequences, Knowles has investigated alcohol’s appeal in his new book, “Why We Drink Too Much: The Impact of Alcohol on Our Bodies and Culture.” The short answer to why humans drink? “Because it’s fun and because we learn that good things happen when we do it, or at least we think good things have happened when we did it,” Knowles said.
The long answer offers insight into why some people struggle more than others and why they keep drinking, even when it becomes clear good things aren’t happening. When he thinks back to friends from his early drinking days, plenty of them drank less than he did –– but he also knew some who drank a great deal more than he did and didn’t develop any problems, he said.
