Holiday drinking: How much is too much?

For some people, Christmas parties are not complete without alcohol—it doesn’t matter if it’s gin, beer, or whiskey.

In an interview with “Pinoy MD,” pharmacologist Dr. Eleanor Almoro reminded holiday partygoers to be careful about their alcohol intake during the holidays. If drinking can’t be avoided, one should at least be careful not to drink too much.

Dr. Almoro says alcohol goes directly to the blood. If a person takes too much alcohol, he or she may experience dizziness or vomiting. These effects will only go away after the liver filters the alcohol from the blood. Sometimes, it takes a while for the liver to filter all the alcohol from a person’s blood. The result? A hangover.

Is it possible to enjoy alcohol while avoiding the worst effects of drinking? Dr. Almoro offers some expert advice on how to enjoy alcohol in a way that’s “safe and satisfying” this Christmas:

TIP 1: Know the alcohol content of what you’re drinking.

Alcohol content is the amount of concentrated alcohol in a bottle of an alcoholic beverage. Among them, beer has the lowest alcohol content. It contains only 4 to 6 percent of alcohol per bottle. Meanwhile, gin has 40 percent alcohol content per bottle, which is the highest.

TIP 2: Know your body’s alcohol-intake limits.

According to studies, it is safe for men to drink at least two bottles of beer a day. But for women, who don’t produce as many stomach enzymes as men, a bottle a day is a more reasonable limit. Stomach enzymes helps in digestion.


TIP 3: What are the good effects of drinking alcoholic beverages?

According to Dr. Almoro, alcoholic beverages are not really bad for one’s health if taken in moderation. In fact, red wine can have a very calming effect on the body, and even help those suffering from insomnia to easily fall asleep. Alcohol is a depressant and a better alternative to sleeping pills.

TIP 4: How would you measure the amount of alcohol a person has consumed?

A gadget called a “breathalyzer” is used to measure the blood alcohol concentration in a person through his breath. In America, motorists are not allowed to drive if their alcohol intake exceeds .08 per 100 milligrams of blood.

TIP 5: What’s the worst thing that can happen to someone who drinks alcohol heavily?

Alcohol abuse or addiction can eventually lead to liver cirrhosis, a fatal disease associated with jaundice, vomiting, nausea, and excessive pain in the thighs or legs.

This holiday season, let us not forget that taking anything in excess might be harmful to our health. For more health tips, watch “Pinoy MD” every Saturday from 6 to 7 AM on GMA 7.

—Rica Fernandez/PF, GMA News