Reasons for drinking

Our civilization got acquainted with alcohol over 6 thousand years ago, since then it has become an integral part of the life of millions of people and even entire cultures. Many of us have never thought why our friends, relatives and ourselves drink alcohol. It’s time to look into this issue.

There are several basic reasons for drinking alcohol, they are as follows:

1. Desire to relax

Stress and nervous tension began to pursue modern man everywhere. After work or school, we have little time to recover and relax. Sometimes you just want to forget about all the troubles and tune in to the “positive wave”.

But quickly changing your emotional state is very difficult. In this case, alcoholic beverages come to the rescue, which for a while allow a person not to remember about life’s difficulties. Whatever the sobriety fighters say, alcohol can be used as an antidepressant. The main thing is not to abuse (to relax with alcohol once or twice a month), the removal of everyday stress with alcohol leads to a hangover syndrome and alcoholism.

2. Trying to become bolder

There are individuals among us who suffer from various complexes and phobias. Having taken it on the chest, such people feel like real heroes, capable of doing great things (meeting a girl, dancing on the table, fighting with the first comer, etc.).

There are also more neglected cases when a person makes even serious decisions (getting a job, a deal in business) only after a few glasses of alcohol. In this situation, alcohol removes psychological constraints, but does not solve the very problem of insecurity. Therefore, insecure people need to learn to act decisively without the help of alcohol, here alcoholic drinks are more likely to harm than help.

3. The influence of society

Try to stay sober at weddings, anniversaries, and other celebrations. If in such cases you do not drink alcoholic beverages, you will be misunderstood and made an outcast. Any person is influenced by the environment in which he is. We try to imitate those around us, seeking their favor. This is human nature, you cannot argue with it.

We have two options. The first is to adapt (start drinking alcohol). The second is to change your environment. It is very difficult not to drink alcohol in a drinking company. You may not be made comments only out of politeness, but mentally everyone present will give your behavior a negative assessment.

4. Love for alcoholic beverages

There are people who like the smell, taste, or something else in alcohol. These are connoisseurs and gourmets who drink alcohol only for the pleasure of the process itself.

True connoisseurs know almost everything about their favorite alcoholic drink, and in many cases they can even prepare it on their own. It is in this group that the least number of alcoholics is found, since the process of drinking itself is important here, and not the consequences that occur after taking alcohol (good mood, lack of fear, etc.).

The situation when a person is in the last group is considered normal, in all other cases it is worth thinking about his behavior.


Alcohol and antibiotic compatibility

There are situations in life when, during the period of antibiotic treatment, a holiday with alcoholic beverages is planned. Conscious people who care about their health immediately have a question about the possibility of combining alcohol and antibiotics. Further we will analyze this topic in detail.


Most doctors do not doubt the fact that the compatibility of antibiotics with alcohol is impossible. True, there are also such doctors who believe that alcoholic beverages do not have a negative effect on the effectiveness of medicines. But they also do not recommend drinking alcohol along with antibiotics. The arguments are outlined below.

We understand that any medications are not completely harmless. By positively affecting one organ or system, they can negatively affect others. Alcohol intake during antibiotic treatment creates an additional burden on the entire body. There is a risk of aggravating the condition, especially if the person suffers from chronic diseases. In some cases, drinking alcohol with medication can trigger an allergy to alcohol .

In addition, even experienced chemists cannot predict the outcome of the interaction between antibiotics and alcohol. No pharmaceutical company in the world tests drugs for their reaction with alcohol. It is assumed that during the treatment period, patients will not drink alcohol. Chemical reactions can occur in the stomach that are not described in any chemistry textbook.

Takeaway: While taking antibiotics, alcohol can delay recovery, at best. In a difficult period for the body, doctors recommend refraining from drinking alcohol, since the risk is not justified. You will have time to drink your favorite wine, champagne, beer or vodka after your recovery. Then these drinks will bring you joy and benefits, but for now it is better to think about your health.


How to quickly get rid of the smell of alcohol at home

A person who smells of alcohol or fumes is not favored by the people around him. This is especially true for business and love relationships. The smell of alcohol can cause irreparable harm to your career or personal life, so you need to get rid of it quickly. Here modern and folk methods come to our aid.

Take care of your clothes before you start fighting the smell of alcohol from your mouth. It needs to be changed. Almost every fabric perfectly absorbs the smell of alcohol, only washing will help. Do not use deodorants, as this will only exacerbate the situation.

The following methods will help to kill the smell of alcohol from the mouth:

1. Brush your teeth well. This method has a short-term effect, but it is with it that you need to start. As a last resort, chewing gum will do.

