There’s a common belief out there that showers help cure hangovers. But is this a myth? Find out in our latest blog!
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app today!
In The Shipping News, author Annie Proulx describes a character dealing with hangover symptoms in the traditional way: “At least he could turn on the shower, stand beneath the hot needles, face thrust near the spray head, feeling the headache move back a little.”
But do showers help hangovers? Why do showers make you feel better after you’ve had a few too many? And is there a difference between a cold or hot shower for hangover relief? Let’s explore this common hangover “cure” in more detail.
What is a hangover exactly? It comes down to our body’s reaction to alcohol metabolism. When we drink, alcohol has an effect on pretty much every system in our body. You can read more detail in our article about the health effects of alcohol, but let’s look at a brief overview.
All of this happens shortly after that first sip. As the alcohol enters our system, these changes continue to develop and can lead to a potential hangover down the line. The most common hangover symptoms we all know (and dread) — dehydration, nausea, headaches, fatigue, and overall malaise — are caused by a number of factors. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, there are a few key factors that contribute to hangovers.
Hangovers are super common. According to the Cleveland Clinic, one study showed that a whopping 75% of people who drink too much on a given night end up hungover the following morning. What about the lucky 25% who skate by without one? The researchers concluded they might be naturally resistant.
Because they’re so common, hangovers are also the subject of many myths — especially when it comes to curing them.
While a shower might not “cure” a hangover, it certainly won’t hurt — and might actually help! Here’s how:
So, if taking a shower can indeed ease some hangover symptoms, are certain temperatures more effective than others? For example, do cold showers help hangovers the most? And do hot showers help with headaches in particular?
The cold vs. hot debate mostly comes down to personal preference, but there’s some scientific evidence for both. Let’s explore it in more detail!
When we think of showers as a hangover remedy, we often think of cold ones.
Use caution: cold water increases the risk of hypothermia. This hangover remedy is definitely not for everyone! Listen to your body, and get out when you start to feel too cold.
Even if it helps a little, a shower by itself — hot or cold — won’t cure a hangover. Here are some proven ways to ease hangover symptoms:
Armed with these tips, you can get through a hangover a bit more comfortably. While they’re not an instant fix, they can take the edge off the discomfort (especially as the hangover peaks).
Finally, here are some tips for avoiding hangovers in the first place.
By following these and practicing mindful drinking, we can avoid the not-so-fun aftermath of a night of heavy drinking.
All in all, it’s important to remember that a hangover is temporary. After it passes, try to consider it a learning experience. Don’t judge yourself (it happens to many of us!), but see it as an opportunity to reassess your relationship with alcohol. If you’re curious about what life with less alcohol would be like, consider trying a month-long challenge, such as Dry January or Sober October. That said, there’s absolutely no need to wait until then — it’s never the “wrong” time to be sober-curious, and Reframe is here to cheer you on along the way!
In The Shipping News, author Annie Proulx describes a character dealing with hangover symptoms in the traditional way: “At least he could turn on the shower, stand beneath the hot needles, face thrust near the spray head, feeling the headache move back a little.”
But do showers help hangovers? Why do showers make you feel better after you’ve had a few too many? And is there a difference between a cold or hot shower for hangover relief? Let’s explore this common hangover “cure” in more detail.
What is a hangover exactly? It comes down to our body’s reaction to alcohol metabolism. When we drink, alcohol has an effect on pretty much every system in our body. You can read more detail in our article about the health effects of alcohol, but let’s look at a brief overview.
All of this happens shortly after that first sip. As the alcohol enters our system, these changes continue to develop and can lead to a potential hangover down the line. The most common hangover symptoms we all know (and dread) — dehydration, nausea, headaches, fatigue, and overall malaise — are caused by a number of factors. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, there are a few key factors that contribute to hangovers.
Hangovers are super common. According to the Cleveland Clinic, one study showed that a whopping 75% of people who drink too much on a given night end up hungover the following morning. What about the lucky 25% who skate by without one? The researchers concluded they might be naturally resistant.
Because they’re so common, hangovers are also the subject of many myths — especially when it comes to curing them.
While a shower might not “cure” a hangover, it certainly won’t hurt — and might actually help! Here’s how:
So, if taking a shower can indeed ease some hangover symptoms, are certain temperatures more effective than others? For example, do cold showers help hangovers the most? And do hot showers help with headaches in particular?
The cold vs. hot debate mostly comes down to personal preference, but there’s some scientific evidence for both. Let’s explore it in more detail!
When we think of showers as a hangover remedy, we often think of cold ones.
Use caution: cold water increases the risk of hypothermia. This hangover remedy is definitely not for everyone! Listen to your body, and get out when you start to feel too cold.
Even if it helps a little, a shower by itself — hot or cold — won’t cure a hangover. Here are some proven ways to ease hangover symptoms:
Armed with these tips, you can get through a hangover a bit more comfortably. While they’re not an instant fix, they can take the edge off the discomfort (especially as the hangover peaks).
Finally, here are some tips for avoiding hangovers in the first place.
By following these and practicing mindful drinking, we can avoid the not-so-fun aftermath of a night of heavy drinking.
All in all, it’s important to remember that a hangover is temporary. After it passes, try to consider it a learning experience. Don’t judge yourself (it happens to many of us!), but see it as an opportunity to reassess your relationship with alcohol. If you’re curious about what life with less alcohol would be like, consider trying a month-long challenge, such as Dry January or Sober October. That said, there’s absolutely no need to wait until then — it’s never the “wrong” time to be sober-curious, and Reframe is here to cheer you on along the way!
Learn about the Canadian drinking culture, policies, and recent trends in our recent blog!
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app today!
Writer Louis Armand de Lom d'Arce Lahontan once said, “To survive the Canadian winter, one needs a body of brass, eyes of glass, and blood made of brandy.” This might be a bit of an exaggeration, but Canada is certainly no stranger to booze. What is the drinking culture in Canada like, how did it evolve, and what are the current alcohol consumption trends? Let’s find out!
Canada’s history with booze goes way back. Let’s go on a brief trip through history from the pre-colonial times to the Prohibition era to the ups and downs of the last few decades.
As for the last decade, surveys and statistics show a rising number of Canadians can be considered “heavy drinkers.” Heavy drinking is currently defined as 5 or more drinks at one occasion at least once per month for men and 4 or more for women. In a Statista review published in November 2023, researcher John Elflein reports that in 2022 a whopping 20% of Canadians fell into that category.
Alcohol-related risks, including chronic liver disease, have also been on the rise. The alcohol-related death rate has jumped in recent years, with cirrhosis claiming as many as 12 lives out of 100,000 in 2021. Elflein talks about the alcohol market trends in Canada during the last few years:
Why so much drinking, especially in recent years? There are a few possible reasons.
The laws and regulations around alcohol in Canada are relatively relaxed. The minimum legal drinking age varies by province and territory. In Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec, the legal age is 18. In all other provinces and territories, it’s 19.
In recent years, however, there have been a number of government initiatives for alcohol reduction. Alcohol Consumption in Canada: A Public Health Perspective outlines some of the troubling trends in increasing alcohol use and associated problems. Here’s an overview:
The report is in line with the Canadian government’s recent initiative to curb alcohol consumption. In January 2023, Canada’s Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction released a report detailing new drinking guidelines for Canadians. The message is that “Drinking less is better,” since “we now know that even a small amount of alcohol can be damaging to health.”
The report goes on to define risk categories based on the number of drinks consumed per week, with a maximum of 2 considered low risk, 3-6 as moderate risk, and anything above that as high risk.
At the same time, there have been shifts in drinking patterns over recent years, with non-alcoholic beverages, sober bars, and social movements gaining traction. The changing attitudes and behaviors are part of the sober-curious movement, which aims to explore sobriety as an expansion of options rather than as a restriction or limitation.
A recent CTV News article talks about the growing trend. Surveys show that many younger Canadians are opting out of boozy nightlife, with as many as 15% of those over 20 choosing not to drink at all. Joel Gregoire, associate director for food and drink at the market research company Mintel, told The Canadian Press, "If I was running an alcoholic beverage company ... this is not a space that I would ignore. When you're trying to grow your brand with younger consumers, who are the ones who are generally most open to innovation ... that's where there's a lot of opportunity.”
And many companies are, indeed, jumping on this opportunity:
If you’re thinking about joining in on some sober “good clean fun” yourself — congrats! Here are some tips to get you started.
Join Reframe! Reframe is a great place to meet other sober-curious people on the same journey and get support and science-backed advice about quitting or cutting back on alcohol.
Alcohol culture in Canada (and everywhere else, for that matter) is constantly shifting. While there have been times when consumption has been on the rise, there are others when people stand back and reevaluate their relationship with alcohol. Drinking is always a personal choice, and so is sobriety. As young Canadians in particular are showing us, it doesn’t mean missing out on the fun — quite the opposite!
Writer Louis Armand de Lom d'Arce Lahontan once said, “To survive the Canadian winter, one needs a body of brass, eyes of glass, and blood made of brandy.” This might be a bit of an exaggeration, but Canada is certainly no stranger to booze. What is the drinking culture in Canada like, how did it evolve, and what are the current alcohol consumption trends? Let’s find out!
Canada’s history with booze goes way back. Let’s go on a brief trip through history from the pre-colonial times to the Prohibition era to the ups and downs of the last few decades.
As for the last decade, surveys and statistics show a rising number of Canadians can be considered “heavy drinkers.” Heavy drinking is currently defined as 5 or more drinks at one occasion at least once per month for men and 4 or more for women. In a Statista review published in November 2023, researcher John Elflein reports that in 2022 a whopping 20% of Canadians fell into that category.
Alcohol-related risks, including chronic liver disease, have also been on the rise. The alcohol-related death rate has jumped in recent years, with cirrhosis claiming as many as 12 lives out of 100,000 in 2021. Elflein talks about the alcohol market trends in Canada during the last few years:
Why so much drinking, especially in recent years? There are a few possible reasons.
The laws and regulations around alcohol in Canada are relatively relaxed. The minimum legal drinking age varies by province and territory. In Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec, the legal age is 18. In all other provinces and territories, it’s 19.
In recent years, however, there have been a number of government initiatives for alcohol reduction. Alcohol Consumption in Canada: A Public Health Perspective outlines some of the troubling trends in increasing alcohol use and associated problems. Here’s an overview:
The report is in line with the Canadian government’s recent initiative to curb alcohol consumption. In January 2023, Canada’s Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction released a report detailing new drinking guidelines for Canadians. The message is that “Drinking less is better,” since “we now know that even a small amount of alcohol can be damaging to health.”
The report goes on to define risk categories based on the number of drinks consumed per week, with a maximum of 2 considered low risk, 3-6 as moderate risk, and anything above that as high risk.
At the same time, there have been shifts in drinking patterns over recent years, with non-alcoholic beverages, sober bars, and social movements gaining traction. The changing attitudes and behaviors are part of the sober-curious movement, which aims to explore sobriety as an expansion of options rather than as a restriction or limitation.
A recent CTV News article talks about the growing trend. Surveys show that many younger Canadians are opting out of boozy nightlife, with as many as 15% of those over 20 choosing not to drink at all. Joel Gregoire, associate director for food and drink at the market research company Mintel, told The Canadian Press, "If I was running an alcoholic beverage company ... this is not a space that I would ignore. When you're trying to grow your brand with younger consumers, who are the ones who are generally most open to innovation ... that's where there's a lot of opportunity.”
And many companies are, indeed, jumping on this opportunity:
If you’re thinking about joining in on some sober “good clean fun” yourself — congrats! Here are some tips to get you started.
Join Reframe! Reframe is a great place to meet other sober-curious people on the same journey and get support and science-backed advice about quitting or cutting back on alcohol.
Alcohol culture in Canada (and everywhere else, for that matter) is constantly shifting. While there have been times when consumption has been on the rise, there are others when people stand back and reevaluate their relationship with alcohol. Drinking is always a personal choice, and so is sobriety. As young Canadians in particular are showing us, it doesn’t mean missing out on the fun — quite the opposite!
