Whether you’re popping a cork in celebration or pouring yourself a glass after a day’s work, alcohol has become our drug of choice – and when it comes to feeling guilt-free about it, we can be pretty convincing. But is it good for you? And what are the fibs we keep telling ourselves? Time to debunk…
Words: Amy Dowrick | Images: Shutterstock
It’s drinkies season – and as the pints are flowing, glasses clinking and straws are twirling, we hate to be the bearer of bad news. But sometimes, things aren’t best left unsaid.
From having a cheeky nightcap before bed to drinking red wine because the doctor said so, the fibs we tell ourselves to lighten the load can actually do a whole lot more harm than you might think.
So, whether you’re considering going sober or simply want to stay clued up, we’re here to bust a few myths – starting with ‘what you don’t know can’t hurt you’.
Alcohol myths
“It’s a nightcap”
While alcohol can send many off into a deep snooze early in the night, a quick nightcap actually shortens the period of your sleep – and even if you manage to catch those 9 hours, you won’t be feeling too perky in the morning.
“Alcohol is strange because it actually promotes sleep for most people,” says world-leading alcohol expert Professor David Nutt. “It helps you get off to sleep but it distorts sleep.”
“If you drink three units one night, you’ll probably notice your sleep is different from the night you don’t drink,” he says. “That’s largely because even with three units, you’re going into a bit of withdrawal overnight, where your heart rate variability goes down and you wake up a bit early.”
“If sleep is a problem, then absolutely explore whether cutting down alcohol will help.”
“Hair of the dog”
This one is a tad obvious.
It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book. Having another drink when you’re already hungover might seem like you’re cancelling out the negatives (or just grinning and bearing it), but it’s only increasing the amount of alcohol in your body, making your hangover last even longer.
“Red wine is good for you”
Technically speaking, no amount of alcohol is ‘good for you’ – and according to the World Health Organisation, there isn’t a ‘safe’ level of alcohol use.
“There was this idea that if you drank red wine, it might have some kind of cardiovascular protective effect,” says David. “That turns out not to be true. Alcohol consumption has very negative effects on cardiovascular function.”
But moderation might come into play with this one. If you’re absolutely gagging for a glass, David does suggest having no more than a very small 100mls for ‘optimal benefit’ (if there is one).
“I’m not anti-wine, I’m not anti-alcohol,” adds David. “I’m in favour of rational use of it.”
“If you can clearly experience that a small or medium glass of red wine at the end of the day benefits you in terms of your ability to cover from the stress of the day, then use it,” he adds. “But make sure you have balanced out the benefits and risks – and make sure you don’t ever drink more than you should.”
And if you are swigging by the bottle, David says that you’re probably reducing your life expectancy by between five and seven years – so consider your options.
“Beer jacket”
While the red wine flush is real (believe me), having a ‘beer jacket’ and feeling warmer after a drink isn’t the life saver you think it is.
Yes, alcohol can make you feel warm, but only because it allows more blood to flow towards your skin – carrying the warmth away from your body’s core and making your body colder (whether you feel it or not).
“If people get fairly drunk at home before they come out, they won’t feel the true temperature outside,” says paramedic Brian Hayes. “If it’s icy, it’s not just the hypothermia, it’s slipping on the ice. And if they do slip over, it doesn’t take long for them to become unconscious.”
Drinking less alcohol could make you fitter and healthier – and even help you lose weight
“It’s better than doing drugs”
You don’t need to be addicted to still be harmed. A 2010 UK study found that there are 16 ways in which drugs can harm you – and alcohol scored the most harmful overall.
“It is the most harmful drug to society, and to other people,” says David. “There are problems in terms of social disorder, there are problems in terms of health – and the biggest cost of alcohol is lost productivity from hangovers.”
But it also has some serious health problems.
“Alcohol is intrinsically toxic. It is a drug,” he adds. “There’s the harms that come from addiction, and there are metabolic harms in other organ systems, which can occur below the level of being addicted.”
And according to David, if alcohol was invented today as a food additive, the maximum recommended consumption would be just five glasses of wine a year.
So, your alcohol consumption should be taken seriously – and having a couple of days a week where you don’t drink could really help your liver recover.
“Never drink a drink that in hindsight you couldn’t say gave you value,” says David. “If you have a look back each week at how much you did drink, that helps you work out whether you got benefits from drinking or not.”
If you want to keep track of your drinking habits and stay in control this summer, head to drinkaware.co.uk or download the MyDrinkaware app, where you can calculate your daily units, log your drinks and take part in an alcohol self-assessment questionnaire to gauge your health risks.
