Alcohol consumption not only poses the risk of the obvious discomfort of inebriation such as nausea, vomiting and suffering with a hangover. Regular consumption can pose very real and serious risks to health.

Illnesses directly linked to excessive alcohol consumption include cancers of the mouth, throat, liver, stomach and intestines, stomach ulcers and internal bleeding, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, problems with libido and fertility, weight gain, osteoporosis, brain damage and mental health issues.

Low-risk guidelines

Low-risk guidelines are general guidelines for safe alcohol consumption, or consumption limits that shouldn’t pose any serious threat to the general health of the consumer.

The low-risk drinking guidelines advise that men drink no more than four standard drinks on any day and no more than 14 standard drinks in a week.
Because women are generally physically smaller and have proportionately less water in their bodies, they have a lower tolerance for alcohol as the alcohol becomes less diluted in their blood compared to men. Evidence also exists that female stomachs are not as well supplied with the enzymes needed to break down alcohol. The low-risk drinking guideline for women is two or less standard drinks a day with no more than about seven standard drinks in a single week.

The guidelines advise at least two alcohol-free days per week, for both men and women.

What is a standard drink?

In South Africa a drink containing 12g of alcohol is considered standard. This is equal to a 340ml malt beer. A 340ml cider contains 16g of alcohol, while a 25ml tot of spirit such as brandy, whisky, vodka, cane or whisky contains 11g of alcohol. A glass of wine (120ml) also contains about 11g of alcohol.

The alcohol content of alcoholic beverages is listed on the container; therefore read the label to know exactly what you’re drinking.

Driving in South Africa

The legal blood alcohol limit in South Africa is 0.05%. A standard beer or a single tot of a spirit can bring you to this limit. Drinking and driving can pose serious risk to the driver and others on the road. It is also a criminal offence that can see you lose your license and make you liable to pay hefty fines and even serve jail time. It isn’t worth any of these risks to drink and drive. If you have had a drink, get a lift from a friend or phone a taxi.

Written by LifeAssist