Explore the profound effects of alcoholism on families and children of alcoholic parents. Plus learn how to help and protect your well-being.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet hundreds of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
A common misconception around alcohol misuse is that it only affects the person who is drinking — but this is far from true. Alcohol misuse can have far-reaching effects on family members, friends, and loved ones of those who drink. This is why we typically hear that alcohol ruins relationships.
In this post, we’ll explore how alcoholism affects families, including the toll it takes on children of alcoholic parents. We’ll also offer tips on how to help a loved one who struggles with alcohol misuse. Let’s get started!
Before we look at the effect of alcoholism on families, let’s first define alcoholism. Otherwise known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), alcoholism is a chronic, complex medical condition characterized by an unhealthy pattern of alcohol consumption.
Symptoms of alcohol use disorder typically involve having strong cravings for alcohol, a physical dependence on alcohol, an inability to control drinking behavior, increased tolerance (or needing more alcohol to achieve the desired effect), and withdrawal symptoms when not drinking.
Alcoholism affects nearly every aspect of a person’s life, from their physical and mental health to their relationships and overall quality of life. Sadly, 29.5 million people ages 12 and older had alcohol use disorder in 2021, according to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
Research suggests that about 1 in 10 children lives with a parent who has an alcohol use disorder, and about 1 in 5 adults lived with a person who used alcohol when they were growing up. So, how exactly does this affect them? Alcoholism has some profound psychological and emotional effects on families:
Trust is the foundation upon which healthy relationships are built. Sadly, trust is one of the first things to go when a family member is struggling with alcohol misuse. Since alcohol becomes the center of their world, it’s common for people with alcohol use disorder to break promises, abandon plans, or neglect their responsibilities. This can cause family members to lose trust and get caught in a cycle of hope and disappointment.
Living with an alcoholic can create great fear and anxiety due to their unpredictable behavior. Family members might find themselves walking on eggshells or afraid to say things that might trigger an explosive reaction. Living in constant fear can lead to chronic stress, which takes a toll on a person’s physical and mental health. In other words, family members of alcoholics live in a mentally and emotionally exhausting environment. This fear and anxiety can cause family members to isolate themselves, which further damages their emotional and mental well-being.
Alcohol can cause people to become volatile and aggressive. It’s common for arguments and conflicts to break out within a family unit if someone has alcohol use disorder. In fact, normal family activities can often become dangerous or traumatic due to the alcoholic’s behavior.
Furthermore, studies have shown that alcoholism is associated with a greater likelihood of domestic violence. As a result, family members may experience long-term psychological and emotional damage that can take years to heal. It can also perpetuate a cycle of trauma and dysfunction since the toxic environment becomes their “norm.”
Research shows that growing up with a parent who misuses alcohol can have profound and long-lasting psychological and emotional effects. Here are some of the more common:
There is often a great deal of denial, lying, and keeping secrets in the homes of people with alcohol misuse. As a result, children start to learn that they can’t trust their parent. For instance, perhaps their parent promised to quit drinking but continually failed to follow through. Over time, these broken promises can create serious trust issues that last into adulthood. Because of this, adult children of parents with alcohol misuse often struggle with romantic relationships; they avoid getting too close to others for fear of being disappointed yet again.
Furthermore, if a child’s parent was mean or abusive when they drank, adult children can grow up with a fear of all angry people. They may spend their lives avoiding conflict or confrontation for fear that it could turn violent.
Children with parents who have alcohol use disorder often develop negative self-images and are incredibly hard on themselves. Because children are dependent on caregivers, their self-perception develops as a reflection of how they are viewed by their parents. A parent misusing alcohol may neglect their child or lash out at them, which can cause life-long issues with self-image.
Even as adults, many children who grew up with alcohol misuse struggle with confidence, self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, and low self-worth. They may come to see themselves as different from other people and never good enough. Sadly, this can create further isolation, making it difficult for them to interact with others and form relationships.
Many children of parents who misuse alcohol have a skewed notion of what it means to be “normal.” Alcohol can create tremendous dysfunction within the family system, preventing children from experiencing a stable living environment. Because drinking is often normalized in the homes of people with alcohol misuse, children can struggle to distinguish between “good” role models and “bad” ones. They also might end up feeling conflicted, confused, and self-conscious when they realize that drinking isn’t considered normal in other families.
Children may feel responsible for their parents or siblings and find themselves behaving more like a parent, especially if their parent is absent or unable to function. This can lead to a host of negative emotions — fear, shame, embarrassment, anger, guilt, and denial — which they learn to hide as a defense mechanism. However, hiding negative emotions for extended periods can cause people to shut down all emotions in adulthood. Positive emotions, such as love, joy, and excitement, can become just as difficult to experience and express as the negative ones.
Living in a household with a parent misusing alcohol often brings a great deal of chaos and instability. As a result, children feel vulnerable and helpless. This lack of control can result in an extreme need for control in adulthood — over their life, the situations they find themselves in, or the behaviors of others. An intense need for control can lead to problems with forming and maintaining healthy relationships.
At a young age, children with a parent who is misusing alcohol learn to become aware of potential dangers or threats to their safety and well-being. This can lead to hypervigilance, an increased state of awareness that causes sensitivity to surroundings. As an adult, extreme and excessive attentiveness can distract from work, family life, and other relationships, causing them to continually be “on guard.” Even if some dangers aren’t real, they become obsessed with knowing all the possible dangers. Experts believe that hypervigilance stems from the shame and pain experienced in childhood of having parents with alcohol use disorder.
Many parents with alcohol misuse are emotionally or physically detached. This can cause a child to develop a debilitating fear of abandonment. In adulthood, these children often hold onto toxic relationships for fear of being alone. Similarly, many children of parents with alcohol misuse constantly seek approval from others and base their self-worth on helping others. They can become people-pleasers who are devastated if someone isn’t happy with them; they live in fear of criticism. This can also drive them to become perfectionists, overachievers, or workaholics with a strong sense of responsibility.
If we know that a parent or family member is misusing alcohol, it’s important to try to get them help. But it’s equally important to protect ourselves. With that in mind, here are 5 tips:
Alcoholism doesn’t just affect the person drinking, it affects everyone around them. Family members of alcoholics and children of alcoholic parents face great challenges, from fear and anxiety to long-term psychological damage. While we can help support someone with alcohol use disorder and encourage them to get help, we have to remember that it’s ultimately up to them to make a change. When we’re facing the challenge of an alcoholic loved one, it’s vital to take care of ourselves and do everything we can to protect our physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol, consider trying Reframe. We’re a neuroscience-backed app that has helped millions of people cut back on their alcohol consumption and develop healthier lifestyle habits.
A common misconception around alcohol misuse is that it only affects the person who is drinking — but this is far from true. Alcohol misuse can have far-reaching effects on family members, friends, and loved ones of those who drink. This is why we typically hear that alcohol ruins relationships.
In this post, we’ll explore how alcoholism affects families, including the toll it takes on children of alcoholic parents. We’ll also offer tips on how to help a loved one who struggles with alcohol misuse. Let’s get started!
Before we look at the effect of alcoholism on families, let’s first define alcoholism. Otherwise known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), alcoholism is a chronic, complex medical condition characterized by an unhealthy pattern of alcohol consumption.
Symptoms of alcohol use disorder typically involve having strong cravings for alcohol, a physical dependence on alcohol, an inability to control drinking behavior, increased tolerance (or needing more alcohol to achieve the desired effect), and withdrawal symptoms when not drinking.
Alcoholism affects nearly every aspect of a person’s life, from their physical and mental health to their relationships and overall quality of life. Sadly, 29.5 million people ages 12 and older had alcohol use disorder in 2021, according to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
Research suggests that about 1 in 10 children lives with a parent who has an alcohol use disorder, and about 1 in 5 adults lived with a person who used alcohol when they were growing up. So, how exactly does this affect them? Alcoholism has some profound psychological and emotional effects on families:
Trust is the foundation upon which healthy relationships are built. Sadly, trust is one of the first things to go when a family member is struggling with alcohol misuse. Since alcohol becomes the center of their world, it’s common for people with alcohol use disorder to break promises, abandon plans, or neglect their responsibilities. This can cause family members to lose trust and get caught in a cycle of hope and disappointment.
Living with an alcoholic can create great fear and anxiety due to their unpredictable behavior. Family members might find themselves walking on eggshells or afraid to say things that might trigger an explosive reaction. Living in constant fear can lead to chronic stress, which takes a toll on a person’s physical and mental health. In other words, family members of alcoholics live in a mentally and emotionally exhausting environment. This fear and anxiety can cause family members to isolate themselves, which further damages their emotional and mental well-being.
Alcohol can cause people to become volatile and aggressive. It’s common for arguments and conflicts to break out within a family unit if someone has alcohol use disorder. In fact, normal family activities can often become dangerous or traumatic due to the alcoholic’s behavior.
Furthermore, studies have shown that alcoholism is associated with a greater likelihood of domestic violence. As a result, family members may experience long-term psychological and emotional damage that can take years to heal. It can also perpetuate a cycle of trauma and dysfunction since the toxic environment becomes their “norm.”
Research shows that growing up with a parent who misuses alcohol can have profound and long-lasting psychological and emotional effects. Here are some of the more common:
There is often a great deal of denial, lying, and keeping secrets in the homes of people with alcohol misuse. As a result, children start to learn that they can’t trust their parent. For instance, perhaps their parent promised to quit drinking but continually failed to follow through. Over time, these broken promises can create serious trust issues that last into adulthood. Because of this, adult children of parents with alcohol misuse often struggle with romantic relationships; they avoid getting too close to others for fear of being disappointed yet again.
Furthermore, if a child’s parent was mean or abusive when they drank, adult children can grow up with a fear of all angry people. They may spend their lives avoiding conflict or confrontation for fear that it could turn violent.
Children with parents who have alcohol use disorder often develop negative self-images and are incredibly hard on themselves. Because children are dependent on caregivers, their self-perception develops as a reflection of how they are viewed by their parents. A parent misusing alcohol may neglect their child or lash out at them, which can cause life-long issues with self-image.
Even as adults, many children who grew up with alcohol misuse struggle with confidence, self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, and low self-worth. They may come to see themselves as different from other people and never good enough. Sadly, this can create further isolation, making it difficult for them to interact with others and form relationships.
Many children of parents who misuse alcohol have a skewed notion of what it means to be “normal.” Alcohol can create tremendous dysfunction within the family system, preventing children from experiencing a stable living environment. Because drinking is often normalized in the homes of people with alcohol misuse, children can struggle to distinguish between “good” role models and “bad” ones. They also might end up feeling conflicted, confused, and self-conscious when they realize that drinking isn’t considered normal in other families.
Children may feel responsible for their parents or siblings and find themselves behaving more like a parent, especially if their parent is absent or unable to function. This can lead to a host of negative emotions — fear, shame, embarrassment, anger, guilt, and denial — which they learn to hide as a defense mechanism. However, hiding negative emotions for extended periods can cause people to shut down all emotions in adulthood. Positive emotions, such as love, joy, and excitement, can become just as difficult to experience and express as the negative ones.
Living in a household with a parent misusing alcohol often brings a great deal of chaos and instability. As a result, children feel vulnerable and helpless. This lack of control can result in an extreme need for control in adulthood — over their life, the situations they find themselves in, or the behaviors of others. An intense need for control can lead to problems with forming and maintaining healthy relationships.
At a young age, children with a parent who is misusing alcohol learn to become aware of potential dangers or threats to their safety and well-being. This can lead to hypervigilance, an increased state of awareness that causes sensitivity to surroundings. As an adult, extreme and excessive attentiveness can distract from work, family life, and other relationships, causing them to continually be “on guard.” Even if some dangers aren’t real, they become obsessed with knowing all the possible dangers. Experts believe that hypervigilance stems from the shame and pain experienced in childhood of having parents with alcohol use disorder.
