What are the Pros and Cons of Drinking Alcohol?

Alcohol is the second deadliest drug in the world, after Tobacco and it's the most legal drug too. It is chemically called Ethanol or Ethyl Alcohol. It is used in our day-to-day life for various purposes besides human consumption.

Many people around us have different opinions regarding the consumption of alcohol. But other than consumption its uses are unavoidable in present society. Hence alcoholic drinks are manufactured and distributed under a large-scale which is strictly regulated by the government. To minimize its misuse, governments imposes heavy excise taxes and also employs excise officer to check its production, transport and use in society.

Let’s analyse the pros and cons of alcohol

PROS of Alcohol

• It protects your heart

A study conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has confirmed that alcohol, in moderation can reduce the risk of heart disease. The moderate drinking as the consumption of fewer than three standard drinks per day.  A standard drink is equal to approx 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1.5 oz of distilled spirits, each of these drinks contains approximately 0.5 oz of alcohol.

• It cuts down other risks

The study conducted by American Diabetes Association says people who drink alcohol occasionally tend to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by almost 25%. Alcohol consumption in moderate levels also improves the measure of the average blood glucose level.

• It helps prevent common cold

Scientists discovered that drinking around 8-14 glasses of red wine a week will actually lower the risk of developing a cold by 60%.

• It lowers the risk of developing gallstones

Researchers have found that drinking one glass of alcohol per day reduces the risk of developing gallstones by one third.

• Reduces the risk of clots in blood

The moderate use of alcohol raises the high-density lipoprotein, or cholesterol, level in the bloodstream, which plays a great role in reducing the risk of clots in your blood vessels.

CONS of Alcohol

• It deteriorates skin

Whenever we consume alcohol, it dehydrates our skin which is our body’s largest organ. Drinking too much alcohol deprives the skin of vitamins and nutrients. Hence, heavy drinking can leave permanent marks on the skin, like deep wrinkles and facial disfigurement, dark circles or black spots on face.

• Alcohol have excessive amount of calories

Alcoholic drinks contain a large amount of calories with no nutritional value. If we consume a few alcoholic drinks per week on top of our regular diet, it can quickly put us on the path of obesity. Moreover, the calories found in the alcohol are zero in nutrition and they stimulated hunger. As, they make us hungry, we end up eating more than normal on top of the calories consumed in the drink.

• It increases crime rates

We know alcohol can impair good judgment. Most of the illogical and embarrassing moments happen when we over drink. Sometimes drinking also causes serious crime. Some of the most common alcohol crime involved is the cases of drinking and driving. However, there are a other offenses that can result from alcohol abuse, which are robbery, sexual assault, child abuse and homicide.

• It damages liver

Regular intake of alcohol often destroys the liver cells and makes the organ dysfunctional.

Conclusion

From all these studies, it is shows that as long as you are a responsible drinker and you drink in the moderation, you will get the benefits of alcohol.