Excessive alcohol consumption even impairs the faculties of people who drink heavily, which calls into question the notion of tolerance.
- People suffering from alcoholism are as impaired as occasional drinkers after a drunken binge.
- To arrive at these results, the researchers analyzed the behavior of three groups of young adults in their twenties with different consumption habits.
- Alcohol abuse is dangerous for health.
A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago reveals that people suffering from alcoholism are as impaired as occasional drinkers after a binge.
Analysis of drinking habits
To arrive at these results, the researchers analyzed the behavior of three groups of young adults in their twenties with different consumption habits. The participants were classified according to their consumption: light drinkers, moderate drinkers and people with alcohol-related disorders.
Problematic alcohol consumption was five or more drinks for a man and four or more drinks for a woman.
Surprising results
The results of the study revealed that light and moderate drinkers experienced a significant deterioration in their cognitive functions and fine motor skills after consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. However, what surprised the researchers was that alcoholics showed similar impairments in cognitive function and fine motor skills after heavy drinking, even though they claimed to have a higher tolerance for the drink.
Andrea King, professor of psychiatry and author of the study, says: “We confirmed our starting hypothesis, but with many nuances. When the young people in our study consumed alcohol at a dose similar to their usual drinking pattern, we found significant impairments in fine motor tests and cognitive tests, impairments that were even greater than those of an occasional drinker.”
Alcohol abuse is dangerous for health
Alcohol abuse is dangerous for health. Excessive alcohol consumption can irreversibly affect the brain and nervous system, which can lead to mental health problems, mood disorders and coordination problems. Alcohol abuse can also lead to many cancers, coma, cirrhosis of the liver and therefore death.
In this sense, it is important to become aware of the dangers associated with excessive alcohol consumption and to limit its consumption to preserve one’s health. It is also important to educate the general public about health issues related to alcoholism. Public Health France also recommends not to drink more than two glasses a day, and not every day.
A drop in the alcohol consumption in France
According to a new survey by Public Health Francethe proportion of adults exceeding the lower-risk alcohol consumption benchmarks is decreasing in our country, thus confirming the usefulness of the prevention campaigns implemented for several years.
In concrete terms, between 2020 and 2021, the proportion of adults declaring alcohol consumption above the lower-risk consumption benchmarks has significantly decreased (from 23.7% to 22%). This decline is observed mainly among men, the youngest, the oldest and those with the highest incomes.