Many parents with alcohol misuse are emotionally or physically detached. This can cause a child to develop a debilitating fear of abandonment. In adulthood, these children often hold onto toxic relationships for fear of being alone. Similarly, many children of parents with alcohol misuse constantly seek approval from others and base their self-worth on helping others. They can become people-pleasers who are devastated if someone isn’t happy with them; they live in fear of criticism. This can also drive them to become perfectionists, overachievers, or workaholics with a strong sense of responsibility.
If we know that a parent or family member is misusing alcohol, it’s important to try to get them help. But it’s equally important to protect ourselves. With that in mind, here are 5 tips:
Alcoholism doesn’t just affect the person drinking, it affects everyone around them. Family members of alcoholics and children of alcoholic parents face great challenges, from fear and anxiety to long-term psychological damage. While we can help support someone with alcohol use disorder and encourage them to get help, we have to remember that it’s ultimately up to them to make a change. When we’re facing the challenge of an alcoholic loved one, it’s vital to take care of ourselves and do everything we can to protect our physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol, consider trying Reframe. We’re a neuroscience-backed app that has helped millions of people cut back on their alcohol consumption and develop healthier lifestyle habits.
Find out why the new guidelines in Canada have everyone talking! Experts say setting a 2 drink per week limit is best to stay safe.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app today!
Regulating anything — let alone alcohol — is a tricky task. As Aldous Huxley writes in The Doors of Perception / Heaven and Hell, “The problems raised by alcohol and tobacco cannot, it goes without saying, be solved by prohibition. The universal and ever-present urge to self-transcendence is not to be abolished by slamming the currently popular Doors in the Wall. The only reasonable policy is to open other, better doors in the hope of inducing men and women to exchange their old bad habits for new and less harmful ones.”
While Huxley is actually talking about hallucinogens in this quote, the same goes for alcohol as well: as we learned the hard way from the Prohibition Era, you can’t tell people not to drink, especially if you’re the government.
Instead, modern governments frame their advice as guidelines for safe alcohol use and present them as health initiatives backed by scientific evidence. We are free to choose what we do with that information, and nobody over a certain age (19 in Canada, 21 in the United States) is likely to be prohibited from drinking in North America (as long as they’re not behind the wheel, performing surgery, working on a construction site, or doing anything else where their impairment would pose a risk to others).
However, when it comes to Canada’s new guidelines for safe alcohol consumption, some folks have been left a bit shaken. The guidelines, passed in 2023 after extensive review by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), urge Canadians to set a 2- drink weekly limit to avoid potential health risks. Canadian experts argue that the latest evidence proves no amount of alcohol is truly safe.
What are alcohol guidelines in the first place, and what are they based on? Every country is different, but usually guidelines are set by governments according to scientific research and influenced by the cultural traditions of the population.
The World Health Organization reports that Europeans drink the most alcohol of all regions and advises that no amount of alcohol is safe. In light of that position, let’s look at a brief overview of drinking guidelines in Europe according to the 2023 European Commission report:
How do these recommendations compare to those in North America?
The current report is the final result of the guideline review initiative launched in 2020 by the CCSA. The guidelines were developed in 2011, but since then “the evidence on the impact of alcohol on health and its contribution to social harms has advanced considerably.” The update, in turn, addresses these new findings.
The main message of the report is loud and clear: “We now know that even a small amount of alcohol can be damaging to health.”
According to CTV News, “While acknowledging that 40 percent of people living in Canada aged 15 and older consume more than six standard drinks per week, the report warns that no amount of alcohol is safe to consume.” Instead, it “recommends a new cap on weekly alcohol consumption that is significantly lower than the previous one” — 2 drinks per week for both men and women — and suggests that those who are breastfeeding or trying to conceive should skip the booze altogether.
The report lays out a “continuum of risk associated with average weekly alcohol consumption” to make it clear what low vs. moderate or high risk really looks like. Here’s the summary of the risks, as outlined in Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health: Final Report:
Here’s how Taryn Grieder, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, sums it up:
“Alcohol is a psychoactive drug. Occasional use isn’t going to have really significant effects. Even if you occasionally use something like heroin, you probably wouldn’t see significant effects on your life. But that’s the thing: people aren’t using alcohol occasionally — they’re using it every day … The hope is that people will moderate their usage and not drink every day, because we’ve seen research that has shown that alcohol is a carcinogen.”
So what type of risk are we talking about exactly? The report goes into detail about the most recent research regarding the health issues caused by alcohol.
The report goes on to describe the many other public health consequences of alcohol consumption beyond the risks to personal health.
Needless to say, the report hasn’t gone unnoticed in Canada (or outside its borders) — and many people are up in arms about it. Some disagree outright, some say the report is greatly exaggerated and borders on fear mongering, while others say it’s simply talking about risk assessment and shouldn’t be taken at face value.
A CBC article focuses on the fact that the report is based on risk analysis: “It outlines exactly how many years of life — averaged over the lives of 1,000 males and 1,000 females — would be lost, depending on how many drinks they ingested per week and what disease they had.” The article goes on to suggest that these calculations of risk don’t translate all that well into realistic advice for actual (not hypothetical or “average”) people, and should therefore be taken with a grain of salt.
Still, the science is pretty clear when it comes to what alcohol does to our bodies and minds, so it makes sense to revisit this subject now that more information is available. It also goes without saying that this information should be accessible to everyone. There have been many myths about alcohol and even scientific studies that have been quietly debunked. For example, there’s the idea that moderate drinkers supposedly have a lower risk of mortality than nondrinkers — an idea that was based on studies with serious flaws.
Ultimately, Canada’s new guidelines come down to providing the public with all of the information necessary for each person to make the decision that’s best for them. Professor of family medicine at the University of Saskatchewan Peter Butt told The Guardian, “We wanted to [simply present] the evidence to the Canadian public, so they could reflect on their drinking and make informed decisions … It’s fundamentally based on the right to know.”
The report also provides some tips for safety around alcohol, which can be useful for anyone trying to watch their intake:
In the end, alcohol guidelines in any country are just that — guidelines. It’s up to us to make decisions based on the knowledge we gather from various sources, our own life experience, and knowledge of ourselves. When it comes to deciding what role we would like alcohol to play in our lives, it’s best to keep an open mind and approach the question in the spirit of exploration and curiosity. After all, there is so much to discover in sobriety. Letting our views of alcohol evolve as we learn more about alcohol and how it affects our bodies and minds can only make our lives better.
Regulating anything — let alone alcohol — is a tricky task. As Aldous Huxley writes in The Doors of Perception / Heaven and Hell, “The problems raised by alcohol and tobacco cannot, it goes without saying, be solved by prohibition. The universal and ever-present urge to self-transcendence is not to be abolished by slamming the currently popular Doors in the Wall. The only reasonable policy is to open other, better doors in the hope of inducing men and women to exchange their old bad habits for new and less harmful ones.”
While Huxley is actually talking about hallucinogens in this quote, the same goes for alcohol as well: as we learned the hard way from the Prohibition Era, you can’t tell people not to drink, especially if you’re the government.
Instead, modern governments frame their advice as guidelines for safe alcohol use and present them as health initiatives backed by scientific evidence. We are free to choose what we do with that information, and nobody over a certain age (19 in Canada, 21 in the United States) is likely to be prohibited from drinking in North America (as long as they’re not behind the wheel, performing surgery, working on a construction site, or doing anything else where their impairment would pose a risk to others).
However, when it comes to Canada’s new guidelines for safe alcohol consumption, some folks have been left a bit shaken. The guidelines, passed in 2023 after extensive review by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), urge Canadians to set a 2- drink weekly limit to avoid potential health risks. Canadian experts argue that the latest evidence proves no amount of alcohol is truly safe.
What are alcohol guidelines in the first place, and what are they based on? Every country is different, but usually guidelines are set by governments according to scientific research and influenced by the cultural traditions of the population.
The World Health Organization reports that Europeans drink the most alcohol of all regions and advises that no amount of alcohol is safe. In light of that position, let’s look at a brief overview of drinking guidelines in Europe according to the 2023 European Commission report:
How do these recommendations compare to those in North America?
The current report is the final result of the guideline review initiative launched in 2020 by the CCSA. The guidelines were developed in 2011, but since then “the evidence on the impact of alcohol on health and its contribution to social harms has advanced considerably.” The update, in turn, addresses these new findings.
The main message of the report is loud and clear: “We now know that even a small amount of alcohol can be damaging to health.”
According to CTV News, “While acknowledging that 40 percent of people living in Canada aged 15 and older consume more than six standard drinks per week, the report warns that no amount of alcohol is safe to consume.” Instead, it “recommends a new cap on weekly alcohol consumption that is significantly lower than the previous one” — 2 drinks per week for both men and women — and suggests that those who are breastfeeding or trying to conceive should skip the booze altogether.
The report lays out a “continuum of risk associated with average weekly alcohol consumption” to make it clear what low vs. moderate or high risk really looks like. Here’s the summary of the risks, as outlined in Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health: Final Report:
Here’s how Taryn Grieder, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, sums it up:
“Alcohol is a psychoactive drug. Occasional use isn’t going to have really significant effects. Even if you occasionally use something like heroin, you probably wouldn’t see significant effects on your life. But that’s the thing: people aren’t using alcohol occasionally — they’re using it every day … The hope is that people will moderate their usage and not drink every day, because we’ve seen research that has shown that alcohol is a carcinogen.”
So what type of risk are we talking about exactly? The report goes into detail about the most recent research regarding the health issues caused by alcohol.
The report goes on to describe the many other public health consequences of alcohol consumption beyond the risks to personal health.
Needless to say, the report hasn’t gone unnoticed in Canada (or outside its borders) — and many people are up in arms about it. Some disagree outright, some say the report is greatly exaggerated and borders on fear mongering, while others say it’s simply talking about risk assessment and shouldn’t be taken at face value.
A CBC article focuses on the fact that the report is based on risk analysis: “It outlines exactly how many years of life — averaged over the lives of 1,000 males and 1,000 females — would be lost, depending on how many drinks they ingested per week and what disease they had.” The article goes on to suggest that these calculations of risk don’t translate all that well into realistic advice for actual (not hypothetical or “average”) people, and should therefore be taken with a grain of salt.
Still, the science is pretty clear when it comes to what alcohol does to our bodies and minds, so it makes sense to revisit this subject now that more information is available. It also goes without saying that this information should be accessible to everyone. There have been many myths about alcohol and even scientific studies that have been quietly debunked. For example, there’s the idea that moderate drinkers supposedly have a lower risk of mortality than nondrinkers — an idea that was based on studies with serious flaws.
Ultimately, Canada’s new guidelines come down to providing the public with all of the information necessary for each person to make the decision that’s best for them. Professor of family medicine at the University of Saskatchewan Peter Butt told The Guardian, “We wanted to [simply present] the evidence to the Canadian public, so they could reflect on their drinking and make informed decisions … It’s fundamentally based on the right to know.”
The report also provides some tips for safety around alcohol, which can be useful for anyone trying to watch their intake:
In the end, alcohol guidelines in any country are just that — guidelines. It’s up to us to make decisions based on the knowledge we gather from various sources, our own life experience, and knowledge of ourselves. When it comes to deciding what role we would like alcohol to play in our lives, it’s best to keep an open mind and approach the question in the spirit of exploration and curiosity. After all, there is so much to discover in sobriety. Letting our views of alcohol evolve as we learn more about alcohol and how it affects our bodies and minds can only make our lives better.
Debunking the myths and stigmas around alcoholism to understand how stigma affects the recovery process and rebuild our narrative around alcoholism!
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app today!
What do you think of when you hear the word “alcoholic”? A person who is bad, weak, or lacks self control? Someone who is nonfunctional and a “failure”? Do you associate a certain racial or ethnic group with alcoholism? Does your opinion of a person change when you find out they suffer from alcohol misuse? All of these help form the stigma we have around alcoholism and shape our perceptions of other people. However, this stigma can become very harmful, especially for people in the recovery process. So, to move beyond it, let’s debunk some myths around alcoholism and reshape our social narrative!
