Summer cocktails can seem so innocuous with their tropical hues, sugared rims and adornment of itty bitty umbrellas and smiles of fruit. However, overindulging can transform your summer fun into a summer headache. In order to enjoy your dragon-fruit daiquiris and mango margaritas without regret, here are a few precautionary steps to take before opening a tab at the bar:
Know the Strength of Your Beverage
Approximately ½ an ounce of pure alcohol is contained in the following standard servings:
- Shot of spirits = 1.4 oz. of 40% alcohol of an 80 proof whiskey or vodka
- Glass of fortified wine = 3 oz. of 20% alcohol
- Glass of table wine = 5 oz. of 12% alcohol
- Beer = 12 oz. (standard bottle) of 4.5% alcohol
Notice that only 1.4 oz. of spirits (which is just a bit over 2 tablespoons) contains 40 percent alcohol whereas an entire bottle of beer only contains 4.5 percent. The strength of an alcoholic beverage largely contributes to how alcohol will be absorbed and distributed in the body and incidentally how quickly it will affect the brain.
Pace Yourself and Avoid Binge Drinking
Binge drinking typically occurs when men consume five or more drinks within two hours and women consume four or more drinks within two hours. The liver is the primary site for alcohol metabolism and is only able to break down 1/3-1/2 oz. of alcohol per hour. The rate of alcohol metabolism explains why some will note that—during a party or gathering—they were feeling completely coherent when suddenly the drink “snuck up” on them and led to severe intoxication. Thus, drinking more than one drink per hour will have a much greater effect on the brain as opposed to consuming a few drinks throughout the course of an entire night.
Remember, also, that the standard serving size of a drink may be much smaller than what “one drink” is considered at a bar, i.e., you may order one margarita but depending on the size of the glass or amount of liquor added, be consuming 2-4 drinks in one sitting. Additionally, do not do “shots” of alcohol or any type of drink which ends with the word “bomb”—these drinks most often involve chugging of alcohol which will cause you to consume a large amount in a very short period.
Don’t Drink on an Empty Stomach
Presence of food in the stomach is integral in reducing the effect of alcohol and avoiding hangover. If alcohol is consumed with food, the rate of absorption is slowed as both the food and alcohol need to be broken down and digested. Drinking on an empty stomach can also increase dizziness and nausea as well as hangover.
Stay Hydrated
Being that alcohol is toxic, it will have a diuretic effect as your kidneys work overtime to expel it. Always drink plenty of water before, during and after drinking in order to remain hydrated and avoid hangover. Dehydration contributes enormously to hangover, where one will wake up with a headache, hunger, and a cottony dryness in the mouth.
Stay Safe and Learn More
Alcoholism (a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol) puts individuals at great risk for liver disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Many who are not alcoholics still take part in occasional binge drinking, which lowers inhibitions and can lead to unprotected sexual encounters, date rape, car accidents and violence amongst other things.
When drinking, be sure to do so responsibly, never operate a vehicle if intoxicated (even a slight “buzz” can cause alcohol-related accidents) and do not drink alone. To learn more, visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Sources:
- Hanson, Glen R, Peter J Venturelli, and Annette E Fleckenstein. Drugs and Society Tenth Edition. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2009.
