The Superficial Lure of Alcohol: Temporary Joy and Hidden Pain

In the modern world, alcohol is often seen as an easily accessible tool for swiftly changing one’s mood and escaping everyday troubles. It tempts with its ability to offer instant pleasure, creating the illusion of emotional uplift and even aesthetic enjoyment. However, beneath this external glamour lie deep psychological issues—insecurities, inner complexes, and the urge to flee from daily hardships. Many people, weary from persistent pressure and emotional fatigue, turn to drinking in search of temporary peace, hoping that a few sips can dull their pain and bring lightness to life. At the same time, this approach transforms alcohol into a symbol of superficial stimulation—one that lacks genuine depth and sincerity—leaving behind only a fleeting sense of satisfaction and often opening the door to more serious consequences. In conclusion, it is important to remember that short-term joy should not overshadow the need to address inner issues and search for healthier ways to achieve emotional balance.

According to popular beliefs, alcohol is perceived as a fast and easily accessible method to modify one’s emotional state, gain immediate pleasure, and temporarily escape the hassles of life. Many contend that consuming alcohol allows one to achieve a kind of emotional—and even aesthetic—elevation by creating a distinctive mood, although such usage often conceals inner feelings of dissatisfaction and a desire to run away from the painful realities of life. For example, one source emphasizes, “The cheapest and simplest way to obtain pleasure is to have a drink, and then addiction begins. I think it is rooted in a person’s dissatisfaction with their own life and the escape into alcohol, or indeed, in the idea that life is pleasure and that alcohol is the means to achieve that pleasure. That is the problem—it is not the alcohol itself that is bad, but its improper use, if one considers the cultural aspects of this phenomenon” (source: link ). This perspective highlights that alcohol becomes a symbol of quick pleasure, even though its function in mood creation is linked to significant social and psychological issues.

Another source notes that alcohol is often viewed as a means of finding inner peace: “Why do people drink? Not because vodka is cheap or tasty... but because a person craves peace for their soul. With evil everywhere, life becomes heavy and joyless; people want to soothe themselves and end up falling into that trap” (source: link ). Here, the focus is on how, in states of exhaustion and internal imbalance, individuals search for ways to soften their pain and add an illusion of lightness and carefree ease to their lives.

It is also observed that alcohol can create a certain “excitement” and give people an appearance of liveliness, though this vitality is only superficial: “Barely upon entering, one, two, three servings of cocktail in a row to quickly numb oneself, immediately followed by champagne. Yet sometimes, that isn’t enough to rob people of the desire to converse, especially in Paris, where, thank goodness, many have maintained the age-old habit of engaging in sparkling conversation and clever repartee—people of this sort were once admired as ‘record scribblers of eloquence.’ Alcohol imparts on the faces of all these individuals, both young and old, a kind of agitation, a peculiar liveliness—yet one that lacks soul” (source: link ). This portrayal underscores that while alcohol may craft an illusion of joy and ease, it simultaneously diminishes the depth of one’s perception, rendering the mood superficial and altering the way reality is experienced.

Thus, in popular conceptions, alcohol appears as a universal means of achieving pleasure and creating a specific emotional state—whether it is an attempt to mask inner emotional suffering or a desire to add brightness to daily life. However, such practices often lead to further negative consequences, as the external glitter of momentary joy hides deeper internal issues.

Supporting citation(s):
“The cheapest and simplest way to obtain pleasure is to have a drink, and then addiction begins. I think it is rooted in a person’s dissatisfaction with their own life and the escape into alcohol, or indeed, in the idea that life is pleasure and that alcohol is the means to achieve that pleasure. That is the problem—it is not the alcohol itself that is bad, but its improper use, if one considers the cultural aspects of this phenomenon.” (source: link )

“Why do people drink? Not because vodka is cheap or tasty... but because a person craves peace for their soul. With evil everywhere, life becomes heavy and joyless; people want to soothe themselves and end up falling into that trap.” (source: link )

“Barely upon entering, one, two, three servings of cocktail in a row to quickly numb oneself, immediately followed by champagne. Yet sometimes, that isn’t enough to rob people of the desire to converse, especially in Paris, where, thank goodness, many have maintained the age-old habit of engaging in sparkling conversation and clever repartee—people of this sort were once admired as ‘record scribblers of eloquence.’ Alcohol imparts on the faces of all these individuals, both young and old, a kind of agitation, a peculiar liveliness—yet one that lacks soul.” (source: link )