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), more commonly known as alcoholism, is a medical condition that affects 28.6 million adults in the United States.
Alcohol itself has a long history of consumption across different cultures and time periods, yet AUD as a disease and public health issue is only recently understood. As a result, many pervading misconceptions around alcoholism create stigma for people suffering from AUD.
Stigma around alcoholism distorts our perception of the condition and hinders our empathy. It is a social construct, deeply embedded in the way communities view alcohol use and those who struggle with it.
Alcoholism is often misunderstood as a choice, a lifestyle rather than a complex disease. This misunderstanding is a fundamental component of the stigma, suggesting a simple “opt-out” when, in reality, the struggle is with a chronic illness.
The language around alcoholism is often negative, and the words used to describe alcoholism perpetuate existing stigma. Terms like "drunk" or "addict" carry negative stereotypes that define and limit an individual's identity.
Those labeled as alcoholics may face social rejection and be considered unreliable or untrustworthy. The stigma can lead to a harmful self-image in which we hide our battle against alcoholism. This creates a social divide, adding to the sense of isolation and shame a person suffering from AUD might already feel.
Stigma can also intersect with other forms of discrimination, compounding the challenges faced by people from marginalized communities who are dealing with alcoholism. Discrimination due to alcoholism can affect their social lives and professional livelihoods.
Moreover, the journey to recovery is often oversimplified, with the expectation that we can simply choose to stop drinking. This fails to acknowledge the deep-rooted psychological and physiological dependencies involved in alcoholism. Alcoholism is a complex disorder that requires multiple forms of interventions, and it can co-occur with other severe mental illnesses like PTSD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
Due to the potential negative repercussions, many individuals choose to hide their struggle with alcoholism, preventing them from seeking the help and support they need.
Stigma around alcoholism is multifaceted, but each facet is created by different misconceptions. Now that we have an overview of what alcoholism is and the stigma around it, let’s debunk some common myths around alcoholism.
Alcoholism is often shrouded in myth. Contrary to existing stereotypes, alcoholism can affect anyone, no matter their age, gender, race, socioeconomic status, or background. The image of an "alcoholic" as a bad, irresponsible person is misleading. To understand the full scope of the illness, let’s debunk some myths around alcoholism.
The pervasive myth is that alcoholism affects only those who've "failed" to maintain social norms. Reality paints a very different picture. Alcoholism can be found in every corner of society, from the boardroom to the artist's studio. It affects high-powered professionals, loving parents, and respected elders alike. Addiction can occur at any stage of life and equally affect people who are successes or outcasts.
Another common stereotype is that alcoholism is the result of youthful recklessness. But this is a gross oversimplification. While it's true that alcoholism can take root in the younger years, it can also develop later in life, often as a response to major life changes like retirement, loss, or chronic stress.
The stereotype suggests a one-dimensional image of someone with alcoholism: often unkempt, frequently drunk in public, and struggling with work and relationships. The reality is that alcoholism has many faces. Many alcoholics are highly functional in their professional and personal lives because they keep their struggle secret. There are people who may not drink daily but engage in binge drinking patterns that are harmful — and signs of alcoholism.
The idea that only people with “addictive personalities” or weak willpower develop alcoholism is another pervasive myth. In reality, alcoholism can affect anyone, regardless of their personality traits. Factors such as genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and co-occurring mental health conditions affect the development of alcoholism — far beyond the scope of personality alone.
While denial can be a part of alcoholism, it's not a universal experience. Many are painfully aware of their struggles with alcohol and desperately want to change. They may be fully aware of the harm it's causing them and their loved ones, but they find it difficult to break free from the cycle of addiction due to the complex interplay of physiological and psychological dependencies.
The notion that recovery from alcoholism is rare and temporary is another myth that needs dispelling. Many people recover from alcoholism and go on to lead fulfilling, sober lives. While the journey is not without its challenges, including the potential for relapse, recovery is a realistic, attainable goal with the right support and treatment.
Stigma doesn't emerge in a vacuum. It's woven from a variety of sources, each contributing to a distorted view of alcoholism. To counter stigma, we must understand and address these underlying sources.
By identifying these sources, we can begin to unravel the complex tapestry of stigma, crafting new patterns of understanding and acceptance.
The effects of stigma are often invisible. Yet stigma is a very real social and psychological burden, causing detrimental effects that can slow the recovery process.
Understanding these negative effects underscores the need for a compassionate approach to alcoholism. As we work to dismantle the stigma, we open the door for more individuals to embrace recovery without the added weight of societal judgment.
The fight against stigma cannot be silent. It starts with education, teaching that alcoholism is a medical issue not a moral one. It grows with empathy, listening to and sharing stories of struggle and success. It continues with advocacy, challenging stigma in public discourse and policies. Here are the many ways we can fight together to redefine the narrative around alcoholism:
With these steps, we can create a world where the stigma around alcoholism is replaced with support, where each person is met with empathy, and where our collective spirit stands in solidarity.
Behind the label lies a person — a person with dreams, struggles, and the courage to face them head-on. As we journey towards recovery, remember this is a personal story, a story of renewal from which we’ll emerge stronger, wiser, and more empowered. We can work together to redefine the meaning of this journey and, in doing so, change the meaning of our lives.
What do you think of when you hear the word “alcoholic”? A person who is bad, weak, or lacks self control? Someone who is nonfunctional and a “failure”? Do you associate a certain racial or ethnic group with alcoholism? Does your opinion of a person change when you find out they suffer from alcohol misuse? All of these help form the stigma we have around alcoholism and shape our perceptions of other people. However, this stigma can become very harmful, especially for people in the recovery process. So, to move beyond it, let’s debunk some myths around alcoholism and reshape our social narrative!
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), more commonly known as alcoholism, is a medical condition that affects 28.6 million adults in the United States.
Alcohol itself has a long history of consumption across different cultures and time periods, yet AUD as a disease and public health issue is only recently understood. As a result, many pervading misconceptions around alcoholism create stigma for people suffering from AUD.
Stigma around alcoholism distorts our perception of the condition and hinders our empathy. It is a social construct, deeply embedded in the way communities view alcohol use and those who struggle with it.
Alcoholism is often misunderstood as a choice, a lifestyle rather than a complex disease. This misunderstanding is a fundamental component of the stigma, suggesting a simple “opt-out” when, in reality, the struggle is with a chronic illness.
The language around alcoholism is often negative, and the words used to describe alcoholism perpetuate existing stigma. Terms like "drunk" or "addict" carry negative stereotypes that define and limit an individual's identity.
Those labeled as alcoholics may face social rejection and be considered unreliable or untrustworthy. The stigma can lead to a harmful self-image in which we hide our battle against alcoholism. This creates a social divide, adding to the sense of isolation and shame a person suffering from AUD might already feel.
Stigma can also intersect with other forms of discrimination, compounding the challenges faced by people from marginalized communities who are dealing with alcoholism. Discrimination due to alcoholism can affect their social lives and professional livelihoods.
Moreover, the journey to recovery is often oversimplified, with the expectation that we can simply choose to stop drinking. This fails to acknowledge the deep-rooted psychological and physiological dependencies involved in alcoholism. Alcoholism is a complex disorder that requires multiple forms of interventions, and it can co-occur with other severe mental illnesses like PTSD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
Due to the potential negative repercussions, many individuals choose to hide their struggle with alcoholism, preventing them from seeking the help and support they need.
Stigma around alcoholism is multifaceted, but each facet is created by different misconceptions. Now that we have an overview of what alcoholism is and the stigma around it, let’s debunk some common myths around alcoholism.
Alcoholism is often shrouded in myth. Contrary to existing stereotypes, alcoholism can affect anyone, no matter their age, gender, race, socioeconomic status, or background. The image of an "alcoholic" as a bad, irresponsible person is misleading. To understand the full scope of the illness, let’s debunk some myths around alcoholism.
The pervasive myth is that alcoholism affects only those who've "failed" to maintain social norms. Reality paints a very different picture. Alcoholism can be found in every corner of society, from the boardroom to the artist's studio. It affects high-powered professionals, loving parents, and respected elders alike. Addiction can occur at any stage of life and equally affect people who are successes or outcasts.
Another common stereotype is that alcoholism is the result of youthful recklessness. But this is a gross oversimplification. While it's true that alcoholism can take root in the younger years, it can also develop later in life, often as a response to major life changes like retirement, loss, or chronic stress.
The stereotype suggests a one-dimensional image of someone with alcoholism: often unkempt, frequently drunk in public, and struggling with work and relationships. The reality is that alcoholism has many faces. Many alcoholics are highly functional in their professional and personal lives because they keep their struggle secret. There are people who may not drink daily but engage in binge drinking patterns that are harmful — and signs of alcoholism.
The idea that only people with “addictive personalities” or weak willpower develop alcoholism is another pervasive myth. In reality, alcoholism can affect anyone, regardless of their personality traits. Factors such as genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and co-occurring mental health conditions affect the development of alcoholism — far beyond the scope of personality alone.
While denial can be a part of alcoholism, it's not a universal experience. Many are painfully aware of their struggles with alcohol and desperately want to change. They may be fully aware of the harm it's causing them and their loved ones, but they find it difficult to break free from the cycle of addiction due to the complex interplay of physiological and psychological dependencies.
The notion that recovery from alcoholism is rare and temporary is another myth that needs dispelling. Many people recover from alcoholism and go on to lead fulfilling, sober lives. While the journey is not without its challenges, including the potential for relapse, recovery is a realistic, attainable goal with the right support and treatment.
Stigma doesn't emerge in a vacuum. It's woven from a variety of sources, each contributing to a distorted view of alcoholism. To counter stigma, we must understand and address these underlying sources.
By identifying these sources, we can begin to unravel the complex tapestry of stigma, crafting new patterns of understanding and acceptance.
The effects of stigma are often invisible. Yet stigma is a very real social and psychological burden, causing detrimental effects that can slow the recovery process.
Understanding these negative effects underscores the need for a compassionate approach to alcoholism. As we work to dismantle the stigma, we open the door for more individuals to embrace recovery without the added weight of societal judgment.
The fight against stigma cannot be silent. It starts with education, teaching that alcoholism is a medical issue not a moral one. It grows with empathy, listening to and sharing stories of struggle and success. It continues with advocacy, challenging stigma in public discourse and policies. Here are the many ways we can fight together to redefine the narrative around alcoholism:
With these steps, we can create a world where the stigma around alcoholism is replaced with support, where each person is met with empathy, and where our collective spirit stands in solidarity.
Behind the label lies a person — a person with dreams, struggles, and the courage to face them head-on. As we journey towards recovery, remember this is a personal story, a story of renewal from which we’ll emerge stronger, wiser, and more empowered. We can work together to redefine the meaning of this journey and, in doing so, change the meaning of our lives.
Can you be allergic to wine? Science says yes — read about the most common allergens, symptoms, and treatment in our latest blog.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app today!
American humorist James Thurber once revealed, “I used to wake up at 4 A.M. and start sneezing, sometimes for five hours. I tried to find out what sort of allergy I had but finally came to the conclusion that it must be an allergy to consciousness.”
Luckily, most of the time when we are allergic to something, we can figure out what it is. Maybe it’s something in our environment — cats, dust mites, pollen, cottonwood trees. Or maybe it’s something in our diet — peanuts, pineapples, wheat.
If you've ever experienced an unexpected reaction to a glass of wine, you're not alone. Wine allergies are real and sometimes puzzling issues. As we go through this guide, remember that it's all about making informed choices, especially for those considering reducing or quitting alcohol. Let's break it down.
In a nutshell, allergies are misguided responses by our immune system to substances perceived as threats. These substances are met with the full force of our body’s defense mechanisms. The “culprits” could be pretty much anything: foods, plants, animal dander, and even certain chemicals.
The immune system responds to allergens just as it does to any “invaders” — in an organized and efficient way by producing Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to neutralize these supposed threats. This reaction triggers the release of histamine and other chemicals, leading to the allergic symptoms familiar to many.
