Few people know that ethyl alcohol acts on the human body as a poisonous substance. However, this scientifically proven fact does not increase the number of teetotalers. Someone drinks on big holidays, and those for whom Friday evening is already a reason to throw a booze, and do not want to hear about the dangers of alcoholic beverages. Standing for a healthy lifestyle, doctors have figured out how often you can drink alcohol so that there are no tangible negative consequences for the body.
The article shows the average values. Sex, age, weight, the presence of diseases can change them in one direction or another.
Classification of drinkers in domestic narcology
Depending on the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption, experts divide people into five groups.
The word abstinence refers to abstinence from anything, including alcohol. Doctors call abstinent people who do not drink at all or drink a glass of champagne several times a year. Non-drinkers often have three reasons for being sober:
- biological - allergy to alcohol, when even a small dose leads to serious poisoning; also, ethyl alcohol can cause unusual intoxication, when depression and depression appear instead of an increase in mood;
- medical - when you cannot drink due to the presence of diseases;
- behavioral - a person deliberately decided not to drink a single gram of alcohol.
Some abstainers can sometimes drink a little, so as not to seem like an outcast in the drinking company. But the dose of booze is very small, so they never get drunk. More often than not, teetotalers find some reason not to be poured at all.
In this category, doctors rank people who consume no more than 250 ml of vodka several times a year, but not more often than once a month. Basically, they begin to drink in adulthood, observing rituals, but they do not get much pleasure from drinking, on the contrary, the next morning after a feast they feel the symptoms of a hangover. Therefore, by the age of forty, they often pass into the category of abstainers and cannot even tolerate the smell of fumes.
This is the most controversial group, since there is no single opinion about moderate and high doses of alcoholic beverages in the medical environment. Russian narcologists classify a moderately drinking person who drinks on average 100-150 ml of vodka (maximum 400 ml) from 1 to 4 times a month. These people are the organizers of parties and get-togethers with friends, since drinking alcohol for them means improving their mood.
Such people are able to take 200-300 ml of vodka once or twice a week (maximum 500 ml). Usually, their alcoholic experience begins even before the onset of adulthood, and after a few years alcohol takes an important place in the system of life values. A psychological dependence on ethyl alcohol is gradually formed, and this indicates the first stage of alcoholism.
According to doctors, this group includes a person who drinks half a liter or more of vodka several times a week. It is difficult for him to suppress the desire to drink, alcohol becomes a priority in life. To achieve a state of intoxication, you need to drink more and more. The constant intake of such doses leads to sleep disturbance, various diseases of internal organs and personality degradation. No matter how much doctors would like not to spoil the statistics, but things must be called by their proper names, this is alcoholism in the second stage of addiction.
If you recognize yourself in the last two items of the list, it is not too late to stop and stop the progression of the disease. You can start your journey to a sober lifestyle by taking medications that are freely sold on the Internet. They reduce the craving for alcohol, and at the same time help the body get rid of alcoholic toxins.
World Alcohol Standards
The World Health Organization has defined a standard serving of alcohol called a drink or unit. It is equal to the amount of a drink containing 10 g of pure alcohol. For example, one drink will be a bottle (330 ml) of beer, 150 ml of dry wine or 45 ml of vodka or brandy.
You can find out the amount of ethanol in other drinks based on the information on the label: displacement and strength in percent by volume.
Based on this standard, WHO has developed a recommended and, minimizing the risk of complications in the form of somatic diseases and alcoholism:
- men are recommended to drink no more than 40 g of ethanol per day, which is equal to 100 g of vodka;
- the daily portion for women should not exceed 30 g of alcohol, that is, no more than 80 g of vodka or a glass of wine.
When asked how often one can drink alcoholic beverages, doctors answer that this should not be done every day, even if the dose is only one drink. On the contrary, breaks are required between drinking alcohol, not less than two days.
Safe drinking is a relative concept
Guided by the recommendations of reputable experts, you need to take into account a number of individual factors, based on which even a standard serving once a week can lead to negative consequences for the drinker.
- Do not drink under any pretext for those who are allergic to ethanol or to the components of alcoholic beverages (dyes, flavorings), as well as people with chronic diseases of the stomach, liver and other internal organs.
