Alcohol consumption in many societies is a common feature of social gatherings or events. However, it can become a habit, and drinking too much alcohol can harm people’s health. The impact on people and society is determined by the volume consumed, the pattern of drinking and the quality of the alcohol.
In fact, alcohol consumption has been identified as a major risk factor for over 200 types of diseases. An evaluation of the situation in Europe shows that one in every seven deaths in men and one in every 13 in women in the 15 to 64 age group was caused by alcohol consumption.
Apart from the impact on health, alcohol also impacts other people around the person who is drinking, including family members, friends, co-workers and even strangers.
Ultimately, the impact of alcohol consumption is felt by the whole of society.
Drinking alcohol is associated with the risk of developing mental and behavioural disorders, such as alcohol dependency, as well as major non-communicable diseases. There is also the risk of suffering injuries from violence and road accidents.
Alcohol is associated with risky sexual behaviours, including unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners. These behaviours can result in unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease and digestive problems. It can also lead to the development of cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver and colon.
Alcohol can result in learning and memory problems, dementia, poor school performance, depression and anxiety.
Excessive drinking is defined differently by different people. Many feel that they can manage to drink a number of shots and suffer no adverse effects. But in reality, excessive drinking has negative health effects.
The idea of counting alcohol units was first introduced in the UK in 1987 to help people keep track of their drinking. Units are a simple way of expressing the quantity of pure alcohol in a drink. One unit equals 10ml or eight grams of pure alcohol, which is around the amount the average adult can process in an hour.
Some people should not drink any alcohol. These include those who are younger than 21
What this means is that within an hour of having one unit of alcohol, there should be, in theory, little or no alcohol left in the blood of an adult. This will vary from person to person depending on various conditions.
The number of units in a drink is based on the size of the drink, as well as its alcohol strength. A unit is approximately the same as half a pint of lager or a single measure of spirits. A small (125ml) glass of wine contains about 1.5 units of alcohol.
Various studies have been carried out to advise on the limit of alcohol allowed. This varies from person to person. However, it is best to moderate alcohol intake. The American Heart Association recommends that those who do not already consume alcoholic beverages should not start doing so because of the negative long-term effects of consumption.
There are some people who should not drink any alcohol. These include: those who are younger than 21; those who are or may be pregnant; those who are driving or planning to drive; those participating in other activities that require skill, coordination and alertness; those people who are under medication; those suffering from certain medical conditions or recovering from alcoholism; and others who are unable to control the amount they drink.
By not drinking too much, one can reduce the risk of short- and long-term health risks.
The following are some tips to cut down on the amount of alcohol consumed if you are a regular heavy drinker:
First, make a plan and set a limit on how much you’re going to drink. The next step is to set a budget and take only a fixed amount of money to spend on alcohol when going out.
Your friends and family are there to support you, so it is important to let them know that you are cutting down so they will not offer you drinks.
The road is slow, so take it a day at a time. Cut back a little each day to ensure you do not revert back.
You can still enjoy a drink but go for smaller amounts. Try drinking a half instead of a full pint, or a small glass of wine instead of a large one.
Another option is to have a lower-strength drink by swapping strong beers or wines for ones with a lower strength.
Drink a pint of water before you start drinking, and don’t use alcohol to quench your thirst.
Drinking alcohol in moderation may be seen as part of socialising. However, too much of it has immediate effects and, as we have seen, results in long-term harm.
Take steps to stay safe.
Dr Charmaine Gauci is Superintendent of Public Health.