Histamine causes inflammation in the respiratory and digestive tract and makes the blood vessels in these tissues dilate, leading to swelling. The way this defensive reaction shows up in the body can vary, affecting different systems and causing symptoms that can range from mildly irritating to downright dangerous:
That, as they say, is the million dollar question! Nobody knows exactly why, but it’s probably a mixture of genetics and environmental factors.
Yes! Just as any other food, wine can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Officially — according to the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) and the World Allergy Organization (WAO) — an allergy to wine is defined as a “hypersensitivity” and is distinct from “methanol intoxication” as well as from wine intolerance. In other words, being drunk on wine, being allergic to it, and being intolerant are three separate things.
Just like any other allergy, a wine allergy involves the immune system. Here's what we might be looking at when it comes to wine allergy symptoms in particular:
Several ingredients or components in wine could be the culprits: sulfites, grapes, yeast, and proteins. However, if the ethanol itself is the problem, then — as previously mentioned — the issue is an intolerance rather than a true allergy, which involves an IgE-mediated response.
When it comes to having an allergic reaction to wine, the most common cause is sulfites — a common preservative used in processed foods and drinks. While some sulfites are naturally occurring, others are added to keep wines fresh and extend their shelf life. Here’s a summary of their role in the winemaking process:
While sulfites are generally harmless to most people, they can cause problems for those with sulfite sensitivity or allergies. For one reason or another, their immune system responds to sulfites by releasing IgE into the bloodstream. The defensive protein then recruits other immune cells — basophils and mast cells — to douse the body with histamine as a protective response against the perceived “invader.”
A doctor or allergy specialist can help diagnose the condition and most likely will advise the patient to stay away from foods or drinks that contain sulfites. In addition to wine, there are a few other foods that are high in sulfites — an amount high enough that anyone with a sulfite allergy is usually told to stay away from:
Those especially sensitive to sulfites will also need to stay away from dried potatoes, fruit toppings (including Maraschino cherries), gravies, and wine vinegar. Nevertheless, for those with a sulfite allergy, wine is definitely off the menu.
Grapes are the true heart of wine, but they can also be the cause of a wine allergy. Research shows that this is a lot more rare, yet case studies show that some people are, indeed, allergic to grapes — usually in combination with other fruits such as cherries or peaches. While some of the case studies reported mild symptoms — sneezing, runny nose, and the like — rare cases of anaphylactic shock caused by grape allergies have occurred.
The variety of grape, as well as individual sensitivity levels, can make a difference as well. Different types of grapes contain varying levels of proteins and allergens, and the winemaking process can also affect these levels. For example, the skin, seeds, and stems of grapes — where most of the allergens are concentrated — may induce a more severe allergic response. The process of making red wine involves using these parts of the grape, so those with grape allergies tend to be more sensitive to red wine.
Diagnosing a grape allergy involves a few steps:
Next on the list of suspects? Yeast. It is a key player in the winemaking process, responsible for the fermentation process that transforms grape sugars into alcohol. Typically, once fermentation is complete, yeasts are removed from the final product. However, traces can remain, and these can be problematic for those who happen to be allergic.
As with grapes, symptoms can range from the more innocent skin or respiratory reactions to gastrointestinal issues or even anaphylaxis. Testing is similar as well — an elimination diet to narrow down the possible culprit, skin prick tests, or specific IgE blood tests to identify yeast as the allergen.
Those with yeast allergies may also have reactions to things like breads, beers, ciders, and fermented products such as soy sauce or kombucha.
While we talked about the proteins in grapes and yeast as potential allergens, there are other types of proteins in the mix that could be the cause of the problem.
Why would there be proteins in our wine in the first place, other than the ones found in grapes and yeast? As it turns out, some proteins — enzymes, to be exact — are introduced during the winemaking process as a way to enhance the wine’s flavor, clarity, and stability. Enzymes are naturally occurring proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. Here’s how they are used to improve various aspects of winemaking:
All of these extra proteins are harmless for most people. However, for those with a yeast allergy, they could be the dealbreaker that makes that particular wine a no-go.
As we’ve noted, red wine tends to cause more allergic reactions to white, and data back this up.
One of the reasons red wine tends to cause more allergic reactions has to do with tannins, which are more prevalent in red wines. Tannins are a type of polyphenol responsible for the astringent quality of wine — that dry, puckering sensation we might feel when drinking certain reds. Their complex nature means they can sometimes interact with proteins in the body, leading to allergic reactions or intolerances.
Finally, let’s come back to a point we mentioned earlier — alcohol intolerance. The main culprit here is ethanol, the “pure alcohol” part of any alcoholic beverage. While ethanol is not an allergen in the traditional sense, it can cause adverse reactions in some people — reactions that can look a lot like allergies. Here are some of the most common symptoms:
Unlike allergy symptoms, intolerance symptoms are caused by the process of alcohol metabolism. When alcohol is broken down by the liver, it’s converted into a toxic substance known as acetaldehyde before being broken down further into acetic acid. In some people, a genetic mutation leads to a faulty version of the enzyme that runs this process. As a result, acetaldehyde builds up in the system, causing the unpleasant symptoms. It’s often referred to as an “alcohol flush reaction” or sometimes “Asian flush” due to its prevalence in some East Asian populations.
To get to the bottom of wine allergies, here's what you might do:
1. Try to narrow down the root of the problem. To address the problem, you have to first figure out what’s causing it. To pinpoint what’s behind your allergy symptoms, try these steps:
2. Read the labels and talk to the winemakers. If you manage to narrow down a specific ingredient behind your symptoms — such as sulfites, grapes, or yeast — read the labels carefully.
If you’re trying to avoid sulfites, look for wines labeled as "sulfite-free" or "no added sulfites." However, remember that all wines naturally contain some sulfites, so determine your sensitivity and find ones that work for you. Also, sometimes winemakers will know more than the label can tell you, so it never hurts to ask.
3. Try over-the-counter antihistamines. Over-the-counter antihistamines are a tried-and-true method for easing mild symptoms.
4. Consider allergy shots or other treatments. These approaches are much more serious and come with potential side effects, so they’re not usually the first resort. Still, allergy shots can retrain the immune response by exposing it to the “offensive” ingredient in small doses to stimulate a small response, but not enough to trigger a full-blown reaction (it’s the same principle used in most vaccines). There are also medications available — some experimental at this stage — that aim to retrain the immune system entirely in order to prevent the response altogether.
5. Look for alternatives. It’s always an option to explore other beverages — especially if you’re thinking of cutting back or are in the process of rethinking your relationship with alcohol. If that sounds like you, here are some ideas to try:
While allergies can be frustrating to get a grip on, once you figure out what’s causing them, life gets easier. And if that means finding a creative way around certain foods, try to see it as an opportunity to explore!
American humorist James Thurber once revealed, “I used to wake up at 4 A.M. and start sneezing, sometimes for five hours. I tried to find out what sort of allergy I had but finally came to the conclusion that it must be an allergy to consciousness.”
Luckily, most of the time when we are allergic to something, we can figure out what it is. Maybe it’s something in our environment — cats, dust mites, pollen, cottonwood trees. Or maybe it’s something in our diet — peanuts, pineapples, wheat.
If you've ever experienced an unexpected reaction to a glass of wine, you're not alone. Wine allergies are real and sometimes puzzling issues. As we go through this guide, remember that it's all about making informed choices, especially for those considering reducing or quitting alcohol. Let's break it down.
In a nutshell, allergies are misguided responses by our immune system to substances perceived as threats. These substances are met with the full force of our body’s defense mechanisms. The “culprits” could be pretty much anything: foods, plants, animal dander, and even certain chemicals.
The immune system responds to allergens just as it does to any “invaders” — in an organized and efficient way by producing Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to neutralize these supposed threats. This reaction triggers the release of histamine and other chemicals, leading to the allergic symptoms familiar to many.
Histamine causes inflammation in the respiratory and digestive tract and makes the blood vessels in these tissues dilate, leading to swelling. The way this defensive reaction shows up in the body can vary, affecting different systems and causing symptoms that can range from mildly irritating to downright dangerous:
That, as they say, is the million dollar question! Nobody knows exactly why, but it’s probably a mixture of genetics and environmental factors.
Yes! Just as any other food, wine can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Officially — according to the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) and the World Allergy Organization (WAO) — an allergy to wine is defined as a “hypersensitivity” and is distinct from “methanol intoxication” as well as from wine intolerance. In other words, being drunk on wine, being allergic to it, and being intolerant are three separate things.
Just like any other allergy, a wine allergy involves the immune system. Here's what we might be looking at when it comes to wine allergy symptoms in particular:
Several ingredients or components in wine could be the culprits: sulfites, grapes, yeast, and proteins. However, if the ethanol itself is the problem, then — as previously mentioned — the issue is an intolerance rather than a true allergy, which involves an IgE-mediated response.
When it comes to having an allergic reaction to wine, the most common cause is sulfites — a common preservative used in processed foods and drinks. While some sulfites are naturally occurring, others are added to keep wines fresh and extend their shelf life. Here’s a summary of their role in the winemaking process:
While sulfites are generally harmless to most people, they can cause problems for those with sulfite sensitivity or allergies. For one reason or another, their immune system responds to sulfites by releasing IgE into the bloodstream. The defensive protein then recruits other immune cells — basophils and mast cells — to douse the body with histamine as a protective response against the perceived “invader.”
A doctor or allergy specialist can help diagnose the condition and most likely will advise the patient to stay away from foods or drinks that contain sulfites. In addition to wine, there are a few other foods that are high in sulfites — an amount high enough that anyone with a sulfite allergy is usually told to stay away from:
Those especially sensitive to sulfites will also need to stay away from dried potatoes, fruit toppings (including Maraschino cherries), gravies, and wine vinegar. Nevertheless, for those with a sulfite allergy, wine is definitely off the menu.
Grapes are the true heart of wine, but they can also be the cause of a wine allergy. Research shows that this is a lot more rare, yet case studies show that some people are, indeed, allergic to grapes — usually in combination with other fruits such as cherries or peaches. While some of the case studies reported mild symptoms — sneezing, runny nose, and the like — rare cases of anaphylactic shock caused by grape allergies have occurred.
The variety of grape, as well as individual sensitivity levels, can make a difference as well. Different types of grapes contain varying levels of proteins and allergens, and the winemaking process can also affect these levels. For example, the skin, seeds, and stems of grapes — where most of the allergens are concentrated — may induce a more severe allergic response. The process of making red wine involves using these parts of the grape, so those with grape allergies tend to be more sensitive to red wine.
Diagnosing a grape allergy involves a few steps:
Next on the list of suspects? Yeast. It is a key player in the winemaking process, responsible for the fermentation process that transforms grape sugars into alcohol. Typically, once fermentation is complete, yeasts are removed from the final product. However, traces can remain, and these can be problematic for those who happen to be allergic.
As with grapes, symptoms can range from the more innocent skin or respiratory reactions to gastrointestinal issues or even anaphylaxis. Testing is similar as well — an elimination diet to narrow down the possible culprit, skin prick tests, or specific IgE blood tests to identify yeast as the allergen.
Those with yeast allergies may also have reactions to things like breads, beers, ciders, and fermented products such as soy sauce or kombucha.
While we talked about the proteins in grapes and yeast as potential allergens, there are other types of proteins in the mix that could be the cause of the problem.
Why would there be proteins in our wine in the first place, other than the ones found in grapes and yeast? As it turns out, some proteins — enzymes, to be exact — are introduced during the winemaking process as a way to enhance the wine’s flavor, clarity, and stability. Enzymes are naturally occurring proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. Here’s how they are used to improve various aspects of winemaking:
All of these extra proteins are harmless for most people. However, for those with a yeast allergy, they could be the dealbreaker that makes that particular wine a no-go.
As we’ve noted, red wine tends to cause more allergic reactions to white, and data back this up.