2. Hyperventilation of the lungs. Take deep breaths in and out for 5 minutes. Exercising the lungs reduces the concentration of exhaled alcohol vapors, clearing the breath of the smell of alcohol.

3. Drink one tablet of Biotredin, Limontar or Glycine. If for some reason there were no such drugs in your home medicine cabinet, they can be replaced with 10-20 tablets of activated carbon, which also suppresses the unpleasant smell of fumes.

4. Chew nutmeg or parsley root. Although nutmeg and parsley give off a little bitterness, and it is not very pleasant to chew them, it is these spices that well get rid of the smell of alcohol.

5. If it didn’t work out with spices in the house, then ordinary coffee beans will do. Only after chewing them I recommend brushing your teeth, otherwise you will get into an unpleasant situation.

6. Special means. The people received the name “Antipolitsai”. They do not drown out the smell, but completely destroy its cause, clearing the breath. Now “Antipolitsay” is sold everywhere, it is not difficult to acquire it. Well, then just follow the instructions.

At least one or two of these methods are available in any situation, but they work for a limited time (up to 3 hours). The smell of alcohol completely disappears only with complete sobering up. That is why it is so important to control the amount of alcohol consumed on the eve of an important event.


Can I drink alcohol in small doses?

The struggle between alcohol drinkers and temperance fighters is gaining momentum. On the one hand, the advocates of alcohol tell us that alcohol in small doses is harmless, on the other hand, “teetotalers” scare them with horror stories about the harmful effects on the body and the emergence of addiction. Today we will figure out whether it is possible to drink alcohol and remain a sane person.

In the debate about the dangers and benefits of alcohol, everyone forgot the difference between medicine and poison, and it is only in dosage. In uncontrolled quantities, even the healthiest food becomes harmful. Alcoholic drinks are no exception.

Everyone knows that it is good to eat fruits, as they contain a lot of vitamins. But try eating a bucket of apples every day. The benefits will be small, and the negative consequences will not be long in coming. Another example is exercise every day until you are exhausted. How soon will you get sick? The answer is obvious. The situation is the same with alcohol.

Small doses of alcoholic beverages are either harmless or even beneficial. For example, one or two glasses of brandy relieve headaches in hypertensive patients. Wine and vodka can help solve some digestive problems. And the French have learned to cure colds with champagne.

Of course, there are diseases in which alcohol is unacceptable. But then contraindications also apply to other products, the harmlessness of which is beyond doubt for most people. For example, sugar for diabetics. It’s just that every person should know what he can and what not.

Alcoholic beverages are common foods. Their harm and benefit is determined by the frequency of use and the amount drunk. Yes, you can’t get too carried away, but a complete rejection of alcohol does not bring any benefit.

People prone to addictions, even with a complete ban on alcohol, “find” themselves in gambling, smoking, drugs, overeating, religious fanaticism or something else. It is necessary to solve the very problem of addiction, and not write off everything on the external manifestation of the consequences.

Our ancestors have been drinking alcohol for six thousand years, and this did not lead to the death of civilization. Therefore, there is no need to dramatize the situation around alcohol. Yes, there is a problem of alcoholism in Russia. One of its reasons is the lack of a culture of drinking alcoholic beverages, but prohibitions cannot correct the situation. Gorbachev’s “dry law” 1985-1987 proved it.


Lethal dose of alcohol in ppm

In the question of the lethal dose of alcohol, scientists and doctors do not give an unambiguous answer, since the body of each of us is individual. Only averaged values in ppm and liters are known. But they can also be useful.

Let’s first understand the wording. The unit ppm denotes a thousandth of one substance in another. 1 ppm of alcohol indicates that there is 1 ml of pure alcohol in one liter of human blood. It should be understood that pure alcohol is even stronger than alcohol.

Scientists have come to the conclusion that the lethal dose of alcohol per ppm is 5-6 units , and strong intoxication occurs at a concentration of 2.5 ppm. But it’s easier for us to count the alcohol we drink in bottles and liters. Let’s translate this dose into more understandable units.

One bottle of vodka contains about 200 ml of pure alcohol (2.5 ppm). Therefore, for a healthy body, a lethal dose will be one and a half liters of vodka (three bottles of 0.5 liters). But a person should drink these three bottles in a short period of time (up to an hour) and should not be vomited.

The situation is different with beer and wine. The alcohol concentration in these drinks is much lower than in vodka. When recalculated in liters, their lethal dose is several times higher than the “vodka” maximum. In a short period, most people simply will not be able to drink such a significant amount of beer or wine, they will have a gag reflex, our body also knows how to defend itself.

