Drinking alcohol is prevalent in most cultures. Some claim that liquor is a social lubricant, allowing people to bond. But many would also attest to feeling they couldn’t walk straight, talk without slurred speech, or remember what happened the day after drinking alcohol. In this post, we will explore the potential long-term adverse effects of drinking liquor.
Please note depending on where you live, there may be an age limit (e.g., 21 years old if you live in the United States) on when you can legally purchase and drink alcohol.
What are Alcoholic Drinks?
Liquor is an alcoholic drink often produced by distilling fermented grains, fruits, or vegetables. Common types of liquor include beer, wine, and hard liquor, such as whiskey.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 1 or fewer drinks in a day for women and 2 or fewer drinks in a day for men. A “drink” standard drinking size in the United States contains 14 grams (0.6 ounces or 1.2 tablespoons). This is equivalent to:
- 12 ounces of 5% alcohol beer
- 8 ounces of 7% wine
- 1.5 ounces of 40%alcohol liquor.
The CDC defines binge drinking as drinking 4-5 or more drinks a day and heavy drinking as drinking 8-15 or more drinks per week. Binge drinking could lead to alcohol poisoning, a medical emergency from high blood alcohol levels because excessive drinking exceeds the body’s capacity to process alcohol.
Symptoms of alcohol intoxication include decreased judgment and control, slurred speech, reduced muscle coordination, vomiting, reduced consciousness and cognitive function, and coma.
What Are the Effects of Alcohol on Cognitive Health?
Heavy drinking was found to be associated with an increased risk of dementia. A 2018 longitudinal study in the United Kingdom following people’s alcohol consumption level for 23 years suggests that those who drank more than 14 drinks a week had an increased risk of dementia.
A 2019 systematic scoping review conducted on articles published between 2000 and 2017 suggests that heavy alcohol use was associated with changes in brain structures, cognitive impairments, and increased risk of dementia. A 2023 systematic review in Europe also found a similar effect: moderate to high alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment, memory loss, and risk of dementia.
Another study conducted in 2019 with 785 individuals from the Jackson Heart Sleep Study suggests that evening drinking alcohol can impair sleep quality, which may lead to a high likelihood of memory impairment and other cognitive functions.
Other effects of drinking alcohol include:
- Liver disease: fatty liver, cirrhosis, hepatitis, fibrosis, and liver cancer
- Heart disease: arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), hypertension, stroke
- Muscle loss: muscle waste (reduced muscle tissue)
- Depression & Anxiety: higher likelihood of depression & anxiety
- Obesity: increased likelihood of weight gain
Are There Benefits of Drinking Alcohol?
A moderate amount of drinking (1-2 drinks) was associated with a lower risk of dementia. Some studies suggest light drinking (drinking low alcohol content) can help with rehydration after a workout, but some studies produced evidence suggesting that it may impair muscle recovery.
In the early 2000s, discoveries were made that resveratrol, a chemical found in red wine, has an antioxidant property that may have an anti-aging effect in mice. However, the researchers also found that you would have to consume about 1000 bottles of wine in order to find a similar effect in humans.
Summary
We explored the effects of alcohol on our mind, body, and overall health. Drinking above the recommended amount of alcohol (1-2 drinks) was associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline. We hope this post has helped you learn some of the consequences of excessive drinking and help you have a healthy drinking life. Please drink (if you are legally allowed to) responsibly!
If you have an alcohol disorder or any other health concerns related to alcohol, please contact your physician or the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).
Ralph with Coffee 