Few people know that ethyl alcohol acts as a toxic substance on the human body. However, this scientifically proven fact does not increase the number of teetotalers. Someone drinks on big holidays and those who have a reason to give a drink on a Friday night and don’t want to hear about the dangers of alcoholic beverages. In addition to a healthy lifestyle, doctors have figured out how often you can consume alcohol so that there are no tangible negative consequences for the body.
This article shows average values. Gender, 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 abstaining from anything, including alcohol. Doctors call abstinent people who don’t drink at all or drink a glass of champagne several times a year. There are often three reasons for sobriety:
- biological - allergy to alcohol, when even a small dose leads to severe poisoning; ethyl alcohol can also cause unusual intoxication when depression and depression appear instead of increasing mood;
- medical - when you are unable to drink due to illness;
- Behavioral - A person has deliberately chosen not to drink a single gram of alcohol.
Some people who stay sometimes drink a little so they don’t seem crowded in the company of drinking. But the dose of booze is very small, so they never drink it. More often, dentists find some reason not to pour at all.
This category includes doctors who consume no more than 250 ml of vodka several times a year, but not more than once a month. Basically, as adults, they start drinking to observe the rituals, but they don’t get much pleasure from drinking, on the contrary, they feel the symptoms of a hangover the next morning after a feast. Therefore, by the age of forty, they often fall into the category of residents and cannot even tolerate the smell of smoke.
This is the most controversial group, as there is no opinion in the medical environment about moderate and high doses of alcoholic beverages. Russian narcologists classify a moderate drinker who drinks an average of 100 to 150 ml of vodka (maximum 400 ml) 1 to 4 times a month. These people are the organizers of parties and gatherings of friends, as drinking alcohol means improving their mood for them.
Such people can take 200-300 ml of vodka once or twice a week (up to 500 ml). Usually, their experience as an alcoholic begins before the onset of adulthood, and in a few years, alcohol occupies an important place in the system of life values. Psychological dependence on ethyl alcohol develops gradually, indicating this is the first stage of alcoholism.
Doctors say this group includes people who drink half a liter or more of vodka several times a week. It’s hard to suppress the urge to drink, alcohol becomes a priority in life. You need to drink more and more to get into a state of drunkenness. Constant intake of such doses leads to sleep disturbances, various diseases of the internal organs and deterioration of personality. As much as doctors want not to spoil the statistics, but things have to be called by their own name, this is alcoholism in the second stage of addiction.
Once you recognize yourself in the last two items on the list, it’s not too late to stop and stop the progression of the disease. You can start the path to a sober lifestyle by taking medicines that are freely available online. 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 dose of alcohol called a drink or unit. This is equal to the amount of a drink that contains 10 g of pure alcohol. For example, a 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 as a percentage by volume.
Based on this standard, the WHO has developed a recommended and minimizing the risk of complications in the form of somatic diseases and alcoholism:
- men should drink no more than 40 g of ethanol per day, equivalent to 100 g of vodka;
- women's daily dose should not exceed 30 g of alcohol, ie up to 80 g of vodka or a glass of wine.
When asked how often you can drink alcohol, doctors answer that this should not be done every day, even if the dose is just one drink. On the contrary, there is a need for breaks between alcohol consumption for at least two days.
Safe drinking is a relative concept
Based on the recommendations of renowned experts, a number of individual factors need to be considered, which can lead to negative consequences for drinkers, even once a week.
- Do not drink under any pretext for those who are allergic to ethanol or alcoholic beverage ingredients (dyes, flavors) and for chronic diseases of the stomach, liver and other internal organs.
- It is not advisable for people with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism (one parent to drink) to become acquainted with strong drinks at all.
- There is no concept of "safe drinking" for adults. Even a hundred grams of vodka once ingested can do tremendous damage to a teenager’s as-yet unformed body.
- Doctors do not recommend drinking for pregnant women and nursing mothers because it is harmful to the baby.
WHO doctors have concluded that the average person can consume 8 liters of alcohol in a year without harming their health. In Russia, statistics show that there are 18 liters of alcohol as a drinker, which is more than twice the norm.
Rejecting myths about the safety of low-alcohol beverages should help promote alcohol culture. Alcoholism often begins with beer and cocktails in women and adolescents who trust that low-grade drinks do no harm.
Why is beer so popular?
Many people like beer to contain less alcohol than vodka.
“I drink beer, it’s a low-alcohol drink. That's why I have no addiction. "
A person who drinks beer doesn’t seem to be afraid of beer alcoholism.
He adds, “After all, there are people who drink vodka - they’re alcoholics, not me. I have no problems ".
However, these beliefs do not justify a person’s beer alcoholism.