One of the reasons red wine tends to cause more allergic reactions has to do with tannins, which are more prevalent in red wines. Tannins are a type of polyphenol responsible for the astringent quality of wine — that dry, puckering sensation we might feel when drinking certain reds. Their complex nature means they can sometimes interact with proteins in the body, leading to allergic reactions or intolerances.
Finally, let’s come back to a point we mentioned earlier — alcohol intolerance. The main culprit here is ethanol, the “pure alcohol” part of any alcoholic beverage. While ethanol is not an allergen in the traditional sense, it can cause adverse reactions in some people — reactions that can look a lot like allergies. Here are some of the most common symptoms:
Unlike allergy symptoms, intolerance symptoms are caused by the process of alcohol metabolism. When alcohol is broken down by the liver, it’s converted into a toxic substance known as acetaldehyde before being broken down further into acetic acid. In some people, a genetic mutation leads to a faulty version of the enzyme that runs this process. As a result, acetaldehyde builds up in the system, causing the unpleasant symptoms. It’s often referred to as an “alcohol flush reaction” or sometimes “Asian flush” due to its prevalence in some East Asian populations.
To get to the bottom of wine allergies, here's what you might do:
1. Try to narrow down the root of the problem. To address the problem, you have to first figure out what’s causing it. To pinpoint what’s behind your allergy symptoms, try these steps:
2. Read the labels and talk to the winemakers. If you manage to narrow down a specific ingredient behind your symptoms — such as sulfites, grapes, or yeast — read the labels carefully.
If you’re trying to avoid sulfites, look for wines labeled as "sulfite-free" or "no added sulfites." However, remember that all wines naturally contain some sulfites, so determine your sensitivity and find ones that work for you. Also, sometimes winemakers will know more than the label can tell you, so it never hurts to ask.
3. Try over-the-counter antihistamines. Over-the-counter antihistamines are a tried-and-true method for easing mild symptoms.
4. Consider allergy shots or other treatments. These approaches are much more serious and come with potential side effects, so they’re not usually the first resort. Still, allergy shots can retrain the immune response by exposing it to the “offensive” ingredient in small doses to stimulate a small response, but not enough to trigger a full-blown reaction (it’s the same principle used in most vaccines). There are also medications available — some experimental at this stage — that aim to retrain the immune system entirely in order to prevent the response altogether.
5. Look for alternatives. It’s always an option to explore other beverages — especially if you’re thinking of cutting back or are in the process of rethinking your relationship with alcohol. If that sounds like you, here are some ideas to try:
While allergies can be frustrating to get a grip on, once you figure out what’s causing them, life gets easier. And if that means finding a creative way around certain foods, try to see it as an opportunity to explore!
Curious about the alcohol content and calories in rum? Read our latest blog to find out what’s inside the rum bottle — and how to stay safe!
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app today!
In the first written account of rum, explorers who landed on the island of Nevis in 1651 describe it with a bit of trepidation: “The chief fuddling they make in the islands is Rumbullion, alias Kill-Divil, and is made of sugarcanes distilled; a hot, hellish, and terrible liquor.”
What makes it so “hot and hellish”? Let’s look more closely at what rum is all about: Is rum good for you, or were those early explorers on to something when they gave it the side-eye?
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented sugarcane juice, sugarcane syrup, sugarcane molasses, and other sugarcane by-products. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels.
Sugarcane was first fermented in 350 BCE in India, and rum was first distilled in the Caribbean on sugarcane plantations in the 17th century.
Rum has a rich history in sea travel. Many sailors were given daily alcohol rations on navy ships, and rum became popular in the British Royal Navy out of necessity. In the 17th century, during a conflict with France, rum became the go-to ration over French brandy. At the time, people believed rum was good for sailors’ health. (Boy, were they wrong!) This tradition lasted until 1970.
Today, rum production is mostly based in the Caribbean: Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. However, Brazil is famous for its own unique variety made from fresh sugarcane juice, known as "Cachaça." While each region has its own signature touch, most rum falls into one of three categories: light, gold, and dark.
The production of any type of alcohol happens in two basic steps: fermentation and distillation. From there it often goes to an optional third step (aging) before ending up in a bottle.
So if all spirits are made in a similar way, what makes them different? One of the main distinctions lies in the source of sugar used in fermentation. For example, tequila owes its characteristic flavor to the blue agave plant. Whiskey is made from fermented grain mash, while vodka is usually made from wheat or rye, although it can be produced using potatoes, grapes, or sugar beets. And rum? As we already know, it’s made from sugarcane!
The aging process produces different varieties of rum: light, gold, and dark. Here’s a brief profile of each one:
Each type of rum is distinctly different in more than just color and flavor. So how does their alcohol content stack up?
Rum alcohol content depends on the type (as well as on a few other factors). Before we get into all that, let’s review how alcohol content ends up being different across various types of drinks in the first place.
Alcohol content is a way to quantify the strength of an alcoholic beverage. It can be measured in two forms: alcohol by volume (ABV) or by “proof.” These are essentially saying the same thing: ABV states what percentage of an alcohol is made up of ethanol, the psychoactive ingredient. “Proof” is a traditional term dating back to the British Royal Navy. It is reached by doubling the ABV. If something is 20% ABV, it’s 40 proof.
As a distilled spirit, rum usually contains around 40% alcohol by volume (ABV), which is equivalent to 80 proof. This rule isn’t hard and fast; different types of rum can range from 20% to 75.5% ABV.
This wide range has to do with the details of its production, partially overlapping with the color and flavor profiles. However, there are a few extra nuances.
These guidelines are general, but each rum producer has their own philosophy and approach. Let’s take a look at how major rum brands make their mark.Alcohol Content in Different Brands of Rum
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular brands of rum:
Clearly, Malibu stands out among the rest for the least amount of alcohol by volume. Malibu is classified as a liqueur, which is why it has a lower alcohol content compared to standard rums. Liqueurs are usually lower in alcohol and contain additional ingredients such as sugars and flavoring.
So, besides alcohol (and sometimes flavoring), what else is in that rum bottle?
Ever wondered how many calories are in rum? The answer depends on the amount of alcohol, but on average a shot of 40% ABV rum contains about 97 calories per 1.5 ounces (44 ml). That amount can skyrocket when it gets added to mixed drinks. Here’s what that can look like:
And that’s not the whole story. There are many other reasons why rum is a nutritional flop:
For those watching their alcohol intake (or their weight and nutrition), rum is probably not the best choice of drink. Here are some of the downsides of choosing rum:
All of this adds up to a pretty resounding conclusion: no, rum is not very good for you! While it’s still possible to enjoy rum once in a while, moderation is key — although ultimately, you’re probably better off without it.
If you’re considering quitting or cutting back on rum (or alcohol in general), here are some tips to help you on your way:
Ask for help. If you want to change your drinking habits but don’t know how, rest assured that there’s a lot of help available out there. Don’t hesitate to seek it out. From therapy targeted at alcohol misuse to cognitive behavioral therapy, from dialectical behavioral therapy to online communities and mindfulness-based approaches, there are many paths to explore.
Rum has a strong presence in many cultures and has been around for generations, but it’s a good idea to be careful when drinking it. Remember, the flavor in many rum cocktails comes from the mixers, so non-alcoholic versions of the same cocktails are always an option! There’s always room for new traditions and new trends when it comes to enjoying tropical beverages. Furthermore, there is so much to discover when it comes to what we do for fun, the ways we can relax, and how we view different parts of our lives — including alcohol.
In the first written account of rum, explorers who landed on the island of Nevis in 1651 describe it with a bit of trepidation: “The chief fuddling they make in the islands is Rumbullion, alias Kill-Divil, and is made of sugarcanes distilled; a hot, hellish, and terrible liquor.”
What makes it so “hot and hellish”? Let’s look more closely at what rum is all about: Is rum good for you, or were those early explorers on to something when they gave it the side-eye?
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented sugarcane juice, sugarcane syrup, sugarcane molasses, and other sugarcane by-products. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels.
Sugarcane was first fermented in 350 BCE in India, and rum was first distilled in the Caribbean on sugarcane plantations in the 17th century.
Rum has a rich history in sea travel. Many sailors were given daily alcohol rations on navy ships, and rum became popular in the British Royal Navy out of necessity. In the 17th century, during a conflict with France, rum became the go-to ration over French brandy. At the time, people believed rum was good for sailors’ health. (Boy, were they wrong!) This tradition lasted until 1970.
Today, rum production is mostly based in the Caribbean: Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. However, Brazil is famous for its own unique variety made from fresh sugarcane juice, known as "Cachaça." While each region has its own signature touch, most rum falls into one of three categories: light, gold, and dark.
The production of any type of alcohol happens in two basic steps: fermentation and distillation. From there it often goes to an optional third step (aging) before ending up in a bottle.
So if all spirits are made in a similar way, what makes them different? One of the main distinctions lies in the source of sugar used in fermentation. For example, tequila owes its characteristic flavor to the blue agave plant. Whiskey is made from fermented grain mash, while vodka is usually made from wheat or rye, although it can be produced using potatoes, grapes, or sugar beets. And rum? As we already know, it’s made from sugarcane!
The aging process produces different varieties of rum: light, gold, and dark. Here’s a brief profile of each one:
Each type of rum is distinctly different in more than just color and flavor. So how does their alcohol content stack up?
Rum alcohol content depends on the type (as well as on a few other factors). Before we get into all that, let’s review how alcohol content ends up being different across various types of drinks in the first place.
Alcohol content is a way to quantify the strength of an alcoholic beverage. It can be measured in two forms: alcohol by volume (ABV) or by “proof.” These are essentially saying the same thing: ABV states what percentage of an alcohol is made up of ethanol, the psychoactive ingredient. “Proof” is a traditional term dating back to the British Royal Navy. It is reached by doubling the ABV. If something is 20% ABV, it’s 40 proof.
As a distilled spirit, rum usually contains around 40% alcohol by volume (ABV), which is equivalent to 80 proof. This rule isn’t hard and fast; different types of rum can range from 20% to 75.5% ABV.
This wide range has to do with the details of its production, partially overlapping with the color and flavor profiles. However, there are a few extra nuances.
These guidelines are general, but each rum producer has their own philosophy and approach. Let’s take a look at how major rum brands make their mark.Alcohol Content in Different Brands of Rum
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular brands of rum:
Clearly, Malibu stands out among the rest for the least amount of alcohol by volume. Malibu is classified as a liqueur, which is why it has a lower alcohol content compared to standard rums. Liqueurs are usually lower in alcohol and contain additional ingredients such as sugars and flavoring.
So, besides alcohol (and sometimes flavoring), what else is in that rum bottle?
Ever wondered how many calories are in rum? The answer depends on the amount of alcohol, but on average a shot of 40% ABV rum contains about 97 calories per 1.5 ounces (44 ml). That amount can skyrocket when it gets added to mixed drinks. Here’s what that can look like:
And that’s not the whole story. There are many other reasons why rum is a nutritional flop:
For those watching their alcohol intake (or their weight and nutrition), rum is probably not the best choice of drink. Here are some of the downsides of choosing rum:
All of this adds up to a pretty resounding conclusion: no, rum is not very good for you! While it’s still possible to enjoy rum once in a while, moderation is key — although ultimately, you’re probably better off without it.
If you’re considering quitting or cutting back on rum (or alcohol in general), here are some tips to help you on your way:
Ask for help. If you want to change your drinking habits but don’t know how, rest assured that there’s a lot of help available out there. Don’t hesitate to seek it out. From therapy targeted at alcohol misuse to cognitive behavioral therapy, from dialectical behavioral therapy to online communities and mindfulness-based approaches, there are many paths to explore.
Rum has a strong presence in many cultures and has been around for generations, but it’s a good idea to be careful when drinking it. Remember, the flavor in many rum cocktails comes from the mixers, so non-alcoholic versions of the same cocktails are always an option! There’s always room for new traditions and new trends when it comes to enjoying tropical beverages. Furthermore, there is so much to discover when it comes to what we do for fun, the ways we can relax, and how we view different parts of our lives — including alcohol.