- It is not advisable for people with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism (one of the parents drank) to begin acquaintance with strong drinks at all.
- There is no concept of "safe drinking" for persons under the age of majority. Even one hundred grams of vodka taken once can cause tremendous harm to the still unformed body of a teenager.
- Doctors do not advise pregnant women and nursing mothers to drink as it is harmful to the baby.
WHO doctors have come to the conclusion that an average person can drink 8 liters of alcohol without harm to health in a year. In Russia, statistics show that there are as many as 18 liters of alcohol per drinker, that is, the norm is exceeded more than twice.
Debunking myths about the safety of low-alcohol beverages should contribute to raising the culture of drinking. Often it is with beer and cocktails that alcoholism begins in women and adolescents who are confident that there is no harm from drinks with a weak degree.
Why is beer so popular?
Many people like that beer contains less alcohol than vodka.
“I drink beer, it's a low alcohol drink. Therefore, I have no addiction. "
It seems to a person who drinks beer that he is not afraid of beer alcoholism.
The man adds: “After all, there are people who drink vodka - they are alcoholics, not me. I do not have problems".
However, these beliefs do not justify a person's beer alcoholism.
How often you can drink alcohol
New Year without the clink of champagne glasses. Wedding or birthday without toasts. Meeting friends without 100 grams of vodka or a bottle of beer. Family celebrations with tea alone. "Presentations" that do not include a bottle of expensive wine or cognac of considerable aging. No, this is not the world after the Apocalypse, this is just an existence in which no one will drink alcohol. It is hard to imagine that at least some of the events that modern people are used to can take place without alcohol. However, no one will say that you can not drink at all - it is enough just to use strong drinks wisely and not too often (the norm is definitely not every day). You can drink a small amount of beer, vodka or wine without harm to your health and with pleasure.
As much as possible
The WHO standards define a standard dose of alcohol ("drink" or "unit") as a serving of alcohol that contains 10 grams of pure (96%) ethanol. There are special tables that allow you to calculate how much ethanol is contained in a particular drink based on the data provided by the manufacturer (each bottle is supplied with information on the number of milliliters (grams) of alcohol and its strength in percent by volume). To simplify these calculations, we can say that, on average, the norm-equivalent for one dose-drink:
Beer opponents objections
With regular and unrestrained use, beer causes great harm to the heart: it becomes flabby, increases in size, the heart cavities expand, the rhythm is disturbed. Beer contains female hormones, so men who drink beer become effeminate over the years, both in appearance and in character.
Since getting used to beer is a rather quick process, warn the opponents of this drink, sooner or later you will stop thinking of yourself in the company of friends without a bottle of beer; going to nature without alcohol will become meaningless for you; gradually, there will be no alcohol-free leisure in life.
Sounds scary. But after rereading the arguments of the supporters, everything again does not seem so gloomy. So who's right? Is it okay to drink beer or shouldn't you?
The truth is probably in the middle. If you look closely at the arguments of beer proponents, you will notice that they mainly refer to a small but regular consumption of beer - no more than a bottle a day. If you start drinking this drink in liters, there can be no question of any benefit, but small doses 1-2 times a week (not every day, in fact) can really bring more benefit than harm. And drink only quality beer, preferably freshly brewed and unfiltered - then the benefits will be evident.
Consuming alcoholic beverages without harm to health
According to statistics, in 2020 Russia ranked 6th in the top ten most drinking countries in the world. The average Russian man consumes 15. 1 liters of alcohol a year, and a woman - 7. 8 liters. Vodka is the most preferred in our country, but the use of wine has also been growing lately. How often can you drink, what and in what quantities, so as not to harm your health? What are the standards and rules for drinking alcohol? Read this article.
It's no secret that ethanol contained in alcoholic beverages has a detrimental effect on the human body, like a poison. And despite the fact that this fact has long been scientifically proven, there is no increase in people leading a sober lifestyle in the world. Most do not even want to hear about the dangers of alcoholism, considering every weekend a reason to drink. But, despite this, doctors tirelessly continue to fight for a healthy lifestyle, setting ethanol standards for people who will not be able to negatively affect their health and well-being.
