Struggling with alcohol addiction is one of the most frustrating things in life, whether you or one of your relatives or friends. However, we now know more about alcoholic drinks and their effects, thanks to past and ongoing studies.
Unfortunately, some people still believe in myths and misconceptions about alcohol. If you or your relatives are one of those, consider this list of debunked myths about alcohol to learn the truth.
Myth #1: Coffee Sobers a Drunk Person Up
Truth: The caffeine in coffee will keep you more alert, but it cannot do anything to help you process alcohol faster. Remember that no amount of coffee can sober you up. What your body needs are enough time to break down alcohol.
Myth #2: Alcohol Helps in Managing Chronic Pain
Truth: Based on studies, almost 28% of people who suffer from long-term pain overuse alcohol to help relieve their pain. While it is true that alcohol can somehow bring relief, the amount needed is way too much than what health professionals advise.
More than likely, your doctor has prescribed pain relievers to help you manage pain. You must know that alcohol, when combined with specific pain medication, can cause intense side effects.
Myth #3: Binge Drinking is Fine as Long as it is Done Occasionally
Truth: One of the most common myths about alcohol is that it is okay to get drunk as long as it is not frequent. Remember: no matter how seldom you binge drink, it is still not safe. Too much of anything is detrimental to your health and can cause serious health problems in the future.
Myth #4: Effects of Alcoholic Drinks are the Same for Everyone
Truth: Like with other things, every person reacts differently to alcoholic drinks. Many factors—gender, weight, genes, and many more—have been proven to affect a person’s reaction to alcohol.
In addition, pregnant women, people who are on medication, and people who have liver and heart problems can experience severe reactions to alcohol when compared to other people.
Myth #5: Wine and Beer Will Not Make a Person Drunk
Truth: One of the myths about beer and wine says that they cannot make a person drunk. The truth is that all standard alcoholic drinks contain almost equal amounts of alcohol. It is not about what you drink; it can surely get you drunk as long as it is alcoholic.
Myth #6: Headaches are Caused by the Sulfites in Wine
Truth: Have you ever heard of “red wine headache”? One of the myths about sulfites and wine says that it is the sulfites in red wines that cause headaches.
There is a particular ingredient in red wines that causes some people to experience headaches, but it is not the sulfites. As proof, white wine contains more sulfites than red wine, but it does not cause as many headaches as red wine.
Myth #7: Older People are Less Likely to Have Drinking Problems
Truth: Alcohol addiction does not discriminate when it comes to age. It can happen to both teens and adults. However, there is a significant increase in the number of older people diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the past years.
Myth #8: Eating After Drinking Alcohol Prevents Hangovers
Truth: We all love stopping by our favorite places, whether it be a coffee shop or our favorite fast food restaurant, after drinking. As much as eating does not have any side effects after alcohol consumption, it does not help.
So, you might as well go home and sleep. Your body needs time to recover from the intoxication; it does not need food that might cause acid reflux to occur.
Myth #9: Alcohol Addiction is Better than Drug Addiction
Truth: Another myth about alcohol that many people believe is that it is better to be addicted to alcohol rather than addicted to drugs. The truth is: alcohol is a drug. The effects of being addicted to it can be as severe as that of drug addiction.
If not addressed immediately, alcohol addiction can also be dangerous and fatal.
Life is of paramount importance, so knowing what is true should be everyone’s priority. Remember always to follow the advised safe alcohol consumption to prevent both addiction and health issues from occurring. In addition, if you ever want to taste the finest hard liquors, you can visit us at Village Warehouse Wine & Spirits. We are the best liquor store in Vail, Colorado!