Alcohol Steps into the Limelight, Dethroning Cigarettes
Will alcohol face the same judgment as cigarettes?
Do you recall the era when smoking cigarettes was considered fashionable? Even doctors were endorsing them during the 1950s.
Ironically, it was around that time when the first connections between smoking and lung cancer, as well as other diseases, were established.
Presently, we are well aware of the detrimental effects of tobacco. While some individuals persist in harming their bodies, a significant number have either abandoned this deadly habit or are actively attempting to do so. Additionally and thankfully, smoking regulations have undergone a substantial transformation.
Gone are the days of boarding a “cancer coffin” for a flight to France.
Just like with tobacco, we’re finally getting a ton of data and research showing how harmful alcohol really is. It’s surprising that it’s taken this long for it to become common knowledge. Cigarettes were introduced in the US in the 19th century, while alcohol has been around since the beginning of time. (Okay, maybe not that long, but beer is mentioned in the Old Testament, so it’s been around for ages!)
Maybe the crazy spike in drinking and alcohol-related deaths during the pandemic finally made people wake up and pay attention.
Almost every country already has a legal drinking age, and there are rules against driving under the influence and even restrictions on when you can buy booze in some places.
Looking at the rules alone, it’s pretty clear drinking alcohol shouldn’t be taken lightly or abused.
The pandemic showed an even bigger increase in alcohol consumption and sales that really made people notice.
Even though research on the harmful effects of alcohol has probably been going on for years, it seems like it’s suddenly hitting us from all directions.
Finally.
Honestly, it’s about time we got this information.
Current Findings
According to the CDC, there are many risks to overdrinking.
Some of the short-term risks include:
Injuries
Violence
Alcohol poisoning
Risky sexual behaviour
Miscarriage and stillbirth
Long-term risks include:
High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.
Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum.
Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick. — Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.
Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.
Social problems, including family problems, job-related problems, and unemployment.
Alcohol use disorders or alcohol dependence.
There are definitely some parallels when it comes to the long-term health hazards of alcohol and smoking. But let’s face it, I don’t think anyone ever wiped out their whole family because they chain-smoked a bunch of Marlboros.
Based on that somewhat unscientific observation, I’d say alcohol is quite a bit riskier than tobacco.
If you’re up for delving deeper into these matters, you can leisurely navigate your way through the World Health Organization’s massive 450-page report called “Global status report on alcohol and health 2018.” It’s quite the read.
It’s now time to debunk the myth of heart-healthy red wine.
In a concise blog post featured on the National Foundation for Cancer Research site, they begin by highlighting a list of drinking benefits in the first paragraph before delving into the more significant content.
The word that caught my attention in this post is “cavalcade.”
“The National Cancer Institute (NCI) provides a cavalcade of information on studies which show concrete causal links between alcohol consumption and cancer diagnosis.”
For more in-depth exploration of the causal connections between alcohol and cancer, the NCI article is worth a read. It also includes numerous references and studies at the end.
On the CDC’s website, a rather obvious statement is made not once, but twice:
“The less alcohol you drink, the lower your risk for cancer.”
“The more you drink, the higher your cancer risk.”
Undoubtedly, cancer isn’t the only health-related concern associated with alcohol, but it appears to be the one that garners the most attention and concern from people.
New recommendations for drinking
With additional research, the guidelines regarding acceptable alcohol consumption are undergoing major revisions.
In the US, the dietary guidelines for 2020–2025 “recommends that adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation (two drinks or less in a day for men or one drink or less in a day for women).”
In the latest guidelines from our friends up north in Canada, they’re now suggesting that safe alcohol consumption should be limited to two drinks or fewer per week. That’s quite a significant change, don’t you think?
Take a look at their informative infographic for more details.
Canada’s approach gives adults the freedom to make their own choices. It’s like they’re saying, “Hey, you can knock back as much booze as you please, but just so you know, here are the risks if you drink this much. And if you go overboard, well, here are some new risks to consider. So it’s up to you to decide which risk category you want to fall into.”
It’s all about personal responsibility.
How is this fresh data impacting the younger crowd?
It’s worth noting that the younger generations are being significantly impacted by all this new information, much like the case with tobacco.
There’s an encouraging article from Bloomberg that talks about the decline in alcohol consumption among Gen Z in the UK and other places.
According to the article, one of the major factors for young people choosing to drink less or quit altogether is the growing awareness of the health benefits of sobriety, including its positive impact on mental health.
For Gen Z, reasons for abstaining from alcohol range from not liking the taste and smell, dealing with nasty hangovers, and concerns about the long-term health effects of excessive drinking. Plus, saving money is an added bonus, especially during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Of course, as Michele Maize discusses in an article about her recent trip to Vegas, the trend hasn’t caught on everywhere yet. Nevertheless, it’s on the rise.
Considering the alarming surge in alcohol sales and consumption during the pandemic, it’s no surprise people are taking a step back and trying to regain control over the excessive drinking culture.
The unprecedented increase in alcohol-related deaths from 2019 to 2020 in the US only reinforces the urgency of addressing this issue.
Final Thoughts
Alcohol has been around for ages, and so has its problem of excessive use and abuse. Throughout history, society has made efforts to tackle this issue.
Remember the days of the Roaring 20s when alcohol was prohibited in the US? And let’s not forget the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935.
This isn’t a novel problem. However, there’s a new generation that’s becoming more health-conscious, and the current research is providing valuable insights into why it’s a wise choice.
Will we see stricter regulations on alcohol use, similar to what happened with cigarettes?
Only time will tell.
