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OPINION: Wine, the next mother's little helper?

"Mother needs something today to calm her down. And though she's not really ill, there's a little yellow pill. She goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper. And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day.
Editor's notebook

"Mother needs something today to calm her down. And though she's not really ill, there's a little yellow pill. She goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper. And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day."

In 1966 the Rolling Stones released the song, "Mother's Little Helper" about the then popularity of so-called "housewives" being prescribed tranquilizers.

Today, a similar song could perhaps go, "Mommy needs her wine."

Having raised four boys, I get it and laughed when I first saw it. Parenting is not for the faint of heart, to be sure.

Recently there have been headlines about women and alcohol and this mommy-wine culture that pervades.

We have all seen the social media memes that make knowing fellow parents chuckle.

One circulating shows a mom holding her young child with the text: "And you're why mommy drinks wine. Yes, you are. Oh, yes you are."

But stats point to something less funny.

For women, the rate of death from causes related to alcohol has jumped by 26 per cent since 2001, according to a 2018 Canadian Institute for Health Information report. For men, the increase has been five per cent.

While there aren't female specific stats for Squamish, residents report heavy alcohol consumption rates higher than the provincial average (19.9 per cent compared to the provincial rate of 17.4 percentage and the national rate of 17.9 per cent.)

Heavy drinking for women is four or more drinks, on one occasion, at least once a month in the past year.

In the age group18 to 34 years, 23 per cent of B.C. women reported heavy drinking, according to the Squamish Community Foundation's Vital Signs report.

Like almost everyone, I have alcoholics in my life and understand the complicated dynamics that lead may a person to excess. Trauma and genetics often likely play a role.

But this increasing trend with women seems not to be an individual "failing" so much as a sign of the times.

I doubt it is a coincidence the age span when many women are beginning to try and balance work and family sees the most drinking. Just like the "mother's little helper" pills were an antidote to housewife frustrations of the time, perhaps the answer lies in the pressures so many currently women face? Is it part of our play hard lifestyle? Is it the trying to work and raise kids in a social-media perfect way?

I don't know what is causing this and perhaps with legalization the culture will shift to "Mommy needs a toke," but all this is worth considering the next time the drinking mommy memes float by on our phones.

The Alano Club of Squamish, a fellowship club for recovering alcoholics hosts Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings several times a week on Third Avenue. Call 604-815-4089 for information. 

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