A few alcohol-related myths that you need to know

Drinking culture is prevalent in every country, be it part of after-office get-togethers or commemorating formal and informal events. Besides, hanging out with friends without a drink in hand is like a birthday party without a cake. Speaking of parties, when was the last time you went to a party, and you did not have shots of tequila or beer? As much we try to refrain from drinking, peer pressure and fear of being left out force us to drink.

Imagine dancing your way through the night, and you are having fun with the guys or girls, living in the moment. But is the following morning equally as exciting and thrilling? Of course, we all know the answer to that question, don’t we? A throbbing headache, and an urge to throw up, the typical hangover that serves to last a few hours after you wake up, is the worst. Why? Because not only does it ruin your mood, but it affects your productivity for the rest of the day.

So, what do we do? We follow the commonly used tips that apparently helps to cure the bad hangover. Do you recall the last time you had a little too much to drink? What did you do the morning after to get rid of the morning sickness? Drank coffee? Or did something else? Written below are some of the alcohol myths that we will debunk.

Drinking a cup of coffee

After waking up, a good cup of coffee is necessary for most of us, but that is the last thing we should do following the previous night’s drinking. Especially if your goal is to sober up, then mixing caffeine and alcohol is hazardous to health. Despite both the drinks getting metabolised in the liver, your blood concentration will not reverse or alter.

The caffeine will mask the drowsiness associated with the alcohol intake, but it might increase the chances of over-consumption. Therefore, it can lead a person to suffer from alcohol poisoning, dehydration and alcohol-related injury.

The worst part is that caffeinated drinks can make people feel more alert and cautious, tricking their brains into thinking that they are sober. But the reality is that they are still drunk; energy drinks like coffee can mask the effects of alcohol, leading to more drinking.

Throwing up

Throwing up in the bathroom while one of the friends pats the back or holds her hair back; is not a scene from a movie. Yet, we have all encountered this or seen it happen once or twice in a pub or elsewhere. So does throwing up helps to get sober? It does not; instead, it makes the person more sick and dehydrated.

The body absorbs the alcohol content very quickly, so it does not make any difference if you stick a finger down your throat to throw up. However, a person’s Blood Alcohol Content(BAC) differs from person to person after having a few drinks. BAC is a measure of how much alcohol is in any person’s blood in relation to the amount of water in their body.

Driving after one drink per hour

“I just had one drink, and it has been an hour, so it’s fine for me to drive?” No, it is not.

When a person takes one drink after another per hour, it makes them quite drunk as the human body metabolises alcohol constantly. Therefore, they are not fit to drive. In addition, ignorance to follow safety rules can lead to drunken driving, ultimately causing harm.

Darker colour beers have higher alcohol content

The colour of the beer is not the determining factor when deciding the alcohol content. The general assumption is that light coloured beers are light in flavour and calories. Similarly, they also think that darker colour beers are high in alcohol content, but the truth of the matter is that the colour is the result of the grains used to make the beverage.

Contrary to what many think, plenty of dark beers have lower alcohol content than the paler ones.

Darker drinks are healthier for our bodies

Another major myth that we all have heard is that darker drinks like red wine, bourbon, dark beer, whiskey, etc., are healthier for our bodies. Some drinks have health benefits, such as red wine having more polyphenols and dark beer having more flavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants. But darker drinks contain many congeners, which are toxic chemicals released during the fermentation process. The chemical can worsen the hangover to the extent that it can cause severe physical consequences.

So, how do you handle alcohol-related problems; you can drink in moderation and not overdrink. If you are hungover, drink a glass of water with honey and lemon drops; it works wonders. Do not forget to remain hydrated.