For those out drinking, here’s a peep into the contents and effects of that glass. Alcohol is nothing but Ethyl Alcohol, a compound of Carbon and Hydrogen. In varying proportions, depending on the spirit you drink (from beer to wine), it gives you a range of experiences from mild euphoria to dizziness.
80 percent of the alcohol we consume goes to the small intestine and then enters the bloodstream. Blood carries the alcohol to the tissues and the body reacts to it depending on BAC (Blood Alcoholic Concentration) which is related to the amount of alcohol consumed.
Alcohol first impairs the communication between nerve cells in the brain thus slowing down responses. Increasing amounts of alcohol with rising BACs lead progressively onwards from euphoria, excitement to confusion, stupor, coma, and even death.
90 percent of the alcohol in the body is removed by the liver which converts the alcohol into acetate. The liver can, at best, convert 15ml of alcohol in an hour. So, depending on what you are drinking, the time taken by the liver to completely remove it from the system can vary greatly.
The amount of ethanol i.e. alcohol in an alcoholic drink is mentioned on the label. Typical ratios by volume are:
Mild to regular Beer: 0.5 to 5%; Strong Beer: 5 to 8%; Wine: 7 to 15.5%; Flavoured Rum: 25%; Country Liquor, Feni: 19 to 43%; Brandy: 36 to 50%; Gin, Rum, Whiskey, Vodka: 36 to 50% but mostly 42.4% in India.
The standard drink in India is defined as 12.7 ml of pure alcohol. So, with 42.4% alcohol content, 30ml of whiskey would make a standard drink. Similarly, for a beer with 4% alcohol, a 330ml would be a standard drink.
So how much drink is not too much drink? The recommended limit is two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. It is a daily limit and not an average so that binge over the weekend followed by 5 dry days will not work!
A recent study in the prestigious science journal Lancet analyzed 694 sources for alcohol consumption and 592 studies, both current and retrospective, and concluded that no amount of alcohol can be certified as safe.
Excessive drinking/heavy drinking is generally defined as 8 drinks per week for women and 15 for men. Excessive drinking can lead to several issues like high blood pressure, cancer, liver diseases, dementia, and depression.
There are some studies that have shown a negative correlation between heart problems and moderate drinking (defined as two drinks per day for men and one for women). It is possible that this is due to the increase in good cholesterol (HDL)which can happen with moderate consumption. At the same time, one has to be aware that alcohol can increase calorie consumption, affect the liver, and increase the chances of cancer. It depends on the individual. If you are otherwise fit and have no other bad habits, alcohol may not be damaging; But for others with any health risk, alcohol is damaging.
So, in short, if you have not started alcohol, do not start. If you are in good health, talk to your doctor and take a considered decision but do not drink more than ½ drink per day. If you have any health issues, it is best left alone.
