Alcohol Facts and Myths

Alcohol has always been the culprit when it comes to health matters. It has been said to be more harmful than drugs because of its availability and use. Let’s give alcohol a break, take it lightly this time and weigh the good and the bad things it can do.

Listed are the possible myths and facts about alcohol. Read on as research facts and statistics correct the common alcohol and drinking myths.

Myth

Binge drinking on college campuses is an epidemic problem.

Fact

Binge drinking is an extended period, typically at least two days, during which time a person repeatedly becomes intoxicated and gives up usual activities and obligations in order to be intoxicated. Only few students engage in binge drinking. They make consume four drinks or even five drinks in a day but it doesn’t make them binge drinkers. In reality, the number of students who binge drink is continuously declining, as well as the percentage of those heavy drinkers.

Myth

People who abstain from alcohol are alcohol-free.

Fact

This is absolutely untrue. Each person normally produces alcohol in the body 24 hours each and every day from birth until death. That means, we always will have alcohol in our bodies and will never be alcohol-free.

Myth

Drinking coffee will help sobering a person who is drunk.

Fact

Alcohol leaves the body at a constant rate of 0.15 percent of blood alcohol content per hour. Therefore, a person with BAC of 0.15 will sober up in an hour while a person with ten times BAC or 0.15 will take ten hours to become completely sober. This is a true regardless of age, weight, sex and similar factor. Intake of black coffee, exercise, cold showers and common cures are useless.

Myth

Drinking alcohol causes weight gain.

Fact

A very common believed myth because of alcohol’s caloric value even among medical professionals. Extensive research however found alcohol consumption does not cause weight gain in men and little weight loss in women.

Myth

Both men and women with same weight and height can drink the same volume.

Fact

Men have longer alcohol tolerance than women. Biologically, women have fewer enzymes that metabolize or break down alcohol that is why they are affected rapidly by alcohol intake.

Myth

Pregnant women can cause foetal alcohol syndrome to her child in just a single sip of alcohol.

Fact

Extensive medical research fails to find scientific evidence that light drinking, much less a sip of alcohol by an expectant mother can cause foetal alcohol syndrome. The very safest way would be to abstain from alcohol while expecting.

Myth

Alcohol destroys brain cells.

Fact

Alcohol is associated with improving cognitive or mental functioning. Moderate consumption of alcohol does not destroy brain cells.

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