Today is Student Mental Health Awareness Day. With one in three young people feeling lonely, one Londoner thinks the solution to this crisis is simple – the pub.
Noah Lawson is brewing his first four craft beers in Belleville, Wandsworth Brewery
Noah Lawson, the 27-year-old founder of Live Fast Brewery, says he is on a “mission to unlock the true potential of pubs in the UK’s mental health and suicide crisis.”
It comes as research shows that roughly two-thirds of 16-25-year-olds experience mental health problems in the UK. Last year alone, there were 200,000 suicide attempts, enough people to fill the O2 arena ten times over.
To tackle this crisis, Noah believes that pubs are one of the most important social spaces for people to relax and talk openly.
“Pubs can act as a place that combats loneliness and tackles social isolation, by providing friends with a place to connect and check in with each other”.
However, health experts are sceptical. New research from UCL shows that binge drinking rates among Gen Z have overtaken those of millennials, with rates tripling since their teenage years.
Drinkaware warned that the drinking habits of young people are “more nuanced” than often portrayed. Annabelle Bonus, the charity’s Director of Research, stated that:
“While more young adults are choosing not to drink alcohol, those who do are more likely than other age groups to binge drink and are twice as likely to drink at high-risk levels.”
She added that young drinkers often experience negative effects such as memory loss or feelings of guilt or remorse after drinking.”
UNFILTERED BEERS FOR UNFILTERED CONVERSATIONS
When asked how Noah would avoid fuelling ‘hanxiety’ and depression, he said that “Drinking can do good in moderation”
“We are building mental fitness by empowering our community to spot, start, share, support and signpost mental health.”
Whilst Noah is fully supportive of mental health charities, he thinks that they “forget to check on where young people are, which is at the pub.
“8.5 billion pints were drunk in the UK last year, but how many of them were had over a discussion on football. I’m on a mission to make the conversations shared over them more meaningful, so that nobody struggles in silence.”
But it’s a fine line.
ALCOHOL RISK FACTOR FOR SUICIDAL BEHAVIOUR
Dr Katherine Severi, Chief Executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, says that
“Alcohol is a well-established risk factor for suicidal behaviour, because young people are particularly vulnerable to alcohol’s effects, as the brain continues to develop into the mid-20s.
Alcohol‑related deaths have increased sharply since the pandemic, and the annual cost of alcohol harm exceeds £27 billion in England alone.”
Whilst pubs have long served as places for social connection, health experts say meaningful relationships and support networks, rather than alcohol itself, are key to improving mental wellbeing.
Noah argues pubs in London can be a social hub to bring young communities together
However, Noah says that mental health can be boosted by grabbing a drink and connecting with mates. Live Fast Brewery will be opening in Battersea at the end of the month, hopefully bringing a sense of community back to lonely Londoners.
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HeadlineDon’t Worry, Beer Happy: a solution to the mental health crisis?
Short HeadlineUnfiltered Beers for Unfiltered Conversations?
StandfirstNoah Lawson, creator of Live Fast Brewery believes that pints can solve the loneliness epidemic
Today is Student Mental Health Awareness Day. With one in three young people feeling lonely, one Londoner thinks the solution to this crisis is simple – the pub.
Noah Lawson is brewing his first four craft beers in Belleville, Wandsworth Brewery
Noah Lawson, the 27-year-old founder of Live Fast Brewery, says he is on a “mission to unlock the true potential of pubs in the UK’s mental health and suicide crisis.”
It comes as research shows that roughly two-thirds of 16-25-year-olds experience mental health problems in the UK. Last year alone, there were 200,000 suicide attempts, enough people to fill the O2 arena ten times over.
To tackle this crisis, Noah believes that pubs are one of the most important social spaces for people to relax and talk openly.
“Pubs can act as a place that combats loneliness and tackles social isolation, by providing friends with a place to connect and check in with each other”.
However, health experts are sceptical. New research from UCL shows that binge drinking rates among Gen Z have overtaken those of millennials, with rates tripling since their teenage years.
Drinkaware warned that the drinking habits of young people are “more nuanced” than often portrayed. Annabelle Bonus, the charity’s Director of Research, stated that:
“While more young adults are choosing not to drink alcohol, those who do are more likely than other age groups to binge drink and are twice as likely to drink at high-risk levels.”
She added that young drinkers often experience negative effects such as memory loss or feelings of guilt or remorse after drinking.”
UNFILTERED BEERS FOR UNFILTERED CONVERSATIONS
When asked how Noah would avoid fuelling ‘hanxiety’ and depression, he said that “Drinking can do good in moderation”
“We are building mental fitness by empowering our community to spot, start, share, support and signpost mental health.”
Whilst Noah is fully supportive of mental health charities, he thinks that they “forget to check on where young people are, which is at the pub.
“8.5 billion pints were drunk in the UK last year, but how many of them were had over a discussion on football. I’m on a mission to make the conversations shared over them more meaningful, so that nobody struggles in silence.”
But it’s a fine line.
ALCOHOL RISK FACTOR FOR SUICIDAL BEHAVIOUR
Dr Katherine Severi, Chief Executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, says that
“Alcohol is a well-established risk factor for suicidal behaviour, because young people are particularly vulnerable to alcohol’s effects, as the brain continues to develop into the mid-20s.
Alcohol‑related deaths have increased sharply since the pandemic, and the annual cost of alcohol harm exceeds £27 billion in England alone.”
Whilst pubs have long served as places for social connection, health experts say meaningful relationships and support networks, rather than alcohol itself, are key to improving mental wellbeing.
Noah argues pubs in London can be a social hub to bring young communities together
However, Noah says that mental health can be boosted by grabbing a drink and connecting with mates. Live Fast Brewery will be opening in Battersea at the end of the month, hopefully bringing a sense of community back to lonely Londoners.
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