Not many people know that ethyl alcohol acts as a poisonous substance on the human body. However, this scientifically proven fact does not increase the number of tetotalers. Someone drinks on the summer holidays, and those for whom Friday night is already a reason to throw in a booze, and don't want to hear about the dangers of alcoholic drinks. Representing a healthy lifestyle, doctors have determined how often you can drink alcohol so that there are no tangible negative consequences for the body.
The article shows the average values. Gender, age, weight, the presence of diseases can change them one way 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 sober people who do not drink at all or drink a glass of champagne several times a year. Often teetotallers have three reasons for being sober:
- biological - allergy to alcohol, when even a small dose leads to severe intoxication; also, ethyl alcohol can cause unusual intoxication, when depression and depression appear instead of an increase in mood;
- medical - when you can not drink due to the presence of diseases;
- behavioral - a person made a conscious decision not to drink a single gram of alcohol.
Some non-voters can sometimes drink a little, so as not to look like an outcast in the company of drinking. But the alcohol dose is very low, so they never get drunk. More often than not, teetotalers find a reason not to be shed at all.
In this category, doctors classify people who do not consume more than 250 ml of vodka several times a year, but not more than once a month. Basically, they begin to drink in adulthood, observing the rituals, but they do not take much pleasure in drinking, on the contrary, the next morning after a feast, they experience the symptoms of a hangover. Therefore, at 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, as there is no single opinion on moderate and high doses of alcoholic beverages in the medical setting. Russian narcologists classify a person who drinks moderately who drinks an average of 100-150 ml of vodka (maximum 400 ml) from 1 to 4 times a month. These people are the organizers of parties and gatherings with friends, because drinking alcohol for them improves their mood.
These 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 looms large in the value system of life. Psychological dependence on ethyl alcohol is gradually formed, which indicates the first stage of alcoholism.
According to doctors, this group includes one person who drinks half a liter or more of vodka several times a week. It is difficult for him to suppress the urge to drink, alcohol becomes a priority in life. To reach the state of intoxication, you need to drink more and more. Constant intake of such doses leads to sleep disturbances, various diseases of internal organs and deterioration of the personality. No matter how much doctors would like not to spoil the statistics, but things have to be called by their proper name, this is second stage addiction alcoholism.
If you recognize yourself in the last two items on the list, it is not too late to stop and halt the progression of the disease. You can start your journey to a sober lifestyle by taking medications available free of charge on the Internet. They reduce the craving for alcohol and at the same time help the body to get rid of alcohol toxins.
Global 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, a drink will be a bottle (330 ml) of beer, 150 ml of dry wine, or 45 ml of vodka or brandy.
You can know 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 recommendation and, minimizing the risk of complications in the form of somatic diseases and alcoholism:
- men should not drink more than 40 g of ethanol per day, which is equivalent to 100 g of vodka;
- the daily serving for women should not exceed 30g of alcohol, that is, no more than 80g of vodka or a glass of wine.
When asked how often you can drink alcoholic beverages, doctors say it shouldn't be done every day, even if the dose is one drink. Rather, breaks are needed between alcohol consumption, not less than two days.
Safe alcohol consumption is a relative concept
Guided by the recommendations of reputable experts, you should take into account a number of individual factors, on the basis of which even a standard serving once a week can have negative consequences for the drinker.
- You should not drink under any circumstances for people allergic to ethanol or to components of alcoholic beverages (colors, flavors), as well as for people with chronic diseases of the stomach, liver andother internal organs.
- People with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism (one parent has been drinking) are not advised to start familiarizing themselves with strong drinks.
- There is no concept of “safe drinking” for people under the age of majority. Even a hundred grams of vodka taken once can cause enormous damage to a teenager's still untrained body.
- Doctors do not recommend drinking for pregnant and breastfeeding women because it is harmful to the baby.
Doctors at the WHO have come to the conclusion that an average person can drink 8 liters of alcohol without harming health in a year. In Russia, statistics show that there is up to 18 liters of alcohol per drinker, that is, the norm is exceeded more than twice.
Debunking myths about the safety of low-alcohol drinks should help raise the culture of alcohol consumption. It is often with beer and cocktails that alcoholism begins in women and adolescents who are convinced that low-strength 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. Therefore, I have no addiction. "
It seems to a person who drinks beer that they are not afraid of beer alcoholism.
The person adds: “After all, there are people who drink vodka - they are alcoholics, not me. I have no problems ”.
