the ripples of alcohol
By Alexander Germanis
From ancient Rome came the saying: In vino veritas, translated as “in wine there is truth.” It means when people are under the influence of alcohol, they are usually more likely to reveal what they truly think and feel.
Similar phrases exist is nearly every culture around the globe, proving a worldwide awareness of one of the interesting byproducts of imbibing alcohol.
But the facts of how alcohol consumption affects humans does not start or end with simply making one more truthful. Alcohol has a unique characteristic in that its consumption is like a pebble dropped in a pond. Its influence can radiate outward through the body and beyond, affecting not only the health of those who consume it, but also the people around them.
“Safe” Amounts
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, something to which, I confess, I was originally unaware. Where I grew up in Milwaukee, the time to be aware of alcohol was simply called Tuesday…or Friday…or whatever day it happened to be.
The first thing to be aware of, of course, is what is considered to be a “safe” amount of alcohol, (although it could be argued the only safe amount is zero). Nevertheless, there are some basic guidelines to follow if you wish lower any potential health risk factors. In other words, for those who wish to enjoy a beer while watching the game or a glass of wine during your “book club,” alcohol consumption does not always need to lead to unpleasantness. You should, however, factor in certain things: age, weight, sex, genetic influences, preexisting mental and physical health concerns, and medication or drug use. Each one of these factors can play a significant role in how much alcohol is a safe amount.
For instance, a man in his mid-30s to late 40s, weighing roughly 180 to 210 pounds, who takes something benign like an allergy medication, can enjoy two drinks per day without feeling any significant adverse effects.
A woman in the same age range, weighing 120 to 150 pounds, and on no major medications can have one drink per day. To clarify, one drink can consist of a 12-ounce beer, five ounces of wine, or one shot (one-and-a-half ounces) of the heavy stuff.
If you would like to see your personal “safe” drinking numbers, visit the following site: www.addictiongroup.org/alcohol/safe-drinking-calculator
Think Before You Drink
My mother used to counsel me to “always think before you speak,” so I didn’t say something I would regret. Similar advice absolutely applies to drinking. Before you take any step toward the bottle or the bar, think first.
Why are you having a drink? If you’re going to the bar, do you have a safe way to get home? Are you going to limit yourself to an aforementioned “safe” amount? Do you have enough time to detoxify before engaging in important actions?
Oxidation or metabolization of alcohol takes place in the liver and occurs at a rate of about half an ounce of alcohol per hour. A simple rule to remember is one hour of detox for every drink you take. So, if you’ve had two beers, it will take about two hours for the liver to do its job. If you’re right at the legal limit (0.08 blood alcohol level) it will take about five-and-a half hours to get your BAC down to normal. Nevertheless, alcohol will remain present in your urine for up to 80 hours and will remain in hair follicles for up to three months.
There are so many other things to think about before, during, and after you drink. Most importantly, it’s vital to stay off the roads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on average, 37 people per day are killed in alcohol-related traffic incidents, with 13,524 people killed in 2022 alone. From January 2021 through September 2023, alcohol-related emergency room visits totaled 8,566,725. Furthermore, according to the Surgeon General, treating alcohol and drug abuse constitutes 15 percent of the entire national healthcare budget, totaling $442 billion.
If those numbers aren’t enough to dissuade you, according to Insurance.com, the average increase in car insurance with a single DUI on your record is $1,072 per year in the state of Illinois. A first-time DUI also carries fines up to $2,500, although total costs for a DUI conviction, according to an Illinois Secretary of State study, average $18,130.
Inwardly Aware
Being truly aware of alcohol means to have one’s eyes opened to what it can do to one’s well-being. Alcohol influences many of the body’s systems in both short- and long-term ways.
Let’s begin with perhaps the most common after-effect of alcohol consumption: the hangover. Symptoms of a hangover include dehydration leading to headaches, fatigue, and thirst; electrolyte imbalances; gastrointestinal irritation and nausea; inflammation throughout the body; low blood sugar; and disruption of sleep.
If that doesn’t sound like quite enough fun, repeated heavy alcohol consumption can lead to brain damage; heart disease; increases the risk for breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, stomach, head, and neck cancers; steatotic liver disease (formally known as fatty liver disease), pancreatitis, and cirrhosis of the liver, which is permanent scarring in your liver.
Before you panic, heavy drinking is defined as 15 drinks per week for men and eight drinks for women. So, will having that aforementioned tall, frosty lager at the ballpark every so often ruin your health? Unlikely. In fact, issues like cirrhosis often takes 10 years or more of heavy drinking to develop, although that timeline can be shortened if you already have a fatty liver.
As with most things in life, moderation is key. Too much alcohol consumption can lead to weight gain, can kill off the good bacteria in your gut, cause an increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy or a weakening of the heart itself, and a weakened immune system.
As it is a depressant, it can also lead to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Worse still, alcohol affects concentration, memory, and repeated heavy consumption can cause nerve damage and dementia.
Demystifying Myths
Myths about alcohol have perpetuated for centuries. Even now, people continue to believe things about alcohol consumption that have long since been disproven. Before you imbibe, keep these truths about alcohol in mind.
Myth: A little brandy or Irish coffee will warm you up when you’re cold.
Fact: Although you might get a warm sensation along the skin from drinking, the alcohol will actually dilate blood vessels in your extremities, drawing blood away from your core, resulting in a lower core temperature.
Myth: Coffee will sober you up.
Fact: Nothing will sober you up except time. Coffee or other caffeinated drinks trick your brain into feeling more alert and awake, essentially masking the feeling of being drunk. But you will still be inebriated, so do not drive.
Myth: Drinking relaxes you and makes you feel less stressed.
Fact: Alcohol is a depressant and can make you feel looser – at first. In effect, you’re masking your symptoms of anxiety rather than treating them. Here’s another correlation between alcohol abuse and higher rates of depression.
Myth: Drinking a little the morning after a binge can cure a hangover.
Fact: The so-called “hair of the dog” cure masks your hangover symptoms while essentially prolonging your recovery from imbibing in the first place. It’s essentially like starting a new fire in a house that’s already burning down. When it comes to your body, do not use fire to fight fire.
Myth: Drinking a glass of wine is good for the heart.
Fact: It’s not the alcohol but rather the grapes from the wine that are helping your heart. Multiple studies have shown the resveratrol and polyphenols in red or purple grapes consumed in simply drinking grape juice produces the benefits of decreased superoxide production and increased platelet-derived nitric oxide release. Grape juice also has fewer calories than wine. According to Mayo Clinic, more research is needed to specifically link red wine to reduced rates of heart disease.
A Final Toast
There is no denying that alcohol has played a significant role in human history and even in the shaping of entire cultures. (My hometown’s nickname of “Brew City” is proof of that.) Alcohol also holds a significant place in popular culture.
In an episode of the “The Simpsons,” the city’s citizens demand a reinstatement of prohibition after an unfortunate incident during St. Patrick’s Day. Hijinks ensue as a result and, true to sitcom law, everything returns to normal by the end of the episode. What Homer Simpson toasts at the end sums up the truth of alcohol as perceived by drinkers and non-drinkers alike: “To alcohol: the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems!”
The best way to solve a problem, of course, is to never cause a problem in the first place. If you do not drink alcohol, you’re already doing your health a huge favor and there is no need to start drinking.
If you do choose to consume alcohol, however, please do so responsibly and in moderation. Limiting your intake may save your life or maybe even someone else’s.
Regardless of which side you occupy on the alcohol front, it is vitally important to understand the truth of alcohol and what it can do to your health.