Anhedonic depression and alcohol can be a toxic mix, with alcohol providing an illusion of relief only to set in motion a vicious cycle. Learn how to break out of the trap and feel more inspired!
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app today!
In Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, actor Matthew Perry described anhedonia this way: “The key to the problem, I would come to understand, was this: I lacked both spiritual guidelines, and an ability to enjoy anything. But at the same time, I was also an excitement addict … I didn't know this at the time, of course, but if I was not in the act of searching for excitement, being excited, or drunk, I was incapable of enjoying anything.”
Anhedonia — the inability to feel pleasure — can show up at a particularly difficult time in our lives, or it can be a constant companion. In times like these, it may seem attractive to reach for quick fixes that don’t require a lot of energy — things like eating junk food, overspending, using drugs, or drinking alcohol. But these are only band-aids, and they can make depression’s vicious cycle even harder to break.
So what is the relationship between anhedonic depression and alcohol in particular? And is there a cure for anhedonia? If you’re wondering how to get rid of anhedonia or struggling to find recovery after flatlining emotionally, let’s see what science has to say.
At the most basic level, anhedonia is the inability to feel joy. It can have several underlying causes ranging from temporary emotional imbalances to structural neurological changes or fundamental shifts in neurochemistry. Ultimately, it all boils down to the brain — specifically, to the levels of “feel-good” neurotransmitters like dopamine.
Dopamine is the main driver of the brain’s reward circuit — it’s that boost of pleasure and motivation we get from doing something that feels inherently good, like eating a great meal, having a heart-to-heart conversation with a friend, or spending time with someone we love. The reward system evolved as a way to keep us alive by promoting behaviors that benefit our safety and health.
When our dopamine levels tank, we feel it. Anhedonia — the result of a drop in dopamine — manifests itself as the inability to find pleasure or feel motivated by things that used to capture our attention and bring us joy.
Anhedonia can manifest in two main ways: physical and social.
Anhedonia affects the way we see the world, which can seem colorless and lacking in the usual “flavor” of life. It’s a slippery concept, because in a way it describes a painful lack of feeling — kind of like air without oxygen.
In some ways, anhedonia is worse than depression — partly because it’s so difficult to describe. As David Foster Wallace put it in his novel Infinite Jest, “When people call it depression I always get pissed off because I always think depression sounds like you just get like really sad, you get quiet and melancholy and just like sit quietly by the window sighing or just lying around … Well this — isn’t a state. This is a feeling … It’s like horror more than sadness … Everything you see gets ugly … And everything sounds harsh, spiny and harsh-sounding, like every sound you hear all of a sudden has teeth.”
Anhedonia can be difficult to separate from depression, since the two often come together in the form of “anhedonic depression.” Needless to say, the combination of the two can be especially challenging to treat.
Depression is often treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, which restore the levels of serotonin — a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation. Deficit or dysfunction of serotonin tends to lead to classic symptoms of clinical depression like low mood, fatigue, sleep difficulties, weight fluctuations, and trouble concentrating.
In anhedonic depression, however, the picture is a bit more complex. In addition to low serotonin levels, the levels of dopamine are also low. Since raising serotonin levels can actually lead to lower dopamine levels, we run into a dilemma: SSRIs could potentially make the anhedonic part of anhedonic depression worse.
When anhedonia is part of depression, doctors typically combine SSRIs with another medication or turn to atypical antidepressants. Common medical treatments for anhedonia include serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which act on serotonin and the stimulating neurotransmitter norepinephrine, or norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs), which specifically target the reward pathway.
Treating anhedonia also typically involves therapy, lifestyle changes, and mindfulness practices under the supervision of a psychiatrist or trained therapist.
As it often happens, nobody knows for sure — scientists have suggested that it’s most likely a mixture of genetics and environmental factors. However, there are a few known risk factors:
What is alcohol’s role in all this? Once again, it comes back to dopamine. Alcohol — like many addictive substances — artificially boosts the levels of dopamine in the brain. As a result, for a brief time social experiences appear more fulfilling, conversations seem “deep,” everyone (including ourselves) seems “funny,” mundane tasks don’t feel like a drag, and life feels a bit more exciting. This is, of course, only a brief biochemical illusion, but it can be hard to resist — especially if we are feeling drained by anhedonic depression, which can make the world and everything in it appear colorless and dull.
At the same time, by acting as a depressant, alcohol dulls our senses and slows down brain activity. We may no longer notice or think about our anhedonic symptoms, making it appear that our depression has temporarily lifted.
Unfortunately, when the illusion created by alcohol starts to fade away, we are left in a state of worse anhedonic depression than before. Artificially boosting dopamine levels for long periods of time creates a “new normal” in the brain. It gets used to the constant supply of “feel-good” neurochemicals and presses the pause button on their natural production.
Worse still, to counteract the artificial boost that dopamine provides, the brain releases a chemical called dynorphin to balance things out. The effects of dynorphin cancel out those of the “happy” neurotransmitters (and then some). The result? We’re left feeling more emotionally unbalanced, anxious, and depressed than before.
Over time, as the brain adjusts to the new chemistry and the body adjusts to the presence of alcohol, our tolerance rises, and we need more to achieve the same effect. This is a clear path to dependence — the state in which we need a certain level of alcohol simply to feel normal. If we suddenly stop, withdrawal sets in, leading to symptoms that range from nausea, insomnia, uncomfortable shakes, headaches, and fatigue to potentially life-threatening seizures and delirium tremens.
All of this leads to a host of problems that affect our health. In addition to physical health problems like liver damage and cardiovascular issues, alcohol can do a number on our mental health, worsening the anxiety and depression that it originally promised to relieve.
So how do we break out of this cycle? Is there a cure for anhedonia? If you’re wondering how to treat anhedonia — especially anhedonia after addiction, there are a few ways that have been proven to work.
Anhedonic depression is a self-fulfilling cycle that can be hard to break. When we feel down, sometimes we will do anything to feel better (including unhealthy things), and sometimes we don’t want to do anything. When we feel this way, it’s important to remember that there is hope. There’s no one way to deal with anhedonia, but there are many approaches that can give us our life back.
Be mindful of the instinct to go for quick fixes like alcohol, which can worsen anhedonia symptoms. With a commitment to self-care, a strong support system, and knowledge about the causes and treatments of anhedonia, we can overcome this time in our life. Consider joining Reframe and exploring the broad factors behind anhedonia and how improving your relationship with alcohol can also improve your mental health.
In Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, actor Matthew Perry described anhedonia this way: “The key to the problem, I would come to understand, was this: I lacked both spiritual guidelines, and an ability to enjoy anything. But at the same time, I was also an excitement addict … I didn't know this at the time, of course, but if I was not in the act of searching for excitement, being excited, or drunk, I was incapable of enjoying anything.”
Anhedonia — the inability to feel pleasure — can show up at a particularly difficult time in our lives, or it can be a constant companion. In times like these, it may seem attractive to reach for quick fixes that don’t require a lot of energy — things like eating junk food, overspending, using drugs, or drinking alcohol. But these are only band-aids, and they can make depression’s vicious cycle even harder to break.
So what is the relationship between anhedonic depression and alcohol in particular? And is there a cure for anhedonia? If you’re wondering how to get rid of anhedonia or struggling to find recovery after flatlining emotionally, let’s see what science has to say.
At the most basic level, anhedonia is the inability to feel joy. It can have several underlying causes ranging from temporary emotional imbalances to structural neurological changes or fundamental shifts in neurochemistry. Ultimately, it all boils down to the brain — specifically, to the levels of “feel-good” neurotransmitters like dopamine.
Dopamine is the main driver of the brain’s reward circuit — it’s that boost of pleasure and motivation we get from doing something that feels inherently good, like eating a great meal, having a heart-to-heart conversation with a friend, or spending time with someone we love. The reward system evolved as a way to keep us alive by promoting behaviors that benefit our safety and health.
When our dopamine levels tank, we feel it. Anhedonia — the result of a drop in dopamine — manifests itself as the inability to find pleasure or feel motivated by things that used to capture our attention and bring us joy.
Anhedonia can manifest in two main ways: physical and social.
Anhedonia affects the way we see the world, which can seem colorless and lacking in the usual “flavor” of life. It’s a slippery concept, because in a way it describes a painful lack of feeling — kind of like air without oxygen.
In some ways, anhedonia is worse than depression — partly because it’s so difficult to describe. As David Foster Wallace put it in his novel Infinite Jest, “When people call it depression I always get pissed off because I always think depression sounds like you just get like really sad, you get quiet and melancholy and just like sit quietly by the window sighing or just lying around … Well this — isn’t a state. This is a feeling … It’s like horror more than sadness … Everything you see gets ugly … And everything sounds harsh, spiny and harsh-sounding, like every sound you hear all of a sudden has teeth.”
Anhedonia can be difficult to separate from depression, since the two often come together in the form of “anhedonic depression.” Needless to say, the combination of the two can be especially challenging to treat.
Depression is often treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, which restore the levels of serotonin — a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation. Deficit or dysfunction of serotonin tends to lead to classic symptoms of clinical depression like low mood, fatigue, sleep difficulties, weight fluctuations, and trouble concentrating.
In anhedonic depression, however, the picture is a bit more complex. In addition to low serotonin levels, the levels of dopamine are also low. Since raising serotonin levels can actually lead to lower dopamine levels, we run into a dilemma: SSRIs could potentially make the anhedonic part of anhedonic depression worse.
When anhedonia is part of depression, doctors typically combine SSRIs with another medication or turn to atypical antidepressants. Common medical treatments for anhedonia include serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which act on serotonin and the stimulating neurotransmitter norepinephrine, or norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs), which specifically target the reward pathway.
Treating anhedonia also typically involves therapy, lifestyle changes, and mindfulness practices under the supervision of a psychiatrist or trained therapist.
As it often happens, nobody knows for sure — scientists have suggested that it’s most likely a mixture of genetics and environmental factors. However, there are a few known risk factors:
What is alcohol’s role in all this? Once again, it comes back to dopamine. Alcohol — like many addictive substances — artificially boosts the levels of dopamine in the brain. As a result, for a brief time social experiences appear more fulfilling, conversations seem “deep,” everyone (including ourselves) seems “funny,” mundane tasks don’t feel like a drag, and life feels a bit more exciting. This is, of course, only a brief biochemical illusion, but it can be hard to resist — especially if we are feeling drained by anhedonic depression, which can make the world and everything in it appear colorless and dull.
At the same time, by acting as a depressant, alcohol dulls our senses and slows down brain activity. We may no longer notice or think about our anhedonic symptoms, making it appear that our depression has temporarily lifted.
Unfortunately, when the illusion created by alcohol starts to fade away, we are left in a state of worse anhedonic depression than before. Artificially boosting dopamine levels for long periods of time creates a “new normal” in the brain. It gets used to the constant supply of “feel-good” neurochemicals and presses the pause button on their natural production.
Worse still, to counteract the artificial boost that dopamine provides, the brain releases a chemical called dynorphin to balance things out. The effects of dynorphin cancel out those of the “happy” neurotransmitters (and then some). The result? We’re left feeling more emotionally unbalanced, anxious, and depressed than before.
Over time, as the brain adjusts to the new chemistry and the body adjusts to the presence of alcohol, our tolerance rises, and we need more to achieve the same effect. This is a clear path to dependence — the state in which we need a certain level of alcohol simply to feel normal. If we suddenly stop, withdrawal sets in, leading to symptoms that range from nausea, insomnia, uncomfortable shakes, headaches, and fatigue to potentially life-threatening seizures and delirium tremens.
All of this leads to a host of problems that affect our health. In addition to physical health problems like liver damage and cardiovascular issues, alcohol can do a number on our mental health, worsening the anxiety and depression that it originally promised to relieve.
So how do we break out of this cycle? Is there a cure for anhedonia? If you’re wondering how to treat anhedonia — especially anhedonia after addiction, there are a few ways that have been proven to work.
