How Much Can I Drink?
How do I test my limit of alcohol? How much alcohol can I consume before I get drunk? For one that has never seriously consumed alcohols this might be the most valuable question.
The concept of a standard drink (or, “a drink”) refers to a drink that contains about 0.6 fl oz. (or 14 grams) of pure alcohol (ethanol), which is found in:
- 1.5 oz. of liquor (distilled spirits, like vodka and rum, typically 40% alcohol by volume)
- 5 oz. of table wine (typically 12% alcohol)
- 12 oz. of regular beer (typically 5% alcohol; Some can have 15%!)
In other countries, and in many research studies, a different definition is used.
Some beverages (including beer, wine and liquor) contain higher than typical amounts of alcohol — it’s important to read and understand the labels. Mixed drinks, including punch, often contain more than one standard drink of alcohol.
In general, the liver can process one ounce of liquor (or one standard drink) in one hour - but everyone’s limit differs. The latest Dietary Guideline defines moderate drinking as “up to 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men”.
I remember there was this time I drank a whole bottle of beer (it should be 600 ml, or 20 oz., and I drank it definitely within one hour), and I felt nothing really happened (no loss of control etc.) - but my friends, the next day, reported that I clearly acted as abnormal - that might be the closest that I have been to a drunk.
How to Minimize The Effect of Drinking?
Say, if drinking is a must, besides controlling the alcohol amount to one drink per hour, what else can I do to minimize the alcohol effect?
The Blood Alcohol Concentration is the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream or on one’s breath. It basically measures how drunk you are.
- The safe range is below 0.04%. You will feel warm but does not lose control completely.
- BAC is expressed as the weight of ethanol, in grams, in 100 milliliters of blood, or 210 liters of breath. BAC can be measured by breath, blood, or urine tests.
- The change rate of BAC is influenced by time, weight, body fat percentage, sex at birth, the speed and the amount of alcohol consumed, the amount of food and medications consumed along with alcohol.
- Carbonated mixers can speed up alcohol absorption, sweet mixers can mask the taste of alcohol, and caffeinated beverages can cause people to underestimate how intoxicated they are. These are risky factors with drink - do not consume them along with alcohol.
- Alternating water and food with drinks can help keep a drinker’s BAC from getting too high. These are protective factors. Consume them with alcohol; also, a protein-heavy meal before alcohol can also help to slow the BAC increasing rate - hence, be sure not to drink on an empty stomach and always stay hydrated.
- Nothing reduces BAC. Not even coffee, cold shower, or throwing up. The only thing lowers BAC is time.
What about Peer Pressure?
I am a non-drinker. I still think that I would not, and need not to drink. I will not deliberately try to test my limit of alcohol, either.
However, I can imagine in some situations I will be invited to drink and such invitation more than often carries connotations of friendship, bonding, obligation, and networking. Here are some strategies of turning that down:
- Use simple and firm language, like: “I’m good, thanks”.
- Use an excuse, even one that may not be completely accurate, such as, “It gives me headaches” or “I’ve got to get up early tomorrow”.
- Have a non-alcoholic drink so that people won’t ask me if I want something to drink.
- Tell my friends beforehand that they could support me in arguing against alcohol invitation.
Also, to prevent ingesting alcohol inadvertently:
- Never drink from any “communal” sources such as a punch bowl.
- Always Pour drink myself, and never accept drinks from others unless you trust her.
- Never never cease to monitor it; always keep my drink with me, even when I go to the restroom.
- Always check (the smells, the color) before drinking; pour it out if unsure.
When Drinking Goes Wrong…
Where is the line?
- Binge Drinking: 4+ drinks(women)/5+ drinks(men) within 2 hours.
- Heavy Drinking: 8+ drinks(women)/15+ drinks(men) per week.
- Alcohol Use Disorder: This refers to addiction. Commonly involves symptoms like being unable to curb your drinking, requiring more alcohol to achieve the desired effect, and continuing to drink despite its negative effects on your life.
- Alcoholic Poisoning
Common symptoms of alcohol overdose (OR, alcohol poisoning): CUSP
- Cool, clammy skin (a sign of shock).
- In people with lighter skin, their face may seem bluish or pale. In people with darker skin, color changes may be visible in their nail beds, inside their mouth, or underneath their eyelids
- Unconscious, partially conscious or passes out; can’t fully wake up or speak clearly
- Slow or irregular breathing
- Pike, but are still unresponsive
Tips for intervention:
- Stay with them; do not leave
- Do not let them “sleep it off”
- No food, drink or drugs if vomited in the last 3 hours
- Make sure they are lying on their side, arm closed, to prevent choking
- Call for help, provide clear address, name, contact number, information about drinking
Does Alcohol Carry Healthful Effects?
I remember reading it somewhere that some country’s dietary guideline recommends drinking a little wine every day - this might be a piece of misinformation or a case of memory lapse.
I tried to find a clear-cut answer but I know I will fail. If there were one, I would have already known it years ago. Yes, too much is bad, but how much is too much, and is little better than none? The answer varies from research to research.
With that external link I end this article.