“Let’s have a drink!” is something we hear all the time. We go for drinks with friends, have a drink to celebrate, have drinks after work, and we serve drinks at a party. In society, we drink for a lot of different reasons, and for the most part, it is culturally acceptable to consume alcohol with friends and family.
But is alcohol good for us? If we look at the science and the data, regular consumption of alcohol has a lot of unintended negative health consequences, from alcohol dependence to higher risk of different cancers, higher rates of depression and even a weakened immune system.
If you consume alcohol regularly, maybe it’s time to consider pivoting to something else. That could mean abstaining altogether, or approaching alcohol more consciously and in moderation. Or, it could be time to consider an alternative, such as weed-infused drinks. If consumed properly, marijuana can provide similar benefits to what we experience from alcohol, but with fewer health problems. Also, who doesn’t want to avoid the next day alcohol hangover?!
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How Much is Too Much Alcohol
If you are a moderate drinker, you may be able to drink alcohol without noticing any negative effects. Experts debate if there are health benefits to drinking, but some possible ones include the following:- Reduced risk of developing heart disease
- Reduced risk of ischemic stroke
- Reduced risk of diabetes
- Beer: 12 fluid ounces (355 milliliters)
- Wine: 5 fluid ounces (148 milliliters)
- Distilled spirits (80 proof): 1.5 fluid ounces (44 milliliters)
- Certain cancers
- Pancreatitis
- Sudden death if you already have cardiovascular disease
- Heart muscle damage leading to heart failure
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Liver disease
- Suicide
- Accidental serious injury or death
- Brain damage and other problems in an unborn child
- Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
- Depression and anxiety
- Sleep disturbance such as insomnia
- Addiction or alcohol dependence
Do You Have an Alcohol Problem?
If you’re asking if you have a drinking problem, chances are you do. It’s important to be aware of the warning signs of alcohol abuse:- Drinking more than you plan to
- Couldn’t cut back or stop despite trying
- Spending a lot of time drinking, being sick or hungover
- Wanting alcohol so badly you can’t think of anything else
- Having problems with work, school or family because of your drinking habits
- Continuing to drink even though it is causing problems for you or in your relationships
- Bailing on other activities important to you in order to drink
- Continuing to drink even though it made you depressed or anxious, hurt your health or led to a memory blackout
- Drinking more and more to get the same effect
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when the buzz wears off, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, a seizure, or seeing, hearing or feeling things that aren’t there