Alcohol, The Creatives' Best Friend

Ernest Hemingway, literature's resident drunk, can attest to the theory that the alcohol really fuels the creative juices of writers and artists. Though he didn't write while being crazy drunk, he sure has a few anecdotes about this drunken adventures.

There's no concrete evidence on how alcohol boosts a person's creativity. But there's a theory that since drinking lowers inhibitions, an individual's thought process is freed from any restrictions. Alcohol is a depressant that lowers the judgement and inhibition of a person. So in a sense, science exists behind the claims that having a drink can make a person braver. When it comes to being creative, it works the same way. Words will flow more freely when writers stop thinking about petty concerns such as readers' criticisms. When inhibitions are lowered, writers are less self-conscious, leading to a more natural and honest writing.

However, there's also the argument that alcohol actually hinders productivity. Though it triggers people to be more creative, the other effect of alcohol stops them from delivering. It disinherits a person's capability to actually get out what's on their minds. But it always depends on the amount of alcohol consumed. With just the right amount, creatives can get the help of alcohol to create a master piece.

In a study conducted by psychologists from The University of Illinois, 40 male participants are subjected to a test that challenges their creativity. The men who had drinks performed better on tests and showed sudden insights compared to those who are sober. The research concludes that alcohol relaxes the brain and causes it to see things in a bigger picture. And through this effect, the brain manages to analyse and connects the dots easily. Alcohol can make motor skills and focused action a lot more difficult, but it has a positive effect on the thinking process.

The key here is in the moderation. There's no point in denying the debilitating short-term and long-term effects of alcohol. When taken in staggering amount over the course of years, it can affect the liver and the heart. Alcohol poisoning is even possible. Renowned artists like Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse, both creatives, are just two of the thousands of people who reached their demise due to alcohol. But with the right amount of alcohol in your system, you can free yourself from the limits that your sober self struggles with.

So before heading to the pub to order rounds after rounds of drinks, remember that you cannot write the best essays if you'll be too inebriated to hold a pen. Before opening ten bottles of beer, remember that creating your final art project is impossible when you're passed out drunk on the sofa. It's in the moderation that can help you channel your creative ideas.

About the author: Ella Myers is a fresh graduate hoping to find a job in publishing. She's currently a freelance writer. Connect with her on Google+ or vistit her blog.