Classification of drinkers in domestic narcology
Experts have divided people into five groups, depending on the amount and frequency of alcoholic beverages drunk.
- Abstainers are people who are indifferent or negative about alcohol. The state of intoxication does not give them pleasure, causes physical discomfort, or is unacceptable for moral reasons. Abstainers can be absolute, who categorically do not use alcohol, and relative, who can afford to drink no more than 100 ml of low-alcohol drinks 2-3 times a year. Abstainers from the absolute group are also divided into three types. The first - biological - is allergic to alcohol or discomfort after taking it. The second - medical - strong drinks are prohibited due to the presence of any disease. The third - behavioral - a person deliberately refuses alcohol, simply because he so decided.
Pay attention! Sometimes abstainers can afford a small dose of alcohol, but this is rare. They never get drunk and often find some reason not to drink.
- Accidental drinkers are people who do not have a craving for drinking, but can afford to drink up to 250 ml of strong drink no more than once a month. The state of intoxication is expressed weakly and does not give them pleasure. Even after drinking so little, these people experience hangover symptoms the next morning. Therefore, at a more mature age, they often already begin to belong to the abstinent group.
- Moderate drinkers are people who drink up to 400 ml of strong drinks 1 to 4 times a month. Drinkers of this category enjoy being in a state of intoxication and often initiate libations in the company. In the medical field, there is no unequivocal opinion about high and moderate doses of alcohol, therefore this group is considered the most controversial: taking alcoholic beverages for such people is considered a way to raise their mood.
- Systematic drinkers - people who consume up to 500 ml of alcohol with a frequency of up to twice a week. They use drunkenness as a way to relax, have fun and find a common language with the environment. This category is characterized by alcohol abuse, as a result of which there is a weakening of self-control and behavior disorders. Such people often experience a state of hangover after parties, and they often start drinking from a minor age, as a result of which, over time, they develop a psychological addiction to alcohol, so strong drinks take an important place in their lives. Here the first stage of alcoholism already begins.
Symptoms of beer alcoholism
I'll give you specific symptoms of beer alcoholism
The symptoms of beer alcoholism are:
- A person often loses control over drinking beer. (drinks more than he should). Loss of control while drinking is the first sign of alcoholism.
- The person himself completely denies the presence of beer alcoholism.
- The addict defends and justifies his drinking in every possible way. Provides a million reasons for "Why he needs to drink beer. "
Read the list below. If you have one or more symptoms, it clearly identifies that you have beer alcoholism.
- Your main reason why you drink beer is to relieve tension and relieve stress.
- In sobriety, when you do not drink beer, you are depressed and depressed. They are often irritated, sometimes even aggressive. All this is due to the discomfort of disuse.
- You consume beer regularly and constantly (every day, or every week).
- You can't just give up beer forever. You cannot help but use at all.
In addition to being aware of the presence of beer alcoholism, a person needs to study the negative consequences in the form of symptoms of alcoholism associated with drinking beer.
Learning to recognize withdrawal symptoms and how to get through the withdrawal period.
Drinking beer in moderation will not work, give up this idea right away. I wrote about this in the article "Can you drink in moderation? "
Complete unconditional abstinence from drinking beer, as well as any other alcohol, is a prerequisite for sobriety.
However, this is not enough.
To get rid of beer alcoholism, you need to learn how to avoid alcohol breakdown.
A breakdown occurs when your state of mind becomes so “negative” that drinking beer seems like the only option. What should be done in order not to break loose and not drink beer, I wrote in the article "What is an alcoholic breakdown and how to avoid it? "
Getting knowledge about your addiction is paramount to get rid of beer alcoholism.
Here's a step-by-step plan for how to get rid of beer alcoholism.
- Realize your addiction. Understand how you justify your addiction.
- Become aware of the problems caused by alcohol use.
- Learn about the negative effects of alcohol and know the signs and symptoms of alcoholism. You will need to read a lot of information, so tune in to it right away.
- Understand what the sobriety process looks like. Quitting drinking is not enough. You can't quit in one day. And you will have to fight the consequences for more than one month.
- The most important skill you can learn along the way is Learning to Avoid Stalling.
