We are right in the middle of Christmas party season, with partygoers committed to a good night out. For some, this means hitting the booze in a big way.
Is it okay to binge drink occasionally?
Binge drinking is defined as having four or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion for women, and five or more for men. Frequent binge drinking is definitely bad for our health, but what harm is there in “letting fly” once a year?
Although the medium- to long-term risks of drinking alcohol are well established, it is more challenging to research the effects of infrequent overindulgence. While we know that alcohol is linked to at least seven types of cancer – the result of it being converted in the body into a toxic substance called acetaldehyde – calculating a dose response curve to an isolated episode of binge drinking is unlikely to reveal any cancer or cardiac sequelae. However binge drinking is likely to induce some short-term inflammation of the liver.
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So I can relax about any once-off indulgence over Christmas then?
Steady on there for a minute. The potential psychosocial side effects of binge drinking are considerable. If you binge drink and drive, you are putting your life and that of your passengers, fellow drivers and pedestrians at risk. If you arrive home intoxicated, you run the risk of a domestic accident, like falling down stairs. And you may experience interpersonal conflict with a partner or your children as a result of the disinhibitory or mood-altering effects of drinking.
How can I reduce the health risks of a night’s binge drinking?
- Make sure you eat first. A full stomach slows the absorption of alcohol, which gives your liver more time to process toxins. This may reduce how drunk you get and ameliorate any dangers that may bring.
- Alternate alcohol with non-alcoholic drinks. Having water or other non-alcoholic beverages between drinks will help you stay hydrated. And it should help you drink less overall on your night out.
- Know your limits. If you rarely drink alcohol, you are likely to have a lower tolerance to the effects of a binge. This may make you more susceptible to poor decision-making and risky behaviours.
- There are no quick fixes to sobering up. A late-night coffee might make you feel more alert, but it won’t improve your motor skills or make it safe to drive. There is no effective ‘sober-up’ medication. The only thing that can sober you up is time.
And as for any magical hangover cures, I have yet to come across one.
https://www2.hse.ie/living-well/alcohol/