How often can you drink alcohol
New Year without clicking champagne glasses. Wedding or birthday without toast. Meet your friends without 100 grams of vodka or a bottle of beer. Family celebrations with tea only. "Performances" that do not include a bottle of expensive wine or significant older cognac. No, this is not the post-Apocalypse world, it is just an existence in which no one will drink alcohol. It’s hard to imagine that at least the events that modern people are used to can happen without alcohol. However, no one will say you can’t drink at all - it’s just enough to use strong drinks wisely and not too often (the norm certainly isn’t every day). You can drink small amounts of beer, vodka or wine without harming your health and with pleasure.
as much as possible
WHO standards define the usual dose of alcohol (“drink” or “unit”) as the dose of alcohol that contains 10 grams of pure (96%) ethanol. There are special tables that allow you to calculate the amount of ethanol in a given drink based on the data provided by the manufacturer (each bottle contains information on the number of milliliters (grams) of alcohol and its alcoholic strength by volume). To simplify these calculations, we can say that, on average, the equivalent of a portion-drink norm is:
Objections of beer opponents
With regular and unlimited use, beer causes great damage to the heart: it becomes flabby, increases in size, dilates the heart cavities, disturbs the rhythm. Beer contains female hormones, so men who consume beer become feminine over the years, both in appearance and character.
Since getting used to beer is a fairly quick process, warn your opponents of this drink that sooner or later you won’t think of yourself in the company of friends without a bottle of beer; going to nature without alcohol will be meaningless to you; gradually there will be no alcohol-free leisure in life.
Sounds scary. But after re-reading the fans ’arguments, everything again doesn’t seem so grim. So who is right? Is it okay to drink beer or not?
The truth is probably in the middle. If you look closely at the arguments of beer supporters, you’ll notice that they mostly refer to a small but regular beer consumption - at most one bottle a day. If you start drinking this drink in liters, there can be no question of any benefit, but small portions 1-2 times a week (not even every day) can actually have more benefits than harm. And just drink quality beer, preferably freshly brewed and unfiltered - then the benefits will be obvious.
Drinking alcohol without compromising your health
According to statistics, in 2020, Russia ranked 6th in the ten most alcohol-consuming countries in the world. The average Russian man consumes 15, 1 liter of alcohol per year, and a woman consumes 7. 8 liters. Vodka is the most advantageous in Hungary, but the use of wine has also been increasing recently. How often can you drink what and in what amounts so as not to harm your health? What standards and rules apply to alcohol consumption? Read this article.
It's no secret that ethanol in alcoholic beverages has a detrimental effect on the human body like a poison. Despite the fact that this fact has long been scientifically proven, the number of people living a sober lifestyle is not growing in the world. Most people don’t even want to hear about the dangers of alcoholism because they see every weekend as a justification. But nonetheless, doctors are tirelessly continuing to fight for a healthy lifestyle, setting ethanol standards for those who will not be able to negatively impact their health and well-being.
Classification of drinkers in Hungarian narcology
Experts divided people into five groups, depending on the amount and frequency of alcoholic beverages.
- Abstainers are people who are indifferent or negative about alcohol. The state of intoxication does not cause them pleasure, causes physical discomfort, or is unacceptable for moral reasons. A stay can be absolute for someone who categorically does not use alcohol and a relative who can afford to drink up to 100 ml of low-alcohol beverage 2-3 times a year. Those in the absolute group can also be divided into three types. The first - biological - allergy to alcohol or discomfort after taking it. The second - medical - strong drinks are prohibited due to the presence of any disease. The third - behavioral - person intentionally refuses alcohol, simply because they chose to.
Listen! Sometimes abstainers can afford a small amount of alcohol, but this is rare. They never drink and often find some reason not to drink.
- Occasional drinkers are people who have no desire to drink but can afford up to 250 ml of strong drink at most once a month. The state of intoxication is weakly expressed and does not cause them joy. Even after so little drinking, these people experience the symptoms of a hangover the next morning. Therefore, at a more mature age, they often begin to belong to the abstinent group.
- Moderate drinkers are people who consume up to 400 ml of strong drink 1 to 4 times a month. Drinkers in this category enjoy a state of drunkenness and often initiate libitation in the company. There is no clear opinion in the field of medicine about high and moderate alcohol intake, so this group is considered the most controversial: consuming alcoholic beverages by such people is one way to elevate their mood.
- Systematic drinkers - people who consume no more than 500 ml of alcohol, no more than twice a week. Drunkenness is used as a way to relax, have fun and find common ground with the environment. This category is characterized by alcohol consumption, resulting in a weakening of self-control and behavioral disorders. Such people often experience a hangover after parties and often start drinking from an early age, leading to psychological dependence on alcohol over time, so strong drinks occupy an important place in their lives. This is where the first stage of alcoholism begins.
Symptoms of beer alcoholism
I'll give you specific symptoms of beer alcoholism
Symptoms of beer alcoholism include:
- A person often loses control over beer drinking. (drink more than you should). The first sign of alcoholism is a loss of control while drinking.
- The person himself completely denies the presence of beer alcoholism.
- The addict protects and justifies his drinking in every possible way. There are a million reasons why "Why should he drink beer? "
Read the list below. If you have one or more symptoms, this is a clear indication that you have beer alcoholism.
- The main reason for brewing beer is to relieve tension and relieve stress.
- In sobriety when not drinking beer, depressed or depressed. They are often irritated, sometimes aggressive. All this is due to inconvenience when not in use.
- Drink beer regularly and continuously (every day or every week).
- You can't give up beer forever. You can't do it at all, but you don't use it.