However, these beliefs do not justify a person's beer alcoholism.
How often you can drink alcohol
New Years without the clinking of champagne glasses. Wedding or anniversary without toast. Meet 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, it is just an existence in which no one will drink alcohol. It is difficult to imagine that at least some of the events modern people are used to could take place without alcohol. However, no one will say that you can't drink at all - just use strong drinks in a reasonable way and not too often (the norm is certainly not every day). You can drink a small amount of beer, vodka or wine without harming 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 containing 10 grams of pure ethanol (96%). There are special tables that allow you to calculate the amount of ethanol in a particular drink based on the data provided by the manufacturer (each bottle is provided with information on the number of milliliters (grams) of alcohol and its content. percentage by volume). To simplify these calculations, we can say that on average, the standard equivalent for a drink dose:
Objections from opponents of beer
With regular and unconstrained use, beer causes great damage to the heart: it becomes soft, increases in size, the heart chambers dilate, the rhythm is disturbed. Beer contains female hormones, so men who drink beer become effeminate over the years, both in appearance and character.
Since getting used to beer is a fairly quick process, opponents of this drink warn, sooner or later you will stop thinking about yourself in the company of friends without a bottle of beer; going into nature without alcohol will no longer make sense for you; gradually, there will be no alcohol-free recreation in life.
It sounds scary. But after re-reading the supporters' arguments, all does not seem so gloomy yet. So, who is right? Is it okay to drink beer or not?
The truth is probably in the middle. If you carefully examine the arguments of the beer supporters, you will notice that they mainly refer to modest but regular consumption of beer - no more than one bottle per 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, actually) can really bring more benefit than harm. And drink only quality beer, preferably freshly brewed and unfiltered - then the benefits will be obvious.
Drink alcoholic beverages without harming your health
According to statistics, in 2020, Russia ranked 6th among the top ten drinking countries in the world. The average Russian man consumes 15, 1 liters of alcohol per year, and a woman - 7, 8 liters. Vodka is the most preferred in our country, but the use of wine has also increased in recent times. How often can you drink, what and how much, so as not to harm your health? What are the standards and rules for alcohol consumption? Read this article.
It is no secret that the ethanol in alcoholic beverages has a harmful effect on the human body, like poison. And despite the fact that this fact has been scientifically proven for a long time, there is no increase in the number of people leading a sober lifestyle in the world. Most don't 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 divided the people into five groups, based on the amount and frequency of alcoholic beverages drunk.
- Non-voters 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. Non-voters can be absolute, who categorically do not drink alcohol, and a parent, who can afford not to drink more than 100 ml of low-alcohol drinks 2-3 times a year. The abstainers of the absolute group are also divided into three types. The first - biological - is allergic to alcohol or to discomfort after taking it. The second strong drinks - medical - are prohibited because of the presence of any disease. The third - behavioral - a person deliberately refuses alcohol, simply because he has decided to do so.
Pay attention! Sometimes abstainers can afford a small dose of alcohol, but this is rare. They never get drunk and often find a reason not to drink.
- Accidental drinkers are people who do not feel like drinking, but can afford to drink up to 250 ml of strong drink no more than once a month. The state of intoxication is weakly expressed 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 per month. Drinkers in this category like to be intoxicated and often initiate corporate libations. 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 recoverthe moral.
- Systematic drinkers - people who consume up to 500 ml of alcohol with a frequency of up to twice a week. They use drunkenness to relax, have fun and find a common language with the environment. This category is characterized by alcohol abuse, which results in weakened self-control and behavioral disturbances. These people often get hangovers after parties and often start drinking at a young age, which over time develops a psychological dependence on alcohol, so strong drinks take an important place. their life. Here already begins the first stage of alcoholism.
Symptoms of alcoholism with beer
I will give you specific symptoms of alcoholism from beer
The symptoms of alcoholism from beer 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 drug addict defends and justifies his alcohol consumption 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, this is a clear indication that you are suffering from beer-related alcoholism.
- Your main reason for drinking beer is to relieve tension and stress.
- In sobriety, when you don't drink beer, you are down and depressed. They are often irritated, sometimes even aggressive. This is all due to the discomfort of not using it.
- You consume beer regularly and constantly (daily or weekly).
- You can't give up beer forever. You can't help but use it at all.
In addition to being aware of the presence of beer alcoholism, a person should study the negative consequences in the form of alcoholism symptoms associated with beer consumption.
Learn to recognize withdrawal symptoms and navigate the withdrawal period.
