A common myth around teens and young adults is that it’s more responsible to give minors alcoholic drinks with adult supervision. This myth is based on the idea that kids will drink anyway, so they might as well be in the presence of a responsible adult. It’s common for people to have a casual relationship with alcohol. However, this attitude may contribute to many myths about alcohol and alcohol use disorder. Those who maintain that they can hold their liquor, meaning that they can drink larger amounts with fewer apparent effects, may drink in excess to feel intoxicated.

• If you can hold your liquor, that might indicate that you’ve developed a tolerance to alcohol, which might indicate that you’re drinking too much.
• In most of the United States, your blood alcohol content (BAC) must be under 0.08% for you to legally drive.
• All you’re doing is adding more toxins to your body that’s already working overtime to clean out the alcohol you’ve already consumed.

Myth: A night cap before bed helps me sleep better.

Intoxicated people are more likely to injure themselves or get into accidents. They’re also more likely to experience or participate in violent acts, from fist-fights to sexual assault and homicide. It’s also well known that drinking and getting behind the wheel has deadly consequences. There are many rumors and myths about alcohol out there, including how much is safe, what a problem drinker looks like, and how to sober up. In a video for Ria Health, Claudia Christian of the C Three Foundation lays out five of the most common alcohol myths, and the real facts you need to know about drinking. And while each may stem from a kernel of truth (or at least logic), they’re not exactly rules to live by.

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One must always maintain a balance between hydrating oneself and not over-indulging in water, especially in cases of intense physical exercise. People believe that drinking water during meals will cause the digestive juices to become diluted; this way, digestion will be poor. There is no science behind this myth; drinking water during meals can help in breaking food more effectively and helping pass nutrients through the body. Electrolyte-rich drinks or soups are good sources of hydration, especially after physical exertion. GUIDE’s Save Brains campaign provides information about the adolescent brain, its maturation process and the negative and irreversible damage alcohol use causes. While it’s true that relapses can happen during the recovery journey, that doesn’t mean that treatment is ineffective.

Myth Seven: Different Types of Alcohol Affect Your Behaviour

Drinking too much water will not help speed up this natural process, though the body will support the functions of those kidneys when hydrated properly. This is also one of the most popular myths, as everyone has to have precisely eight glasses of water a day in order to stay hydrated. The thing is that people have different water needs based on different sizes of bodies, activity levels, and climates.

Learn the reality behind each myth and see the resources provided to take a deeper dive into the truth. Contrary to popular belief, not all alcoholics guzzle booze 24/7. Many alcoholics may have periods of sobriety or only drink on certain occasions. Coffee might make you feel more awake, but it won’t speed up the elimination of alcohol myths about alcoholism from your system. They may give you a temporary shock, but they won’t miraculously sober you up.

All you’re doing is adding more toxins to your body that’s already working overtime to clean out the alcohol you’ve already consumed. While it may feel like coffee is bringing you back to life in many ways, you shouldn’t depend on it to get alcohol out of your system. In truth, coffee has no real effect on your blood alcohol level, which is the major factor in determining your level of intoxication. Being able to “hold your liquor” generally means you have a higher alcohol tolerance, which can be a sign that you’re drinking more.

So one 12-ounce can of beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or one 1.5-ounce shot of liquor are all equally intoxicating. Also, there may be various genetic factors that come into play as to how individuals react to drinking alcohol and whether they are vulnerable to addiction. When you find the right tools and support for you, it’s possible to recover from alcohol use disorder. For ways to seek support, you can visit Psych Central’s guide to mental health help. And if you’re taking medication for your pain, there could be drug interaction risks. Taking acetaminophen with alcohol, for instance, increases your risk of liver failure.

Myth: Drinking isn’t a problem as long as you can hold your liquor.

• Plus, alcohol’s effects on the liver and pancreas inhibits the transport of digestive enzymes and essential nutrients through the body.
• It can also cause increased dehydration, sleep disruption and even heart issues.
• In contrast, if you start off drinking hard liquor, you’re likely to be drinking at a slower rate and feel drunk faster.
• Ultimately, despite the many alcohol myths out there, there really is no “safe” level of drinking.
• This is also one of the most popular myths, as everyone has to have precisely eight glasses of water a day in order to stay hydrated.

Most of the health benefits of red wine can be gained from other food sources, while alcohol, no matter the situation, is toxic to your body. But even people with a clean bill of health, or who are not carrying a child, should think twice before having a drink. While many studies have suggested that a moderate amount of alcohol has health benefits, much of that research has been called into question. In fact, a massive study on the global burden of disease, covering 195 countries over more than 25 years, recently determined that there is no safe amount of alcohol. It takes about 2 hours for the adult body to eliminate the alcohol content of a single drink, depending on your weight.

When it comes to alcohol, the line between fiction and fact is often blurry. Whether it’s at a party with friends or through pop culture references, there are quite a few things about drinking alcohol that get misconstrued. While dehydration is bad, overhydration, also known as hyponatremia, is equally dangerous. In this case, drinking too much water dilutes https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/5-ways-alcohol-can-kill-you-end-stage-alcoholism-death/ the sodium level in your blood to such an extent that you may suffer nausea, confusion, and in extreme cases, even death.

In most of the United States, your blood alcohol content (BAC) must be under 0.08% for you to legally drive. Research from 2017 also suggests that kids who were allowed to drink alcohol with adults were more likely to engage in risky drinking in their teens. You may have heard myths about alcohol and alcohol use disorder presented as facts. While some myths might be more harmful than others, it’s essential to understand the realities of alcohol and alcohol use disorder. Cultural norms would have you believe that drinking is integral to certain activities, like a wedding reception, football game, brunch or night out on the town. It’s important to be aware that alcohol doesn’t have to be a part of those things, Dr. Oesterle says.