The impact of alcohol on the body can be assessed from two perspectives: the potential for addiction and the damage it causes to health.

How dependent are you?

Anyone can test themselves for alcohol dependence (or addition) on their own.

There is no problem with alcohol if you:

• Don’t mind when there are no alcoholic beverages at a birthday party or other event you attend
• Easily abstain from alcohol for 2 weeks or more
• Refuse to drink in a company where others are drinking because, for example, you want to drive
• Have some stock of alcohol at home that you haven't touched in a while
• Always know what kind of drink you want to have (not "just alcohol")
• Have never wanted to drink without reason, or company
• Rarely or never have a hangover
• Do not drink "on schedule" — for example, on the weekends
• Don’t look forward to drinking alcohol regularly

If one or two of the points above do not apply to you, you may have a mild addiction. If 3 or more points do not apply to you there is a good chance you have an addiction and should consult a specialist.

How much drinking is harmful?

The liver is the first to suffer, as it converts alcohol to acetaldehyde and then to acetic acid. When the liver is depleted, acetaldehyde accumulates in the liver, poisoning it, leading to fatty liver and cell death. The liver can regenerate, but it needs time and a measured workload to do so. And this is quite possible to calculate: how much alcohol in terms of pure ethyl alcohol you consume.

According to the WHO, 0.3 oz of ethyl alcohol is considered 1 conditional dose of alcohol. WHO experts say that when adults consume one dose per day, the risk of developing problems is minimal.

One dose of alcohol is equal to:

• 12 oz of beer (5 % alcohol)
• 5 oz of dry wine (9–11 %)
• 2 oz of fortified wine (18 %)
• 1 oz of spirits (40 %)

An important point: as with diet, exercise, and any other effects on the body, stability is always better than contrast. That is, it is better to distribute the permitted amount of alcohol evenly than to drink it in one evening.

There is an unofficial term "alcohol regimen", which means that the body gets used to a certain sequence of a person's alcoholic beverages without issues. When non-alcoholic and heavily alcoholic periods contrast, the wear and tear on the organs will be more significant and dangerous.

How do you know when it's time to stop?

Even with liver damage and pancreatic problems, a person may not detect symptoms for a long time. So if you realize that you are drinking more alcohol than is considered safe, once a year take bilirubin test, liver enzyme test, pancreatic enzymes test, and do an ultrasound of these organs under the direction of your doctor.

As long as the readings are normal, there is no reason to worry. If there are even minor abnormalities, take a break from drinking alcohol for 3–4 months and repeat the tests. If the figures have not improved, it is worth undergoing a more detailed examination and saying "no" to alcohol for a period recommended by doctors.

Alcohol addiction can also be psychological, which can make it more difficult to stop. If you find yourself thinking about quitting, this is a good sign that you should do so.

These can be warning signs that you drink too much:

• Any amount of alcohol from the evening causes a hangover
• You notice that you need more and more alcohol to achieve a pleasant intoxication
• You look forward to the next occasion to drink
• You are afraid that people around you will smell alcohol on your breath, and you always have gum or a freshener with you
• You notice that you are swollen more often, especially around your eyelids and cheeks
• You have begun to eat less when you drink alcohol, such as drinking hard liquor rather than snacking on it
• If your favorite drinks are not in the store, you will buy others, but you will not give up the idea of drinking on that day
• You are annoyed by non-drinkers around you
• You dislike any talk about alcoholics and the harm of alcohol

80 % of the world's adult population drink alcohol regularly, but most manage to remain healthy, active, and socially fulfilled people. There is no need to demonize alcoholic beverages — it is enough to watch your alcohol intake, regularly check the liver, and take a sensible approach to the frequency and amount you consume regularly.

19 September 2021