The likelihood of death from alcohol consumption is highly dependent on age, weight and the presence of chronic diseases. Young and old people are much more sensitive to alcohol than everyone else. The situation is aggravated by diseases of the stomach and kidneys, bad snacks, as well as the quality of alcoholic beverages.


Procedure for alcohol poisoning

In our country, alcohol poisoning is not uncommon. This can happen to each of us or our loved ones. The reason is not only in the large amount of alcohol consumed, even a little drinking person can be poisoned by low-quality (fake) alcoholic beverages. Therefore, everyone should know what to do in this situation.

First you need to determine whether a person has been poisoned by alcohol or is simply severely intoxicated.

Signs of alcohol poisoning:

  • glitter in the eyes.
  • redness of the face.
  • slower heart rate and increased sweating.
  • dilated pupils.
  • slow breathing, complete detachment from reality, vomiting appears in some cases.
  • loss of consciousness.

If you see these symptoms, act quickly and decisively, otherwise the person may fall into an alcoholic coma and die.

Procedure for alcohol poisoning

1. Call an ambulance.

2. Remove alcohol residues from the victim’s stomach so that they do not have time to be absorbed into the blood. To do this, induce vomiting by irritation of the root of the tongue or in other ways. The head of the poisoned person should be lowered down and tilted to the side.

You can not put a person on his back, as in this position he can choke on vomit or abundant saliva. Until the arrival of doctors, the victim should not be left unattended.

3. Try to bring the person to consciousness by providing blood flow to the head. To do this, the poisoned person is quickly rubbed his ears.

4. If the victim can perform swallowing movements, you should cleanse his stomach with a solution of soda. The concentration of the solution is one tablespoon of baking soda per liter of boiled water. After washing the stomach, a person needs to drink 8-10 tablets of activated carbon.

5. Neutralize the effect of alcohol with regular bee honey. The victim is given 100-200 grams of honey in two doses.

6. Deliver the poisoned person to the hospital so that doctors can accurately determine the degree of his poisoning and provide qualified assistance.

I hope that the knowledge of first aid to a person with alcohol poisoning will never be useful to you.

Attention! Self-medication can be dangerous, consult your doctor.


Drinking tips or how not to become an alcoholic

Among lovers of alcoholic beverages, there are always people who, over time, cross the permitted line and cease to feel the measure. It seems to them that the situation is under control, but it is not. To avoid dire consequences, I advise you to read the tips to help you avoid becoming an alcoholic. All of these recommendations are suitable for any alcohol, regardless of its strength.

1. Drink alcohol in small, rare sips, counting their quantity. Try to drink each next glass or glass for more sips.

2. Take a break from the glass from time to time. You can listen to music, dance, chat with others, etc.

3. Enjoy the aromatic bouquet of the alcoholic drink, drink slowly and tastefully (if it is not vodka).

4. In the company, follow the example of those who drink slowly. Find such a person and start imitating him. For example, until he raises his glass, you do not raise yours.

5. Dilute alcohol with soft drinks – juice or non-carbonated water. Soda is not suitable, as it promotes rapid intoxication.

6. Have a good snack and never drink on an empty stomach.

7. Do not drink alcohol more than twice a week. This recommendation also applies to low alcohol drinks. For example, beer alcoholism develops faster than dependence on vodka or brandy.

8. Come to your favorite bar 1-2 hours later than you used to, and leave at the same time.

9. If you feel that you have already drunk your dose, refuse another drink, even if you are persistently asked to knock over another glass. Saying no is one of the most useful skills in an adult.


Can children drink wine – expert opinions

The controversy over whether to give wine to children emerged after Boston University scientists published the sensational results of their study. Their report says wine is good for children when consumed occasionally. But many other doctors disagree with their Boston counterparts. We will consider the arguments of each side.

Boston scientists believe that the gradual introduction of alcoholic beverages in children under the supervision of their parents reduces the risk of developing alcoholism in adulthood. The study was carried out in the families of Italian winemakers and confirmed this hypothesis. There are very few alcoholics in Italy who have been drinking wine since childhood. But we are not Italy, our mentality is different.

Most Russian drug addicts do not share the optimism of their American colleagues. They believe that drinking alcohol at an early age can contribute to alcoholism, as the body begins to get used to alcohol. We do not have a highly developed drinking culture, a “small dose” of Russian can shock any European drinking. If these alcoholic traditions are extended to children, then a generation of alcoholics will appear in a few years. This is the general opinion of doctors.

