Do you enjoy your weekend drink? Well ponder over this the next time you're letting your hair down and having a drink, alcohol kills approximately six people every minute around the world! Shocking isn't it, what the world's most popular legal drug can do to you? According to a new report launched by WHO, alcohol consumption took 3.3 million lives in 2012. Alcohol kills by creating dependence and also increasing the chance of developing 200 diseases including liver cirrhosis, cancer and also leads to violent behaviour and injuries. The WHO report even found that heavy drinkers were more susceptible to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia The 'Global status report on alcohol and health 2014' provides country profiles for alcohol consumption in the 194 WHO Member States, the impact on public health and policy responses.
'More needs to be done to protect populations from the negative health consequences of alcohol consumption,' says Dr Oleg Chestnov, WHO Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health. 'The report clearly shows that there is no room for complacency when it comes to reducing the harmful use of alcohol.'
Some countries have woken up to the dangers of alcohol consumption and are taking steps by increasing taxes on alcohol, limiting the availability, raising the age limit and regulating the marketing and advertisement of alcoholic beverages.
Some countries are already strengthening measures to protect people. These include increasing taxes on alcohol, limiting the availability of alcohol by raising the age limit, and regulating the marketing of alcoholic beverages.
The report believes that countries should do the following to reduce alcohol consumption:
How much do people drink?
On an average every person in the world aged 15 or above drinks 6.2 litres of pure alcohol per year but since only 38.3% of the population actually drinks, those who drink are actually drinking 17 litres per year. The study also found that men were likelier to die of alcohol consumption than women though women who drink tend to be more vulnerable.
'We found that worldwide about 16% of drinkers engage in heavy episodic drinking - often referred to as 'binge-drinking' - which is the most harmful to health,' explains Dr Shekhar Saxena, Director for Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO. 'Lower-income groups are more affected by the social and health consequences of alcohol. They often lack quality health care and are less protected by functional family or community networks.'
Worldwide, Europe drinks the most alcohol per capita though there have been reports of increasing consumptions in South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions.
The situation in India
While India's the traditionally non-drinking culture and consumption of liquor is usually frowned upon in many parts of the countries, the amount of consumption has gone up in the last decade with 32% men and 10% women above 15 drinking alcohol. India was reps
The problem is worst in our national capital according to a new survey. An astonishing 83.8 percent boys and 64.6 percent girls in Delhi start drinking before age 18, and 11.1 percent boys and 2.1 percent girls spend around Rs.8,000 on alcohol per month, revealed a survey released on Monday.
The survey, Alcohol and Youth - Survey Report - 2014, carried out by NGO Campaign Against Drunken Driving (CADD), was launched as part of the ongoing UN Global Road Safety Week.
The survey which was conducted among the youths of Delhi also revealed that 34.5 percent males and 28 percent females consume alcohol at least two to four times a week, and that 77 percent boys and 46 percent girls have had more than five drinks at a time.
Prince Singhal, activist and founder, CADD, said: 'With the recent accidents involving young drivers and also the presence of large number of youths in pubs, it is evident that young people have more freedom than ever before, they are more affluent than ever before, money's more accessible, alcohol's more accessible, and drinking is heavily promoted.'
He added India records the highest number of road fatalities in the world and underage drinking only adds up to the 'menace' of drunken driving.
'At 138,000 road deaths, India records highest road fatalities in the world and underage drinking only adds up to the menace of drunk driving. It's about time that the administration, parents, educational institutions and organisations are involved in the process of addressing this issue,' Singhal added.
The results showed that 75 percent male and 12.3 female respondents have indulged in drunken driving and that none of the respondents has ever been asked for an age proof before consuming or purchasing alcohol. The report added that while 67.5 percent of the respondents believed that police enforcement was visible and substantial, they felt it was not effective.
'Respondents felt that the police are never seen outside bars and pubs during the day when drinking is practiced by youth, and there are no police checks between 12 a.m. and 2 a.m. at night when youths are returning from pubs,' the report said. 'Police enforcement is not there in university and campus areas where alcohol is consumed in cars, hostels, small restro-bars, anyone is free to drive in these areas without getting caught,' it added.
What alcohol does to your liver?
What does alcohol do to your liver?
When you drink alcohol made primarily of ethanol your liver works overtime to convert the ethanol into acetic acid. This is then converted into a less toxic form called acetate, which is eventually removed from the body as urine.
Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? Well, all this converting and watering down of large amounts of toxins, divertes the liver from its primary functions like providing glucose. Glucose is extremely important for your brain to function. The lack glucose or hypoglycaemia is one of the main reasons you suffer from a hangover, feel lethargic, have lowered cognitive functions and suffer from nausea, vomiting, headaches and fatigue. Mind you these are the short term effects. (Read: What alcohol does to your liver)
Long term effects
The long term effects are far worse. It takes a toll on all liver functions. Apart from fatty foods, excessive alcohol consumption the primary causes for all liver diseases. The fat deposited due to absorption of alcohol leads to fatty liver disease and causes inflammation of the liver which leads to alcoholic hepatitis (one of the first stages of alcoholic liver disease), this can then progress to fibrosis (thickening of connecting tissues) or cirrhosis (a chronic liver disease marked by cell degeneration, inflammation and advanced fibrosis).
Though the liver is a remarkably resilient organ (it can function normally even after losing 70% of its mass), cirrhosis, is a death knell for the liver. It leads to its complete shutdown by preventing the free flow of blood leading to accumulation of waste and toxins in the body. The symptoms of cirrhosis are usually only visible when it has progressed to an advanced stage and may occur either simultaneously or gradually. By that time very little can be done for the patient. (Read: Alcohol abuse what you need to know)
Alcohol can mess up your fitness regime
If you're serious about losing weight or bulking up then you need to quit drinking now. Alcohol can absolutely wreck your goals and prevent you from achieving a dream body.
It's very high on calories
One of the most important aspects of bodybuilding is making sure that you consume food that will aid muscle growth and help you cut body fat. Booze is not one of those things. All different kinds of booze are very high in calories. Here's a table chart for you. And remember no one stops at one drink.
Drink | Calories* |
Whisky (30ml) | 111 |
Vodka (30 ml) | 55 |
Beer (650ml) | 208 |
Wine (120ml) | 89 |
It promotes fat gain
Bodybuilding.com editor-at-large Kris Gethin writes in his book, The Bodybuilding.com Guide to Your Best Body: 'Alcohol, even antioxidant-rich red wine, has calories that do nothing to fuel your workouts and fuel only the fat deposits around your waist. Studies have shown that alcohol can increase cortisol levels, which promote fat gain, especially in the abdominal region which should definitely be avoided when you are looking to trim down and show off a six-pack.' Also the body sees alcohol as a toxic substance and attempts to get rid of it. This means your body will significantly reduce fat-burning to about 75% of its normal capacity after just one and a half drinks. It will also stop using carbs as energy which is why after a few drinks your body tends to accumulate more weight. Read why alcohol is bad for your fitness regime.
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