Whether you enjoy having a glass of wine with dinner or several cocktails whilst socialising, drinking is certainly an integral part of adult interaction—but how much is too much? Over the years the consumption of alcohol has become a huge part of British culture and as a result, so has binge drinking.
Excessive binge drinking has an adverse effect on our bodies. While experts agree that too much alcohol is bad for you, it can be hard to identify how much is too much. The NHS recommends drinking no more than 14 units per week—this is applicable to both men and women. Short-term effects of over drinking can include shaking, vomiting, alcohol-induced anxiety, disturbed sleep, memory loss, diarrhoea and weight gain. Long-term effects are often non-reversible and these can consist of brain damage, cancers, dementia, heart disease, stomach ulcers, stroke, high blood pressure and liver disease.
Staying Safe
Along with releasing endorphins, studies have shown that alcohol releases a certain amount of dopamine into the body—another ‘happy chemical’. Although the euphoric feeling promoted by alcohol can make us feel invincible, it can subsequently lead to a number of accidents. Being drunk can affect our reasoning, balance, coordination and even impair hearing, speech and vision. These factors can leave a person vulnerable to injury and sexual or physical assault. So how can you stay safe while drinking?
One of the most effective ways is to remove yourself from situations where you would be taking unnecessary risks, such as operating machinery or driving. Likewise, staying in a group can be a good way to ensure your night remains fun and safe. Apart from the usual risks of alcohol, there is now also the danger of imbibing ‘fake alcohol’. This illegally produced alcohol is made in unlicensed distilleries, or sometimes in people’s homes and is often full of potentially harmful chemicals. The sale of illegal alcohol costs the UK around £1.2 billion per year, according to the HMRC Newsdesk Website. When choosing a bar or club, remember to check their licensing information beforehand.
See also: Exercise doesn’t cure the damages of heavy drinking
Non-alcoholic alternatives
If you are concerned that your drinking may be affecting your health, there are alternatives that can help you to cut down. A popular option for the health-conscious is to try non-alcoholic substitutes. Alcohol-free beverages are the perfect way to satisfy your taste for alcohol without the calories and potential health risks that are associated with them. The alcohol industry is slowly being transformed by alternatives that truly mirror the well-rounded flavour that alcohol delivers. Prominent lager brands such as Erdinger and Superbock have taken the plunge and launched alcohol-free versions of their products. You may also have noticed the emergence of non-alcoholic spirits from brands such as Seedlip; who create herb-infused botanical drinks that are intended for pairing with tonic water.
Botonique is a prevalent example of alcohol-free beverages revolutionising the way we view soft drinks. Creator of Botanique, Hilary Marsh, explains: ‘As a wine merchant and wine lover myself, I wanted to capture the qualities I admire in good wine but without using grapes.’ Instead, Hilary describes her process of extracting the flavours from various botanicals using alcohol, which is then later removed for a more complex flavour. ‘Botonique is designed to satisfy the cultural, emotional, habitual and cultural drivers of alcohol consumption as well as the taste buds,’ she adds. Although the taste of Botonique isn’t an exact replica of wine, it can certainly be paired with similar foods; ‘It goes with the same sort of foods as a Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño or Verdello for example—Mediterranean, Asian and Oriental cuisines, especially fish, sushi and antipasti.’