The legislation also sets up barriers for children on the way to alcohol. Alcoholic drinks are allowed to be sold only to adults, their advertising is completely prohibited. But, despite the measures taken, every year child alcoholism is becoming an increasingly serious problem. For some reason, bans do not give the expected effect.

On the other hand, in any church the rite of communion is not complete without the Cahors, but no one brings priests to trial for violating the law. Communion with wine is considered completely normal, although it is inherently illegal.

By completely banning alcohol, the state has created a taboo for young people, which they really want to break. This is a kind of adult test. Sooner or later teenagers will try alcohol, that’s a fact. The only question is where it will happen: on the street among the same peers “hungry” for alcohol, or in the bosom of the family. If teenage drinking cannot be defeated, perhaps it needs to be led and controlled? This is the position of the advocates of the use of wine by children.

Raising children is a purely individual thing, each family approaches it differently. Whether to give alcohol to children should be decided by the parents themselves, based on their beliefs and the alcoholic traditions of the family. This article only discusses possible solutions to the problem, the author does not support any of the parties.


The benefits of red wine for the human body

Conversations about the benefits of alcoholic beverages irritate the supporters of a sober lifestyle, they refuse to admit this fact, claiming that alcohol is harmful. But scientists at Yale University were able to prove the benefits of red wine and its positive effects on the body as a whole. True, there are several nuances in this matter that need to be taken into account.

Quality. Only high-quality red dry wines are useful. If you go to the store to buy the cheapest wine there, then don’t dream of its benefits. Most likely, this is a mixture of alcohol, dyes and flavors, which in its essence is not wine.

Quantity. In countries with a developed alcoholic culture, drunk wine is considered to be glasses, while in our country it is considered to be bottles. That is why they talk about its benefits, and we talk about harm.

Restrictions. Red wine is not good for everyone. In many chronic diseases, it is contraindicated, especially if a person is taking medications. In this case, it is better to consult your doctor.

Red wine is rich in vitamins C, B, B2, B6, PP, minerals, iodine, manganese, sodium, titanium, potassium and phosphorus. These substances stimulate the body’s metabolism, improving overall well-being. The tannins contained in the drink make the vessels elastic. Red wines soothe, relieve stress, stimulate appetite and eliminate cholesterol. There was even a new direction in treatment – wine therapy.

Even dry red wine has a positive effect on tooth enamel. It makes it harder for bacteria to stick to teeth and gums, preventing tooth decay from developing. Interestingly, white wine, on the other hand, is harmful to the teeth, as its high acidity irritates the enamel. To neutralize this acid, white wines should be eaten with hard cheeses.

Some experts believe that red wine helps fight cancer, but this hypothesis has not yet been proven.


The origin of vodka – truth and myths

For the Russian people, vodka was and remains the national alcoholic drink. But many of us still do not know who invented vodka, and who should be thanked for its appearance? The current material is devoted to the answers to these important questions. I will give you a short historical background.

Dmitry Mendeleev is not the creator of vodka; it existed even before the birth of the great chemist. Yes, he has a work “On the combination of alcohol with water”, but in it Mendeleev does not try to find out the optimal strength of vodka. The dissertation is devoted to completely different issues. Mendeleev did not drink vodka, believing that it was useful only for the state treasury, and he himself preferred dry wine.

The optimal strength of vodka was determined by the English scientist-chemist J. Gilpin. He believed that the ideal vodka should contain 38 degrees of alcohol. Mendeleev only cited a lesser-known English colleague in his dissertation. But in all Russian production standards, 40-degree vodka has been and continues to be used. The point is that this concentration simplifies the calculation of the alcohol tax.

Even before the scientific works of Gilpin, people drank vodka. It’s just that the alcohol content in it was not regulated at the state level. Only in 1894, the government of tsarist Russia patented vodka, which contained 40 parts by weight of ethyl alcohol, and a charcoal filter was used to remove fusel oils. It was produced under the brand name “Moscow special”.

For the first time, more or less pure alcohol by distillation was learned by Arab alchemists in the 7th-8th centuries. But for them, alcohol was just a medicine for rubbing, the Koran does not encourage the use of alcohol. From this we conclude that the Arabs did not invent vodka, since they do not drink alcohol at all.

In Europe, the Italian monk Valentus was the first to receive alcohol, but he did not try to mix it with water, so Valentus cannot be called the creator of vodka either.

To date, historians have not been able to find written evidence about the person who invented vodka. Most likely, it appeared in some small village, and over time the recipe spread throughout the country. The creator of the vodka was not a famous historical person, it is a folk alcoholic drink.


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