When daily alcohol consumption becomes a problem

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The fact that alcohol damages the organism is well known. But how many are actually glasses of alcoholic beverages that can be drunk and how often without risking negative consequences for health? We have summarized some important facts for you.

A beer after work, a glass of red wine at dinner or a dash of whiskey in front of the television. Many people will drink alcohol after a stressful day due to the pleasant physical relaxation, energy, and cheerfulness it induces. But these effects of physical and mental well-being can result in a tendency to drink more. According to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), one in five people in Switzerland drinks occasional or regular drinking too much alcohol. But what is the amount of alcohol to be considered excessive? The new campaign "Alcohol alters the perception of reality" highlights the consequences associated with excessive alcohol consumption and informs about its effects.

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The amount of alcohol tolerated by a person without causing long-term damage to health depends on several factors. Age, weight, and gender play an important role. For example, men tolerate more alcohol than women due to the fact that the male organism is characterized by a higher percentage of water content. Therefore women generally have a greater sensitivity to alcohol. The FOPH recommends the following indicative values:

• Healthy adult men should not consume more than two, at most three glasses of alcohol per day.
• Healthy adult women should not consume more than one, at most two glasses of alcoholic drinks a day.
• A standard glass corresponds to three deciliters of beer (with an alcohol content of 4.5%), a deciliter of wine (with an alcohol content of 12%) or 0.3 deciliters of grappa (with an alcohol content of 40%) , although the alcohol content may vary greatly depending on the type of alcoholic beverage.
• Refrain from drinking alcohol for at least two days a week, in order to avoid the risk of addiction and to allow the body to regenerate.

Effect and disposal

Alcohol influences the way we act and perceive reality. As already mentioned at the beginning, it can, in fact, have a relaxing effect, but also stimulating, disinhibitory and euphonizing. Generally, the alcohol produces its maximum effect after about 60 minutes, while to dispose of it takes much longer. After about 12 hours the body disposed of approximately 1.2 per thousand of alcohol, which corresponds to almost six standard glasses for men and four for women.

For those who are too attracted to the glass

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Consumption of five glasses for men and four for women, in the long run, can become a problem. From the medical point of view, after taking these quantities, the state of intoxication is considered and therefore a condition in which the capacity for reaction, judgment, and control are reduced and difficulties of concentration and coordination can arise. In addition, excessive alcohol consumption can also cause severe brain damage and a reduction in mental faculties.