Drinking beer in moderation will not work, give up the idea immediately. I wrote about this in the article “Can you drink in moderation? ”
Complete and 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 alcoholism from beer, you must learn to avoid the breakdown of alcohol.
A blackout occurs when your state of mind becomes so "negative" that drinking beer seems like the only option. What to do not to go wild and not to drink beer, I wrote in the article "What is an alcoholic breakdown and how to avoid it? "
Knowing your addiction is key to getting rid of alcoholism from beer.
Here is a step by step plan of what to do to get rid of alcoholism from beer.
- Realize your addiction. Understand how you justify your addiction.
- Become aware of the problems caused by alcohol consumption.
- Learn about the negative effects of alcohol and know the signs and symptoms of alcoholism. You'll need to read a lot of information, so log in right away.
- Understand what the sobriety process looks like. Stopping drinking is not enough. You can't stop overnight. And you will have to fight the consequences for more than a 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 way to sobriety.
If you have any questions about beer alcoholism, you can always ask them in the comments.
Alcohol consumption per day
High doses of alcohol are undoubtedly harmful: they are addictive and lead to 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 measure itself.
Is there a safe proportion of alcohol
The body, due to the presence of a special alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme in the liver, is able to process a certain amount of alcohol without fatal consequences for health. Each has its own rate: it depends on the amount of enzyme, metabolic characteristics, sex and age of the person.
Scientists at the World Health Organization have succeeded in calculating the average safe dose. If you don't exceed the specified volume, you can avoid alcohol addiction and keep your liver, pancreas, heart, and other organs healthy.
Alcohol per day
It is not possible to calculate your safety rate outside of laboratory conditions.
This indicator depends on many factors. It is best to use average data.
For men
A safe serving for men is 30 ml of ethyl alcohol. If we translate this figure into drinks, it turns out that you can drink one day:
- 90 ml of vodka, cognac, whiskey, brandy or other drinks, force 40 turns;
- 225 ml of fortified wine or port (alcohol 17-20%);
- 300 ml of dry wine or champagne (10-13 degrees);
- 750 ml of beer (5% alcohol).
At the same time, you should not drink 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 poisoning than the male. Therefore, the figures for women are somewhat different. The allowable amount is 20 ml of ethanol per day. But some researchers recommend dividing this indicator by two. 10 ml of pure alcohol corresponds to 30 grams of vodka or 100 ml of wine. The reason is that women tend to have a 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 should not store and drink them in one day: the liver will not be able to cope with the weekly norm at once. The likelihood of a severe hangover is high. If you do such experiences regularly, it will lead to alcoholism.
When there is no secure sharing
A safe dose is a rather vague concept.
So people with acute or chronic illnesses should not drink at all. Any serving of alcohol, even the smallest, can react with drugs or cause complications.
In addition, there is no safe dosage for children and adolescents under the age of 18. At this age, the body is in the training stage, and the consumption of alcohol has a depressing effect on the brain and nervous system, leading to degradation.
Pregnant and nursing mothers are another category of people for whom alcohol is extremely dangerous. If the pregnant woman drinks alcohol during the prenatal period or breastfeeding, then all harmful substances enter the child's body. This leads to serious mental disorders, developmental delay, congenital diseases.
Safe standard for driver
According to the latest amendments, the percentage of alcohol allowed 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 such an indicator, he needs to drink 25-30 grams of pure alcohol. This equates to a glass of vodka, a glass of wine, or two small mugs of beer.
But before driving you should not experience even such an amount: the body may give an unpredictable reaction or the alcohol meter will be in error. The driver will then face a huge fine or loss of license - too high a price for the dubious pleasure of drinking.
Aging times should be calculated to ensure that sufficient time has passed after use and that you can drive safely.
This can be done using a spreadsheet or an online calculator, or you can use a home breathalyzer.
Measure
The very standard to be relentlessly observed when consuming alcoholic beverages is different for everyone. You can only recognize her once after drinking. Or sometimes the body itself feels when there is already enough. In this case, don't give in to persuading friends to have a few more drinks. Otherwise, by drinking a lot in the evening the next day you can say goodbye to a vigorous morning, and you should also drink at least 3 liters of water and eat 4 tablets of anesthetic. Several of those parties in a row with a heavy hangover in the morning will pay off in a few months. Not only morning problems can start, but also health problems. Ethanol poisons almost every system in the body, from iodine balance to the liver or heart. It also leads to addiction and hence the well known disease of alcoholism occurs.