Alcohol is the most popular mind-altering substance in the United States. Many people believe, or are led to believe, that the presence of alcoholic beverages enhances gatherings, parties, and other social occasions. Others believe that the absence of alcoholic beverages is unfair because they enjoy drinking them at events. As a result, many people believe that alcoholic beverages should be served at social gatherings to boost enthusiasm for specific events.
Alcohol is formed when vegetables, fruits, or grains are fermented. Fermentation is a process in which yeast or bacteria convert sugars in these items into alcohol. This substance is also used as a disinfectant and antiseptic. Indeed, a number of commercially available products around the world contain some amount of alcohol.
Despite being a depressant, alcoholic beverage is frequently used to boost energy. Many people have stories about doing stupid things while drinking, and they don’t always involve mellowing out and falling asleep. As a result, alcohol is more than just a depressant; it affects mood, emotions, actions, and reactions.
However, it is important to note that excessive alcohol consumption can cause more harm than good. People who overuse it for a variety of reasons may experience confusion and disorientation.
Reasons people drink alcohol
Addiction caused by early exposure: One of the reasons why many people drink alcohol is that children are exposed to alcohol advertising messages from a very young age. A number of alcohol advertisements depict people drinking and enjoying life. In reality, it is the exact opposite.
Fit in with peers: Most people drink heavily because they don’t want to be talked down by their peers or friends. They believe that if they don’t play along with others, particularly in social settings, their ego will be defeated. In light of this, many researchers reported that alcoholics become exhausted and full of “had I known” when they realize what alcoholism has caused them.
Curiosity: In today’s communities, drinking alcohol can be attributed to a taste sensation. People are often inspired to drink after watching others. People simply want to know how it feels to be under the influence of alcohol. Humans are naturally adventurous and seek out new experiences on a daily basis. This default nature drives them subconsciously to consume alcohol-related beverages, which leads to embarrassing situations.
Relaxation: Drinking alcohol can reduce anxiety and take your mind off of your problems. It can help you feel less shy, improve your mood, and make you feel more relaxed. Alcohol relaxes you and reduces inhibitions, but it is not ideal for activities that require quick responses or cognitive attention.
Too much alcohol consumption, especially over long periods of time, sends many negative messages throughout the body and, of course, has serious consequences for brain function that are difficult or impossible to reverse. A brain affected by too much alcohol will have the following effects:
Brain Effects of Alcohol
Poor coordination – Alcohol can impair your ability to think, organize, and articulate, which can have a wide range of consequences. The alcohol in your bloodstream may have such a strong effect on you that you will most likely do everything wrong.
When your ability to think, organize and articulate is impaired by alcohol, there are numerous potential consequences attached. The alcohol content in your bloodstream may have a strong influence on you that you would probably not do anything right.
You may be willing to do or try anything that you believe will make you happy in the moment, but it is important to understand that such feelings are only induced and can last for a few moments.
However, every alcohol intake returns with a consequence of which poor coordination and bad decision-making abilities are some side effects of too much alcohol use.
Weak decision-making – Alcohol can have a significant impact on someone’s life. Making wise decisions is critical and beneficial to everyone; however, alcohol can complicate this process. People tend to abuse alcohol because they are unable to control their drinking limits. Alcohol has a negative impact on decision making. Alcohol abuse can lead to increased impulsivity and aggression. When people are drunk, they frequently do unimaginable and unspeakable things, as well as make life-changing poor decisions such as unprotected sex, committing crimes, and engaging in violent behavior, among other things.
Memory lapses and Blackouts – Alcohol can cause detectable memory impairments after just a few drinks, and the degree of impairment increases with the number of drinks consumed. Large amounts of alcohol, especially when consumed quickly and on an empty stomach, can cause a blackout, which is a period of time during which the intoxicated person is unable to recall key details or even entire events after the intoxicant has worn off. Blackouts are much more common among social drinkers and should be treated as a possible side effect of acute intoxication.
College students, on the other hand, may be especially vulnerable to blackouts because an alarming number of them engage in binge drinking. Binge drinking, for a typical adult, is defined as consuming five or more drinks in about 2 hours for men, or four or more drinks for women.
