Drink?: The New Science of Alcohol and Health

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I've been reading about the dangers of alcohol multiple times, so this didn't really offer anything new. David Nutt is an English neuropsychopharmacologist who’s research has primarily focused on the (mostly harmful) effects of drugs (including alcohol and nicotine) on the brain. I've never been in a bar or tavern, and I don't have a problem meeting plenty of good people. The crowd I'm around does not drink. I belong to a friendly church with social activities. Yes, I've taught Sunday School and many kids' programs, great experiences. I belong to a Christian writers' group. I have ministered on a jail team for 15 years as a volunteer assistant chaplain, as well, and had plenty of experiences with hundreds of alcoholics, all of whom started out as social drinkers. Nutt has spent a good part of his career attempting to educate the general public regarding drug and alcohol use. And to consult and lobby government to adopt more rational drug and alcohol policies based on evidence of individual and social harm. One of the better known health consequences of long-term alcohol consumption is liver disease, alcohol being the most common cause in the UK. Although cirrhosis can take years to develop, regularly drinking over the recommended limits can damage the liver. Meanwhile, cutting down on drinking has become standard advice in lowering the risk of dementia. While alcohol doesn’t appear to directly kill brain cells, it can disrupt the growth of new ones – and also indirectly cause neurological problems that can lead to dementia.

Abstention may be the best strategy, however, for drinkers who are alcohol dependent, who have certain other health problems, or are pregnant. Binge drinking, or getting "wasted" is very bad for you, much better to limit how much you do this.

Professor Nutt does a much better job of citing some psychological aspects of why people drink, i.e., the self-help portion of the book. [Read the section on "Is Your Booze Buzz in Your Head?"] Later on he cites one study that "...showed that people drank lager 60 percent more slowly out of straight glasses than out of outward-curving (pilsner type) ones." Now that's interesting, don't you think? He also does a better job in this half of the book delineating when he is discussing fact or logic and not just opinion. This book certainly exceeded my expectations. The overall pedigree and experience of Dr. Nutt put him in an excellent position to author this book, and he did a laudable job balancing it with a sufficiently rigorous scientific/health-related dive, the effects at the personal versus the societal level, economic considerations, as well as the many benefits of alcohol that people tend to overlook. The author also concludes with a seemingly sensible plan for those who take the facts seriously, both personally and at the institutional/policy level. The book is not a meant to scare people into worry about their habits, but rather provide a sober (hah) analysis of the risks at hand. It’s by far the most harmful food product in the grocery store. And that’s really saying something. Read the introduction; it contains some of the 'truths' about alcohol. "Marketing has altered our perception," "...its's absurd that coming of age should still be about alcohol," and "Would you take a new drug if you were told it would increase your risk of cancer, dementia, heart disease, or that it would shorten your life?"

I have not seen drug treatments working well with these people. They continue to come into jail, despite attending numerous programs. We call them "frequent flyers." One drug replacing another drug (alcohol) is not a real treatment. It's only a bandaid solution. The main reason alcohol is the most harmful drug is that so many people use it: about four out of five in western countries. Between one to two in 10 are problem drinkers. The top 10 percent of American drinkers consume an average of 74 drinks per week, which is over 10 drinks per day.

A world-renowned authority on the science of alcohol exposes its influence on our health, mood, sleep, emotions, and productivity -- and what we can and should do to moderate our intake. Alcohol is a huge dopamine stimulant, which is in part why it feels so good, and why we might crave it when stressed. It seems really hard to have a good social life and not drink. It is such an accepted part of life. People don't really understand the effect it has on our bodies and our lives. Of course people do understand at the extreme of becoming an alcoholic, but short of that, what's the big deal? Everyone should educate themselves on why it could be a big deal, so we can all make better informed decisions around drinking, and this book is an excellent introduction to this.