Alcohol Awareness Month: Balancing Risks and Benefits of Alcohol Use
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and a good time to consider the impact of alcohol, positive and negative, on our lives. While moderate alcohol use has been linked to some social and even health benefits, excessive alcohol use can have devastating consequences. An appreciation for the benefits and risks can help us make more informed choices about alcohol use.
What are the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption? Moderate drinking is defined as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.
- Social Connection: Alcohol may help some people feel more relaxed and may, therefore, act as a social lubricant, enabling individuals to engage more comfortably in social activities and conversation, enhancing the social experience.
- Heart Health Benefits: Although in dispute, some studies suggest that moderate alcohol consumption, particularly red wine, may increase “good” cholesterol and provide helpful antioxidants such as resveratrol.
- Stress Reduction and Relaxation: When consumed responsibly and not over-relied upon, alcohol use at the end of a long or taxing day can help promote relaxation.
- Culinary Enjoyment: for many, pairing a great beer, wine, or cocktail with a meal can enhance the flavors of the food and elevate the dining experience. Because there is often a family tradition of these pairings, they can conjure fond memories of past gatherings.
What are the risks of misuse of alcohol? Regrettably, the negative consequences of excessive alcohol use are as well known to us as the benefits of moderate use.
- Alcohol-Related Deaths: It is surprising to many that the acute and chronic misuse of alcohol results in the death of over 140,000 people per year. Acute misuse may result in deadly accidents, while chronic misuse may result in chronic conditions such as liver disease or poor cardiac health.
- Drunk Driving: In 2022, the last full year for which numbers are available, 13,524 people were killed in alcohol-impaired traffic incidents. It is worth noting that the blood alcohol level of nearly 70% of the drivers in those accidents was twice the drunk driving limit of .08.
- Increased Risk of Disease: Chronic excessive alcohol use may negatively impact the immune system, making the user more susceptible to illnesses such as pneumonia and other conditions. While also being causally linked to liver disease, pancreatitis, multiple cancers, and heart disease.
So, how do I find a healthy balance? Whether you drink alcohol or not is a personal choice. Make choices that work for you in your life.
- Know your family history; like it or not, if there is a history of alcohol use disorder or addiction in your family, your risk of developing a problem is elevated.
- Adopt moderate drinking habits and know your limit – time and experience will inform your choices about how much and what kind of alcohol you can drink without experiencing negative consequences.
- When the use of alcohol begins to cause problems in your life, step back, slow down, or stop the use of alcohol and evaluate on your own or with the help of a professional counselor how best to proceed.