Recent research reported that 772 undergraduates students were asked if they “Have ever woken up after a night of drinking and not be able to remember things that they did at the places they went to?”
Of the students who had ever consumed alcohol, 51 percent reported blacking out at some point in their lives, and 40 percent reported experiencing a blackout in the year before the survey. Of those who reported drinking in the 2 weeks before the survey, 9.4 percent said they blacked out during that time.
The students reported learning later that they had participated in a wide range of potentially dangerous events they could not remember, including vandalism, unprotected sex, and driving.
Other Effects of Alcohol
Accidental Death – In addition to the health hazards of alcohol, studies show that almost many deaths among teens are alcohol-related. The use of it increases the possibility of teens and many individuals being involved in car accidents, suicide, or homicide.
Further studies showed that every thirty minutes, someone dies from an alcohol-related car accident. Driving while under the influence of alcohol can cause many health problems and affect body reactions while driving. People who are drunk may experience a decreased amount of performance and judgment while driving. Drunk drivers are not the only ones who are in danger, these drivers may distribute danger to passengers, pedestrians, and other road users.
Suicide – Alcohol disorders increase the risk of suicide; at least one-third of those who commit suicide are alcohol dependent. In addition, suicide among alcoholics appears to increase with age. A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research concludes that middle-aged and older alcoholics are more likely to commit suicide than young adults who are alcoholic.
Increase the risk of breast cancer in women – World Health Organization research shows that drinking alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and liquor increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. Alcohol can damage cell DNA while also increasing estrogen and other hormones linked to hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Women who consume three alcoholic beverages per week are 15% more likely to develop breast cancer than women who do not consume any alcohol.
According to experts, each additional drink women consume on a daily basis increases their risk of developing breast cancer by 10%.
Research also showed that Teen and tween girls aged 9 to 15 who drink three to five drinks a week have three times the risk of developing benign breast lumps that formally exposes them to a higher risk of breast cancer in later years.
Diabetes – Inappropriate alcoholic beverage consumption increases the risk of health problems such as diabetes. It may reduce the body’s ability to absorb necessary nutrients. Many alcoholics do not follow a healthy diet, which further harms their bodies. The health effects of alcohol should not be taken for granted, but should serve as a reminder to consume alcoholic beverages in moderation.
Read more about Diabetes and how to lower your blood sugar naturally
Bad breath – Drinking alcohol, particularly in excess, causes a decrease in saliva production, allowing bacteria to settle within the oral cavity. Alcohol consumption is another cause of bad breath. The more you drink, the more likely you are to develop bad breath. Bad breath can cause concern and embarrassment. It can make you feel uncomfortable around other people and have a negative impact on your self-esteem in social situations. Humans tend to react negatively to bad breath, and it can act as a barrier to communication in some cases. As a result, if possible, avoid drinking alcohol or limit your consumption.
You can also read about 24 causes of bad breath and cure
Distorted vision – Drinkers are aware that alcohol can cause blurred and distorted vision. Abusing it leads to permanent vision problems. When these issues arise, drivers face difficulties in adapting to oncoming headlights on the road. It also impairs people’s ability to distinguish between various objects, colors, lightness, and darkness.
Rape – Rape is a situation in which someone does not consent to sex. Most cases of alcohol-induced rape occur while the perpetrator is under the influence of the beverage. This is because they are either drunk or sleeping. Many people who have been sexually assaulted are unable to move or speak due to the weakness caused by this liquid.
Bottomline
Despite the harmful effects of alcohol, many people continue to drink it for a variety of reasons. Many teenagers and young people drink it for a variety of reasons, including curiosity, relaxation, social acceptance, and others. In any case, keep in mind that alcoholic beverages can harm many organs in your body because they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream and increase the risk of developing life-threatening conditions such as diabetes, accidents, rape, memory lapses, suicide, and many others. Extremely high doses of this beverage at once can cause poisoning, resulting in coma or death.
Resources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6567597/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7034886/
- https://www.cdc.gov/impaired-driving/facts/index.html
- https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285612601_A_case-control_study_on_the_effect_of_alcoholism_on_saliva