In addition to being aware of the presence of beer alcoholism, you should look into the negative consequences in the form of symptoms of alcoholism associated with beer drinking.
They learn to recognize withdrawal symptoms and how to survive the withdrawal period.
Excessive beer drinking won’t go away, give up on this idea right away. I wrote about this in the article “Can you drink in moderation? ”.
Full, unconditional abstinence from beer and other alcohol consumption is a prerequisite for sobriety.
However, this is not enough.
To get rid of beer alcoholism, you need to learn how to avoid breaking down alcohol.
Breakdown occurs when your state of mind becomes so negative that drinking beer seems to be the only option. What to do to avoid breaking out and drinking beer, I wrote in the article “What is alcohol breakdown and how to avoid it? ”.
Gaining knowledge about addiction is essential to getting rid of beer alcoholism.
Here is a step-by-step plan on how to get rid of beer alcoholism.
- Recognize your addiction. Understand how to justify your addiction.
- Learn about alcohol-related problems.
- Learn about the negative effects of alcohol and the signs and symptoms of alcoholism. You need to read a lot of information, so tune in to it right away.
- Understand what the process of sobriety looks like. Stopping drinking is not enough. You can't quit in one day. And you have to deal with the consequences for more than a month.
- The most important skill you can learn on the go is to avoid learning.
- A prerequisite is to completely abstain from drinking beer on the road to sobriety.
If you have any questions about beer alcoholism, you can always ask them in the comments.
Daily alcohol consumption
High doses of alcohol are undoubtedly harmful: it is addictive and causes the development of chronic diseases. But if you drink, knowing when to stop, you can avoid serious consequences. The most important thing is to calculate the rate correctly.
Is there a safe ratio of alcohol
The body is able to process a certain amount of alcohol due to the presence of a special alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme in the liver 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 at the World Health Organization have been able to calculate the average safe dose. If you do not exceed the specified amount, you can avoid alcohol dependence and stay healthy liver, pancreas, heart and other organs.
Alcohol daily
It is impossible to calculate the safe speed under laboratory conditions.
This metric depends on many factors. It is best to use average data.
For men
A harmless dose for men is 30 ml of ethyl alcohol.Turning this figure into a drink reveals that one day you can drink:
- 90 ml of vodka, cognac, whiskey, brandy or other beverages, strength 40 turns;
- 225 ml fortified wine or powder (alcohol 17-20%);
- 300 ml dry wine or champagne (10-13 degrees);
- 750 ml beer (5% alcohol).
However, you should drink no more than five times a week, preferably not every day.
for women
Because of its physical properties, the female body has a harder time tolerating alcohol poisoning than the male. Therefore, the number of ladies is slightly different. The permitted amount is 20 ml of ethanol per day. But some researchers suggest dividing this indicator by two. 10 ml of pure alcohol 30 grams of vodka or 100 ml of wine. This is because women tend to have lower body weights and also produce less alcohol dehydrogenase. This means that alcohol is more harmful.
How much alcohol can I drink per week
Five drinks a week is the maximum dose for a healthy person. But you shouldn’t save and drink it in one day: the liver can’t cope with the weekly norm at the same time. The likelihood of a severe hangover is high. Conducting such experiments on a regular basis leads to alcoholism.
If there is no secure sharing
Safe dosing is a rather vague concept.
So people with acute or chronic illness should not drink at all. Any alcohol, even the smallest part, can react with medications or lead to complications.
In addition, there is no harmless dosage for children and adolescents under 18 years of age. At this age, the body is in the developmental stage, drinking has a depressing effect on the brain and nervous system, leading to degradation.
Pregnant women and nursing mothers are another category of people for whom alcohol is extremely dangerous. If the expectant mother consumes alcohol during the prenatal period or during breastfeeding, all harmful substances get into the body. This leads to severe mental disorders, developmental delays, and congenital diseases.
Driver security standard
According to the latest amendments, the permissible percentage of alcohol while driving is 0. 35 ppm, which is equivalent 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 should drink 25-30 grams of pure alcohol. This is equivalent to a vodka, a glass of wine or two small mugs of beer.
However, even before driving, do not experiment with this amount: the body may give an unpredictable reaction, otherwise the breathalyzer will be faulty. The driver will then face a huge fine or revocation - this is too high a price for the dubious enjoyment of drinking.
Weather times should be calculated to ensure that sufficient time has elapsed after use and that driving is safe.
This can be done using a spreadsheet or online calculator, or using a home alcohol probe.
Measurement
It is precisely the norm that must be adhered to when consuming alcoholic beverages that is different for everyone. You can only recognize it once after drinking. Or sometimes the body itself senses it when it is enough. In this case, don’t let your friends persuade you to drink a few more glasses. Otherwise, if you drink a lot in the evening, you can say goodbye to a hectic morning the next day and drink at least 3 gallons of water and eat 4 tablets of anesthetic. In the morning, several such party mornings with a strong hangover will bear fruit in a few months. Not only morning problems can start, but also health problems. Ethanol poisons almost all body systems, from iodine balance to the liver or heart. It also leads to addiction and results in the well-known disease of alcoholism.