Pop icon Jennifer Lopez, 53, has confused and disappointed some of her fans after she launched her very own spritz brand, Delola, and promoted it on social media. The star had previously stated that she didn’t drink, however, in a recent Instagram video, she clarified what her relationship with alcohol is actually like.
What muddied the waters even more, for some long-term J.Lo fans, was the fact that she launched the brand despite the fact that her husband, American actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck, 50, had seriously struggled with alcoholism in the past. Scroll down for the full story and to learn about the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption.
Addictions therapist and counselor Andrew Harvey, a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), was kind enough to shed some light on when someone ought to become concerned about their relationship with alcohol, and how to come to terms with the fact that they might have a problem. You'll find the insights that the expert shared with Bored Panda as you read on.
Jennifer Lopez explained what her relationship with alcohol is really like while promoting her cocktail brand, Delola
Image credits: jlo
Image credits: jlo
In the Instagram video, the pop icon shared that she enjoys the occasional cocktail, even though the star was previously known for not drinking
Image credits: jlo
Image credits: jlo
Image credits: jlo
J.Lo noted that she's responsible when it comes to alcohol consumption
Image credits: jlo
Image credits: jlo
Image credits: jlo
Image credits: jlo
You can watch J.Lo's viral video in full over here
Lopez launched her cocktail brand, Delola, in April of 2023. However, the star had to clarify her relationship with drinking after some of her fans were left puzzled why she would involve herself with an alcohol product.
In a recently published promo video for Delola on Instagram, J.Lo elaborated on how she didn’t drink for the longest time. However, the star stated in the clip that you can see from pictures of her from the past ten to fifteen years ago that she does enjoy “the occasional cocktail.” She added that drinks-wise, she “never found anything that I really love” and mentioned that she doesn’t over-indulge in drinking.
“I haven't been a big drinker my whole life. For a long time, I didn't drink at all. But I'm very particular, and I wanted [Delola] to be something that's easy to pour over ice and drink,” J.Lo told Food and Wine back in April.
Affleck, who is married to J.Lo, has struggled with alcoholism, sobriety, rehab, and relapses for years. He has previously said that it was difficult for him to admit that he has drinking problems. It took him a long time to “fundamentally, deeply, without a hint of doubt, admit to myself that I am an alcoholic.”
The actor has ‘fallen off the wagon’ previously in a very public fashion, and has mentioned that his occasional relapses are embarrassing. “I really wish it wasn’t on the internet for my kids to see. Jen and I did our best to address it and be honest,” he said.
“I drank relatively normally for a long time. What happened was that I started drinking more and more when my marriage was falling apart. This was 2015, 2016. My drinking, of course, created more marital problems,” he told The New York Times about his previous marriage to actress Jennifer Garner. The couple has three kids together and their marriage ended in 2018, after a long separation.
Lopez's husband, American actor Ben Affleck, has struggled with alcohol abuse for many years
Image credits: jlo
Image credits: jlo
Bored Panda wanted to learn more about people's dependence on alcohol and when they should start becoming concerned about their health. "If someone is concerned about their drinking it’s best to consult a healthcare professional to get an accurate assessment. Some of the warning signs to look out for might include: loss of control; drinking negatively affecting other parts of your life; needing to increase quantities of alcohol; experiencing withdrawal symptoms; making unsuccessful attempts to make changes in your drinking and health issues," addictions therapist Harvey, a member of the BACP, explained to Bored Panda. "Any one of these could indicate a problem with alcohol."
According to the counselor, a warning sign that he often discusses with clients is if they've made attempts to change their relationship with alcohol and have been unsuccessful, this might suggest that they are crossing a line with drink.
"I also discuss with clients the difference between enjoying drink and using drink. Using drink might suggest that someone has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. If someone has a dependence upon alcohol, stopping drink suddenly can be dangerous and they should seek support from a medical professional before doing so," Harvey warned.
"A counselor or psychotherapist can help someone think about and explore their relationship with alcohol in a non-judgmental and curious way. It can be helpful in lowering their defenses around it," the addictions therapist said. "If they’re able to be honest and don’t feel under pressure they can sometimes feel better able to think about the true nature of their drinking."
The counselor noted that it is possible for people to change their relationship with alcohol. However, some individuals may need to ask for help. "If you have made a few attempts and not been successful, seeking support from a counselor or psychotherapist could be a good move. It’s important you seek support from a therapist who is registered with a professional body like the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy," Harvey said. You can find a therapist based in the UK on the BACP's website right here.
Affleck's past has left some fans confused as to why J.Lo would create and promote an alcoholic product
Image credits: wikimedia.commons
Image credits: jlo
The negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption are well-documented. According to the CDC, it is the “leading preventable cause of death” in the United States, “shortening the lives of those who die by an average of 26 years.”
Excessive drinking includes binge drinking (that means consuming 4+ drinks for women and 5+ drinks for men on any one occasion), heavy drinking (8+ drinks per week for women and 15+ drinks for men per week), and using any alcohol at all if a woman is pregnant or the person is younger than 21 years of age.
The CDC notes that around 1 in 6 adults in the United States binge drinks. This sort of alcohol abuse can lead to incredibly serious physical and mental health problems. Excessive drinkers suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease, and increase their risk of stroke.
They also wreck their livers and have a higher risk of contracting cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, colon, rectum, liver, and breast. “The less alcohol a person drinks, the lower the risk of these types of cancer,” the CDC states.
What’s more, drinking too much alcohol also increases the risk of injuries and poisoning. The CDC also warns that over 40% of people who died violently in the US had alcohol in their bloodstream.
Meanwhile, the NHS suggests that men and women drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, where one unit is equal to 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol. One unit is more or less the amount of alcohol that the average adult can process in an hour. 14 units is around 6 pints of beer or 10 small glasses of weaker wine.
“Spread your drinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week. If you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week,” the NHS suggests.
According to Lopez, she has been enjoying cocktails for the past ten to fifteen years
Image credits: jlo
Image credits: jlo
Here's what some of J.Lo's fans had to say about her launching a cocktail brand