- A prerequisite is complete abstinence from drinking beer on the path to sobriety.
If you have any questions about beer alcoholism, you can always ask them in the comments.
Alcohol consumption per day
Large doses of alcohol are undoubtedly harmful: they are addictive and provoke the development of chronic diseases. But if you drink, knowing when to stop, you can avoid dire consequences. The main thing is to correctly calculate the very measure.
Is there a safe proportion of alcohol
The body, due to the presence of a special enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver, is able to process a certain amount of alcohol without fatal health consequences. Each has its own rate: it depends on the amount of enzyme, metabolic characteristics, gender and age of the person.
Scientists from the World Health Organization have managed to calculate the average safe dose. If you do not exceed the specified volume, then you can avoid alcohol dependence, as well as keep your liver, pancreas, heart and other organs healthy.
Alcohol per day
It is impossible to calculate your safe rate outside of laboratory conditions.
This indicator depends on many factors. It is best to use the average data.
For men
A harmless serving for men is 30 ml of ethyl alcohol. If we translate this figure into drinks, it turns out that you can drink a day:
- 90 ml of vodka, cognac, whiskey, brandy or other drinks, strength 40 turns;
- 225 ml of fortified wine or port (alcohol 17-20%);
- 300 ml of dry wine or champagne (10-13 degrees);
- 750 ml beer (5% alcohol).
At the same time, you need to drink no more than five times a week and, preferably, not every day.
For women
Due to its physical characteristics, the female body is more difficult to tolerate alcohol intoxication than the male. Therefore, the numbers for the ladies are somewhat different. The allowed amount is 20 ml of ethanol per day. But some researchers recommend dividing this indicator by two. 10 ml of pure alcohol is 30 grams of vodka or 100 ml of wine. The reason is that women tend to have lower body weight, and they also produce less alcohol dehydrogenase. This means that alcohol is more harmful.
How much alcohol can I drink per week
Five drinks per week is the maximum dose for a healthy person. But you shouldn't save them up and drink them in one day: the liver will not be able to cope with the weekly norm at a time. The likelihood of a severe hangover is high. If you put on such experiments on a regular basis, it will lead to alcoholism.
When there is no safe share
A safe dose is a rather vague concept.
So, people with acute or chronic diseases should not drink at all. Any, even the smallest, portion of alcohol can react with drugs or lead to complications.
Also, there is no harmless dosage for children and adolescents under 18 years of age. At this age, the body is at the stage of formation, and drinking has a depressing effect on the brain and nervous system, leading to degradation.
Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are another category of people for whom alcohol is extremely dangerous. If the expectant mother consumes alcohol during prenatal period or breastfeeding, all harmful substances enter the body to the child. This leads to serious mental disorders, developmental delay, congenital diseases.
Safe norm for the driver
According to the latest amendments, the permissible percentage of alcohol while driving is 0. 35 ppm, which corresponds to 0. 35 grams of alcohol per liter of blood. In order for an average man weighing 70-80 kg to reflect this indicator, he must drink 25-30 grams of pure alcohol. This is equivalent to a shot of vodka, a glass of wine, or two small mugs of beer.
But before driving, you should not experiment with even such a quantity: the body may give an unpredictable reaction or the alcometer will be in error. Then the driver will face a huge fine or deprivation of license - too high a price for the dubious pleasure of drinking.
Weathering times need to be calculated to ensure that sufficient time has elapsed after use and that it is safe to drive.
This can be done using a spreadsheet or an online calculator, or you can use a home breathalyzer.
Measure
The very norm that must be observed relentlessly when drinking alcoholic beverages is different for everyone. You can recognize her only once after drinking. Or sometimes the body itself senses when there is already enough. In this case, do not give in to the persuasion of friends to drink a few more glasses. Otherwise, drinking a lot in the evening, the next day you can say goodbye to a vigorous morning, and you will also have to drink at least 3 liters of water and eat 4 tablets of anesthetic. Several such parties in a row with a heavy hangover in the morning will bear fruit in a few months. Not only morning problems can begin, but also health problems. Ethanol poisons almost all body systems, from iodine balance to the liver or heart. It also leads to addiction, and as a result, the well-known disease of alcoholism occurs.