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Alcohol as a toxin -

It is no great secret that alcohol is a toxin. For years we have known that, despite being enjoyable to many people, drinking booze carries several risks.

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Associated risks -

Risks associated with drinking alcohol, even in small quantities, can include fatal accidents, liver disease, and many types of cancer.

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Advice from WHO -

Indeed, the World Health Organization has declared, "When it comes to alcohol consumption, there is no safe amount that does not affect health.”

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Cost-benefit analysis -

The problem is, however, that people tend to enjoy drinking; for many of us, the benefits of knocking back a glass of wine or two far outweigh the risks.

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Damage limitation -

For that reason, the aim of public policy in many countries around the world is to encourage damage limitation by promoting moderate drinking.

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Advice in the US -

In the US, for example, the general advice is to drink a maximum of two drinks per day for men and one drink a day for women. Many other countries advise the same.

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Types of alcohol - According to the US guidance, the type of alcoholic drink is not important, although many people perceive beer and wine to be safer than spirits.

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Volume matters -

Instead, it is the volume of alcohol that matters. For example, one 12 oz (355 ml) beer contains around the same amount of alcohol as a 5 oz (148 ml) glass of wine, or a 1.5 oz (44 ml) shot of liquor.

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Alcohol and adolescents -

When it comes to drinking among young people, public policy tends to focus on protecting children, while giving young adults the freedom to make their own choices.

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Becoming of age -

It is for this reason that the legal drinking age is set at 18 in most European countries. In the US it is a little bit higher at 21.

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Limits too low -

However, both ages may be too low. According to the research, alcohol is particularly toxic to young adults in a way we’re just beginning to understand.

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Size and shape -

Firstly, alcohol is more dangerous for young people just past the legal drinking age, because they have not yet reached their full body size and shape.

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Size and shape -

Indeed, teenagers nowadays do not reach their adult height until they are 21, and even when they do, they do not have the bulk or weight of people in their thirties and forties.

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Blood alcohol content -

Drinking alcohol, therefore, results in a higher blood alcohol content for young people than it does for adults, which in turn means higher toxicity.

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Big heads -

Young adults also tend to have a higher head-to-body ratio, i.e. they are more likely to look a little like a ‘bobblehead’ toy.

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Intoxication levels -

This is problematic when it comes to alcohol consumption, because these relative proportions determine the level of intoxication that a drinker experiences.

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Five minutes to the brain -

When someone drinks alcohol, it enters their bloodstream and spreads throughout their body. Within five minutes, it reaches their brain.

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Blood-brain-barrier -

Alcohol very easily crosses the blood-brain-barrier, which usually protects the oh-so-precious brain from harmful substances.

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Alcohol poisoning -

In the case of young adults, a relatively large proportion of the alcohol they drink ends up in the brain. This is another reason they are more likely to experience alcohol poisoning.

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Long-term development -

It is also believed that drinking as a teenager could impair the brain’s long-term development. Studies have shown that it can cause a more rapid decline in gray matter and stunt the development of white matter.

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Cognitive function -

While the long-term impact of adolescent drinking may not be immediately evident, over time these effects will start to show in cognitive tests.

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Gradual decline -

According to neuropsychologist Lindsay Squeglia, "After multiple years of drinking, we see less activation in the brain and poorer performance on these tests."

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Effect on mental health - Evidence also suggests that early drinking takes a considerable toll on mental health and makes people more susceptible to suffer from alcohol abuse later in life.

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Family history -

This appears to be particularly true for people who have a family history of alcohol abuse. The earlier they start, the more likely they are to develop a problem.

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The European model -

So how can we protect our young people against the dangers of drinking alcohol? Many people would argue that the European model, where parents allow their children and teenagers to drink in moderation at home, is to be encouraged.

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Forbidden fruit -

The idea is that by being exposed to alcohol in a safe setting, young people won’t see alcoholic drinks as some sort of ‘forbidden fruit’ to be gorged on when they reach legal age.

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Busting the myth -

Evidence suggests, however, that this theory does not hold true. In fact, research shows that the more liberal a parent is with drinking, the more likely a kid is to develop a problem with alcohol later in life.

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Increasing the legal age -

On the flip side, simply increasing the legal drinking age to 25, as has been suggested, does not seem like a great idea either. People will likely perceive this as an attack on their personal liberty.

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Potential solution -

Perhaps, for the time being, the aim should be to provide young people with more information about the risks of drinking alcohol and how it can affect the maturing brain.

Sources: (BBC) (NIAAA)

See also: How to lower your alcohol consumption and still enjoy a drink

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