What is Alcohol

The consumption of alcohol plays an important social role in many cultures.

WHAT IS A ALCOHOLIC DRINK

An alcoholic drink is a drink that contains ethanol, a type of alcohol produced by fermentation of grains, fruits, or other sources of sugar. The consumption of alcohol plays an important social role in many cultures. Most countries have laws regulating the production, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages.

HOW IT EFFECTS THE BODY AND WHY?

Alcohol’s impact on your body starts from the moment you take your first sip. While an occasional glass of wine with dinner isn’t a cause for concern, the cumulative effects of drinking wine, beer, or spirits can take its toll. Read on to learn the effects of alcohol on your body

HOW DOES THE BODY PROCESS IT?

Around 20 percent of the alcohol a person drinks is absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream through the stomach. A further 80 percent approximately is absorbed by the small intestines.

Any remainder that is not metabolized leaves the body through sweat, urine, and saliva.

Once alcohol reaches the bloodstream, it goes to the liver to be processed or metabolized. The liver produces enzymes that break down its molecules.

When someone is drinking alcohol particularly quickly, the liver cannot process all the alcohol at the same rate, so it remains in the body.

The higher a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is, the more pronounced the effects are. These effects may include:

reduced inhibitions
impaired memory
slurred speech
confusion
difficulty concentrating
breathing problems
nausea or vomiting
impaired balance and coordination
irritability

IS IT DANGEROUS?

It is dangerous. Sure, it has been used throughout history for social occasions, to celebrate milestones, to observe holidays, to toast the bride and groom, and yes, we’ve heard the story about Jesus turning water into wine.

Alcohol Is a Very Harmful Drug
At-Risk Drinking
Binge Drinking
Alcohol Is an Adult Beverage
Dangers of Alcohol Impairment
Health Effects of Alcohol
Risk of Alcohol Overdose
Reduce the Risks of Alcohol Consumption

CAN IT BE USED RESPONSIBLY?

Responsible drinking means more than just limiting yourself to a certain number of drinks. It also means not getting drunk and not letting alcohol control your life or your relationships.

TIPS OF DRINKING RESPONSIBLY

The tips in this article are for people who:

DO NOT have a drinking problem, now or in the past
Are old enough to drink legally
Are not pregnant

Healthy men, up to age 65, should limit themselves to:

No more than 2 drinks a day
No more than 14 drinks a week

Healthy women of all ages and healthy men over age 65 should limit themselves to:

No more than 2 drinks a day
No more than 7 drinks a week

Other habits that will help you be a responsible drinker include:

Never drinking alcohol and driving.
Having a designated driver if you are going to drink. This means riding with someone in your group who has not been drinking, or taking a taxi or bus.
Not drinking on an empty stomach. Have a snack or meal before you drink and while you are drinking.

HOW TO IDENTIFY IF SOMEONE HAS A PROBLEM AND HOW TO OFFER THEM HELP. WHO SHOULD NEVER TOUCH IT?

People who have acquired the disease of addiction are no longer capable of drinking alcohol and using drugs without experiencing any negative consequences. Countless individuals who have undergone treatment for drug abuse and alcoholism can describe the many tragic experiences they have had when attempting to just “try it again.”
When recovering from active substance abuse addiction, including recovering from the physical, mental and emotional effects the abuse of drugs and the abuse of alcohol has had on both the life of the addicted individual, as well as on the lives of their family members, a process of rebuilding trust is generally involved. Loved ones have often either come close to giving up hope or have already completely lost all faith that their family member with an addiction will ever be true to their word and reliable again. When working to re-establish that trust, it only takes one bout of relapse into drug use or drinking alcohol to destroy the efforts the recovering person has been so diligently involved in.
There are many side effects associated with drug and alcohol use. Drugs and alcohol can be especially dangerous to consume if you are taking any other medications. The way that your body may react to the combination of drugs and alcohol can range from mild to severe and in some cases has even been fatal.Physical and emotional side effects of drug use and drinking alcohol sometimes include irritability, slurred speech, slowed response/reaction time, drowsiness, irritability, anger management issues, dizziness, nausea, disorientation and distorted perception to name a few.
People who start using drugs and drinking alcohol as a new activity are always at a risk of becoming dependent on drugs and of developing a dependency on alcohol. Many of these substances are highly addictive and the length of time that it takes to become addicted to drugs and alcohol varies greatly dependent upon a large number of factors.Because each case varies, someone who starts to drink and use drugs is putting themselves at risk for the development of this dependence on substances of abuse either over the course of a long period of time or sometimes only a very short period of time. You are always taking a risk of putting yourself under the control of the substance you consume, both in the specific instance where you become intoxicated, as well as afterward, and with this dependence comes a long list of potentially detrimental effects on you and on those whom you associate with.
The cost is too high!

HEALTH BENEFITS

It Can Lower Your Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease
Drinking occasionally could add a few years to your life
It Can Improve Your Libido
It Helps Prevent Against the Common Cold
It Can Decrease Chances Of Developing Dementia
It Can Reduce The Risk Of Gallstones
Lowers The Chance Of Diabetes