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Running head: ALCOHOL; GOOD OR BAD? 1

ALCOHOL; GOOD OR BAD? 2

Alcohol; Good or Bad?

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Alcohol; Good or Bad?

Fermented beverages have been in existence for more than 10,000 years. There have been arguments ever since on the merits and demerits of these fermented beverages. Today, different types of drinks that vary in the alcohol percentage are consumed worldwide. Alcohol is an addiction substance that still simmers debates on whether it is beneficial or harmful to consumers and those around them. In the society, we can point out how alcohol has destroyed individuals, yet, there are other people in the same society who consume alcoholic drinks and are very successful. Is good or bad for you? This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of consuming alcohol.

Alcohol is like a drug. Ethanol, the active ingredient in alcohol affects the body in several ways. It directly manipulates the brain, liver, stomach, heart, and gallbladder, together with the lipids levels, insulin in the blood, inflammation, and coagulation. It alters concentration, moods, and coordination. This is what cause either harm or good of the beverage. The effects of alcohol on the user depend on the dosage taken (Rehm and Room, 2006). Researchers have established that moderate alcohol drinking is good for the heart and the circulatory system. Moderate drinking can be defined as the point at which the benefits of alcohol consumption prevail over the harm. Studies conducted have established that moderate alcohol intake results in lower risk of cardiovascular diseases across all age groups. Also, moderate consumption of alcohol has been linked to better sensitivity to insulin and enhancements in factors which influence clotting of blood, preventing risks associated with blockage of arteries. These have been proven biologically and scientifically.

Another advantage of consuming the right quantity of alcohol is that it relaxes the body. Historically, people consume alcohol to relax due to its anxiolytic properties. After a tough day at work, a bottle of beer will refresh you and calm your nerves. It soothes and quiets the brain, fading the stresses of the day away. Alcohol is an important aspect in socialization. It is used in social gatherings and big parties because it is a delightful social lubricant to enhance the fun by erasing interpersonal anxieties (Lehrer, 2010). Alcohol gives confidence to people who have issues socializing. Moderate drinkers tend to have more friends because they find it easy to create and nurture relationships. For example, people who occasionally drink together can chat about what they do and establish businesses contacts. This is a proof that moderate drinking can be very beneficial.

Despite the above mentioned advantages of moderate alcohol consumption, a larger percentage of alcohol drinkers consume it excessively. In most countries, heavy alcohol drinking is a major cause of preventable deaths. There are billboards and adverts everywhere warning drivers not to drive after consuming alcohol. Statistics indicate that in the United States, alcohol is implicated in almost half of fatal road accidents. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, more than 16,000 people die every year in automobile accidents that are alcohol related. Other than resulting in deaths due to reckless driving, too much alcohol damages the liver by causing liver inflammation known as alcoholic hepatitis that develops to liver cirrhosis which is a potentially fatal illness. Heavy alcohol consumption causes hypertension and damages heart muscles. There is sufficient evidence by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research that links alcohol abuse to cancer of the breast, mouth, colon, esophagus, rectum in men, pharynx, and larynx. , causes depression, and harms the fetus among other health issues. Even moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages has side effects such as disrupting sleep and clouding judgment.

Excessive alcohol consumption is not only harmful to the user, but it also impacts negatively on the people around him. Heavy drinking interferes with relationships (Rehm and Room, 2006). Families have split because of drinking habit that makes the user irresponsible and not provide for the family, or cause conflicts in relationships. Statistics by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism indicate that 18.2 Americans meet the standard criteria for alcoholism, alcohol contributes to one in three cases of violent criminal offenses, and that excessive alcohol intake costs more than $185 billion annually. Excessive alcohol intake affects an individual’s productivity at work and this may result in loss of source of income.

Conclusion

Too much of something is harmful. Individuals, organizations and governments have put measures to prevent the harm caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol offers a different spectrum of advantages and disadvantages to each individual, therefore, it cannot be concluded that alcohol is bad and should not be consumed at all. One clear conclusion that can be drawn from the discussion above is that excessive alcohol consumption is deadly and negatively affects the individual and the society. There is no positive effect of heavy drinking. Individuals should therefore watch out for the amount of alcohol they take. If an addict, not all is lost. Hope can be found in rehabilitation centers and some of the diseases caused by alcohol intake are manageable.

References

Rehm, J., Chisholm, D., Room, R., & Lopez, A. D. (2006). Alcohol.

Lehrer, J. (2010). Why Alcohol Is Good for You. Wired. Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/2010/09/why-alcohol-is-good-for-you/

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/alcohol-full-story/