Alcohol Myths Put To Rest…....
MYTH: Alcohol gives you energy, it’s a stimulant
TRUTH: Alcohol is a depressant that affects the central nervous system, and can actually make you sleepy. Although the initial effects may seem stimulating, cumulatively it slows down the way you think, speak, move and react.
MYTH: Beer before liquor, never been sicker 1 liquor before beer, you’re in the clear
TRUTH: This urban legend just isn’t true. Your blood alcohol content is what determines how drunk you are. It doesn’t matter what type of alcohol you choose -a drink is a drink, and too much of any combination can make you sick.
MYTH: Ican sober up quickly if Ineed to, with a cold showerlfresh airlhot coffee
TRUTH: Taking a shower, drinking 10 cups of coffee or eating a loaf of bread will not make you sober. Only time will remove alcohol from your system; depending on your weight, it takes about one hour to eliminate one unit of alcohol.
MYTH: Drink drivers can be safe, because they drive extra carefully so they don’t get pulled over
TRUTH: In 2002, alcohol was involved in 41% of all fatal crashes (NIDA). You might think you’re in control, but alcohol slows down reaction time, which makes driving a car much tricker than you think -even if you’ve only had one drink.
MYTH: Alcohol makes sex better
TRUTH: Alcohol can make people feel less uncomfortable in a social situation. But it can keep men from getting or keeping an erection, and it can lower women’s sex drives too. More importantly, alcohol can affect your decision-making ability: you might put yourself in a risky situation and think you’re ready to have sex when you’re not or you might not use a condom, putting you at greater risk of a sexually transmitted disease or an unwanted pregnancy.
MYTH: The worst thing that can happen if Idrink too much is getting my stomach pumped
TRUTH: Alcohol poisoning can cause death. Also, if you’re drunk and unconscious, you could inhale fluids from your vomit, resulting in death by asphyxiation. Long-term, heavy use of alcohol can lead to addiction (alcoholism), and can even cause a heart attack or stroke.
MYTH: Beer gets you less drunk than other drinks
TRUTH: A pint of typical-strength beer (ABV 5%), a glass of wine (250ml, ABV 11%) or a large double vodka (70ml) and coke (ABV 38-40%) are all equally intoxicating, at around 2.8 units of alcohol. It’s the alcohol itself, not the type of drink it’s found in, that makes you drunk although the faster you drink and absorb the alcohol, the higher your peak blood level.
MYTH: Switching between beer, wine, and spirits will make you more drunk
TRUTH: Mixing types of drinks may make you sicker by upsetting your stomach, but not more intoxicated.
MYTH: Eating a big meal, or ‘coating’ your stomach, before you drink will keep you sober
TRUTH: Drinking on a full stomach, or coating your stomach with a greasy or milky solution (like drinking milk before you go out) will only delay the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream, not prevent it. However, it is best to eat a proper meal before a night out, especially foods rich in carbohydrates and proteins.
MYTH: Your body develops a tolerance to alcohol if you drink a lot regularly, so you can safely drink more
TRUTH: The more you drink the more damage your body will sustain and the greater the risks become. Tolerance is actually a warning sign that your body has started to be affected by alcohol.
