Drinking Debunked

With the gradual alleviation of the COVID-19 restrictions, it’s finally time to SOCIALIZE! And as with most social gatherings, you’ll most likely be induced into a drink… or two. Let’s break down five of the most common myths about alcohol.

Become a more responsible and knowledgeable drinker!

Myth 1. Beer and wine are less intoxicating than spirits

While some alcohols may simply taste stronger than others, alcohol intoxication is normally measured by blood alcohol concentration. So while it is true that beer, wine and spirits have different alcohol concentrations, it’s the sum of the alcohol you drink in a sitting—and how it affects the body—that really matters.

Each of the following drinks have about the same amount of alcohol and are equivalent to a standard drink:

A 12 oz can of beer (about 5% alcohol)
A oz glass of wine (about 12% alcohol)
A 1.5 oz shot glass of spirits (about 40% alcohol)

Myth 2. Men and women can drink the same amount of alcohol

Who can drink the most?! There’s no need to make it a competition. In reality, men and women absorb and metabolize alcohol much differently than the other. In order to help reduce the risk of alcohol-related health problems, women should in fact drink less than men.

Why? Primarily, the average size of a woman is smaller than the average size of a man. In addition to that, men and women of similar body sizes differ in total body water concentrations (men: 60% water, women: 55%). As a result, it would require much less alcohol for women to reach the same blood alcohol concentration as men. Research has also found that women produce less of the enzymes responsible for breaking down alcohol.

How much is too much? Here are the total recommended amounts of drinks you should be taking in per week:

Men: 15 drinks/week
Women: 10 drinks/week

Myth 3. Alcohol gives you energy

Alcohol is known for its stimulating and exciting effects. After all, most nights out dancing and partying are normally accompanied by lots of drinking. Although alcohol does slightly increase our heart rate at first, it’s important to remember that alcohol is primarily a depressant.

So while drinking can make you feel more confident and can help to enhance your mood, a few too many drinks may slow down brain function by depressing the nervous system..

Myth 4. Drinking for chronic pain

Some people who experience chronic pain tend to use alcohol to help alleviate their pain. While some studies suggest that drinking alcohol can help to reduce pain, using alcohol as an analgesic for numbing chronic pain can easily become whiskey business. Alternatively, in certain cases, drinking alcohol can increase pain.

Studies have shown that people experiencing chronic pain are more likely to drink more alcohol than the average person. This can be problematic for two main reasons:

1. Mixing alcohol with medication

Many people with chronic pain take medication to help relieve their pain. However, the combination of alcohol with pain medication can be quite dangerous, sometimes leading to life-threatening conditions.

2. The susceptibility to addiction

Another problem associated with drinking alcohol to treat chronic pain is the likelihood of it leading to alcohol dependency. Once your body gets used to alcohol to alleviate pain, you may lean towards it more, which can lead to substance abuse.

Myth 5. Alcohol is bad for you

While all of these facts can seem alarming, drinking in moderation isn’t totally bad for you — it’s simply part of adult culture. Therefore, unless you have a pre-existing condition, take medication, are pregnant or are breastfeeding, drinking alcohol every now and then is perfectly okay.

So don’t wine about it!

In most cases, drinking a small amount of alcohol every few days is normally considered harmless. Regardless of the fact, it’s never a bad idea to cut down on your weekly alcohol consumption. Here are a few tips to keep in mind the next time you’re grabbing a drink:

Spice it up! — Mix in your favourite non-alcoholic beverage to your drink, such as combining it with ginger-ale or juice.
Find other ways to make your evening enjoyable — Instead of feeling the social pressure to drink, soak in the energy of the room.
Try non-alcoholic drinks — You’ll never know unless you try it! And there’s no shame in simply faking it.
Drink occasionally — As always, the key is in moderation.

What’s your favourite way to cut down on alcohol?

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Source(s):

Laura NguyenJuly 26, 2021Comment