Anhedonic depression is a self-fulfilling cycle that can be hard to break. When we feel down, sometimes we will do anything to feel better (including unhealthy things), and sometimes we don’t want to do anything. When we feel this way, it’s important to remember that there is hope. There’s no one way to deal with anhedonia, but there are many approaches that can give us our life back.
Be mindful of the instinct to go for quick fixes like alcohol, which can worsen anhedonia symptoms. With a commitment to self-care, a strong support system, and knowledge about the causes and treatments of anhedonia, we can overcome this time in our life. Consider joining Reframe and exploring the broad factors behind anhedonia and how improving your relationship with alcohol can also improve your mental health.
Have questions about alcohol? Check out our latest blog to learn how to get rid of a hangover headache, sober up fast, and more!
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app today!
Alcoholic drinks have been around ever since our earliest ancestors found some grains that were accidentally left to ferment and discovered the first happy hour 9,000 years ago. Fast forward to the Egyptians, who started brewing beer, and to the Greeks and Romans, who took wine drinking from casual hobby to high art with Bacchus and Dionysus as its ancient mascots. More recently, medieval Europeans were brewing beer like their lives depended on it — and sometimes they did. Water was a no-go, so beer was a safer option for daily hydration.
Today, we’re more aware that booze is not all fun and games — we know it can pose serious risks, especially if we overdo it. This health-conscious perspective means that questions about alcohol often come up. How long does it take for alcohol to leave your system? How can you get rid of a hangover headache? How long does alcohol stay in your liver? How much alcohol is in beer? What is the alcohol daily standard? And how can you sober up from alcohol fast? Let’s find out the answers to six frequently asked questions about booze and then look at recovery strategies that can help us get back on track.
From the moment we take our first sip, our body — which treats alcohol as a poison — starts working hard to remove it from our system. Our liver, at the forefront of processing alcohol, typically processes one standard drink per hour. However, this rate isn’t the same for everyone — it depends on how much we drank, our body size, age, gender, and our most recent meal. As our liver processes the alcohol, it continues impacting our brain function and motor skills. Here’s the rough timeline:
Why do we wake up feeling less than stellar, even after the alcohol is processed? One reason is that alcohol disrupts our sleep — but there are other reasons as well. While we may have metabolized the alcohol, our body could still be in recovery mode. This includes the dreaded hangover, characterized by headaches, nausea, and dehydration.
Now, speaking about those hangovers, is there anything we can do about them? Specifically, are there ways to get rid of the notorious hangover headaches?
We’ve all been there, waking up with a pounding headache after a night of revelry. Let’s explore the scientific reasons behind them and, more importantly, how to show them the exit door.
The main reason behind hangover headaches? Dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes us lose fluids and contributes to our headache as our brain temporarily shrinks away from the skull (don’t worry, it’s less scary than it sounds!). Plus, alcohol causes blood vessels to expand — a process known as vasodilation — leading to that throbbing sensation.
That said, remember that moderation is key, and knowing our limits can save us from the dreaded next-day pounding in our heads!
We touched on the way the liver processes alcohol starting from the first sip. But how long does it actually stay there?
The liver is our body's primary filter, especially when it comes to alcohol. On average, it processes one standard drink per hour, but this can vary based on factors like body size and overall health. First, enzymes convert alcohol into acetaldehyde (a toxin), then into acetate, which is less harmful. It's a remarkable two-step process.
Drinking more than our liver can handle leads to an acetaldehyde buildup. This accumulation is partly responsible for hangovers — a clear sign from our body that the liver is working overtime. The aftermath of heavy drinking includes dehydration, vitamin depletion, and the lingering presence of toxins.
Consistent heavy drinking can lead to serious liver issues such as fatty liver, inflammation, and cirrhosis. These conditions are more than just temporary setbacks — they can have lasting impacts on health.
As far as alcohol goes, beer is as typical as it gets, but what’s actually in it? We're not just talking about the flavors or hops here but focusing on the alcohol content.
The alcohol in beer results from fermentation. Yeast transforms the sugars in the wort (unfermented beer) into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This natural process yields a spectrum of alcoholic strengths in beer. Typically, it ranges from about 3% to 12% alcohol by volume (ABV). This means for every 100 milliliters of beer, there are 3 to 12 milliliters of pure alcohol.
This variety gives each beer its unique character, from light and breezy to rich and robust. The beer universe is vast — lagers, ales, stouts, IPAs, and more, each with its unique ABV and flavor profile:
Because beers vary so widely, it’s important to always check the ABV on the beer label before purchasing. Plus, there’s a whole world of lower-alcohol beers to explore! It’s always fun to find new favorites.
Let's face it, we've all been in those unfortunate scenarios, desperately Googling "how to sober up fast" after a night of overindulgence. Spoiler alert: there's no magic bullet, but there are science-backed ways to ease the journey back.
When we consume alcohol, our body goes into overdrive to metabolize it. Alcohol is primarily processed in the liver, but it can only metabolize about one standard drink per hour — there’s no way around it, and no way to speed that process.
We've all heard the tall tales: "Drink coffee, take a cold shower, or eat a greasy meal, and you'll be sober in no time!" Sadly, these are just myths. These actions might make us feel more alert, but they don't speed up the elimination of alcohol from our system.
And finally, we come to what might be the most important question of all: what happens to our bodies when we stop drinking alcohol? Cutting back our intake or eliminating alcohol altogether creates all kinds of positive changes.
Within the first 24 hours of our last drink, our body begins an incredible transformation. Our liver, the diligent detoxifier, starts to repair itself, reducing the risk of liver disease. Our sleep quality improves — not just in quantity but in restorative power, leading to more refreshing mornings.
After a week, our heart starts to reap benefits. Blood pressure drops, and the risk of heart disease diminishes. Our skin also gets a boost, rehydrating for a healthier glow.
Our brain, the central command, undergoes a recalibration process. Emotions become more vivid without alcohol’s numbing effects. Moreover, our cognitive functions, including memory, begin to sharpen. Daily tasks and information recall become easier, enhancing our overall mental agility.
That said, stopping alcohol abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms ranging from mild discomfort like headaches and irritability to more significant challenges such as anxiety, insomnia, or mood swings. It's our body's way of readjusting to the absence of alcohol.
While withdrawal can be daunting, it's a pivotal part of the journey. Consider these symptoms signs that our body is healing and readjusting — that can empower us to stay the course!
That said, once we’re past the initial discomfort, there are many additional benefits to look forward to. For one thing, our social interactions evolve. We find enjoyment in activities that don't center around drinking, allowing us to foster deeper, more authentic relationships.
Our wallets also benefit from this lifestyle change. The savings accrued from not purchasing alcohol can be redirected towards anything from a dream vacation to tech gadgets or a wardrobe update!
Here are some practical steps to help you avoid having a hangover the day after drinking, tips to help your body recover if you do end up with one, and ways to stay on track if you’re trying to cut back:
All in all, the questions we ask ourselves about our drinking habits and alcohol in general show how important it is to stay mindful of our patterns and of the role alcohol plays in our lives. What’s right for one person might not be right for another, and it’s ultimately up to us to decide what to do and where we want to go. So, let’s approach the questions about alcohol with a sense of curiosity and exploration, choosing a path that leads to the healthiest and most joyful version of ourselves.
Alcoholic drinks have been around ever since our earliest ancestors found some grains that were accidentally left to ferment and discovered the first happy hour 9,000 years ago. Fast forward to the Egyptians, who started brewing beer, and to the Greeks and Romans, who took wine drinking from casual hobby to high art with Bacchus and Dionysus as its ancient mascots. More recently, medieval Europeans were brewing beer like their lives depended on it — and sometimes they did. Water was a no-go, so beer was a safer option for daily hydration.
Today, we’re more aware that booze is not all fun and games — we know it can pose serious risks, especially if we overdo it. This health-conscious perspective means that questions about alcohol often come up. How long does it take for alcohol to leave your system? How can you get rid of a hangover headache? How long does alcohol stay in your liver? How much alcohol is in beer? What is the alcohol daily standard? And how can you sober up from alcohol fast? Let’s find out the answers to six frequently asked questions about booze and then look at recovery strategies that can help us get back on track.
From the moment we take our first sip, our body — which treats alcohol as a poison — starts working hard to remove it from our system. Our liver, at the forefront of processing alcohol, typically processes one standard drink per hour. However, this rate isn’t the same for everyone — it depends on how much we drank, our body size, age, gender, and our most recent meal. As our liver processes the alcohol, it continues impacting our brain function and motor skills. Here’s the rough timeline:
Why do we wake up feeling less than stellar, even after the alcohol is processed? One reason is that alcohol disrupts our sleep — but there are other reasons as well. While we may have metabolized the alcohol, our body could still be in recovery mode. This includes the dreaded hangover, characterized by headaches, nausea, and dehydration.
Now, speaking about those hangovers, is there anything we can do about them? Specifically, are there ways to get rid of the notorious hangover headaches?
We’ve all been there, waking up with a pounding headache after a night of revelry. Let’s explore the scientific reasons behind them and, more importantly, how to show them the exit door.
The main reason behind hangover headaches? Dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes us lose fluids and contributes to our headache as our brain temporarily shrinks away from the skull (don’t worry, it’s less scary than it sounds!). Plus, alcohol causes blood vessels to expand — a process known as vasodilation — leading to that throbbing sensation.
That said, remember that moderation is key, and knowing our limits can save us from the dreaded next-day pounding in our heads!
We touched on the way the liver processes alcohol starting from the first sip. But how long does it actually stay there?
The liver is our body's primary filter, especially when it comes to alcohol. On average, it processes one standard drink per hour, but this can vary based on factors like body size and overall health. First, enzymes convert alcohol into acetaldehyde (a toxin), then into acetate, which is less harmful. It's a remarkable two-step process.
Drinking more than our liver can handle leads to an acetaldehyde buildup. This accumulation is partly responsible for hangovers — a clear sign from our body that the liver is working overtime. The aftermath of heavy drinking includes dehydration, vitamin depletion, and the lingering presence of toxins.
Consistent heavy drinking can lead to serious liver issues such as fatty liver, inflammation, and cirrhosis. These conditions are more than just temporary setbacks — they can have lasting impacts on health.
As far as alcohol goes, beer is as typical as it gets, but what’s actually in it? We're not just talking about the flavors or hops here but focusing on the alcohol content.
The alcohol in beer results from fermentation. Yeast transforms the sugars in the wort (unfermented beer) into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This natural process yields a spectrum of alcoholic strengths in beer. Typically, it ranges from about 3% to 12% alcohol by volume (ABV). This means for every 100 milliliters of beer, there are 3 to 12 milliliters of pure alcohol.
This variety gives each beer its unique character, from light and breezy to rich and robust. The beer universe is vast — lagers, ales, stouts, IPAs, and more, each with its unique ABV and flavor profile:
Because beers vary so widely, it’s important to always check the ABV on the beer label before purchasing. Plus, there’s a whole world of lower-alcohol beers to explore! It’s always fun to find new favorites.
Let's face it, we've all been in those unfortunate scenarios, desperately Googling "how to sober up fast" after a night of overindulgence. Spoiler alert: there's no magic bullet, but there are science-backed ways to ease the journey back.
When we consume alcohol, our body goes into overdrive to metabolize it. Alcohol is primarily processed in the liver, but it can only metabolize about one standard drink per hour — there’s no way around it, and no way to speed that process.
We've all heard the tall tales: "Drink coffee, take a cold shower, or eat a greasy meal, and you'll be sober in no time!" Sadly, these are just myths. These actions might make us feel more alert, but they don't speed up the elimination of alcohol from our system.
And finally, we come to what might be the most important question of all: what happens to our bodies when we stop drinking alcohol? Cutting back our intake or eliminating alcohol altogether creates all kinds of positive changes.
Within the first 24 hours of our last drink, our body begins an incredible transformation. Our liver, the diligent detoxifier, starts to repair itself, reducing the risk of liver disease. Our sleep quality improves — not just in quantity but in restorative power, leading to more refreshing mornings.
After a week, our heart starts to reap benefits. Blood pressure drops, and the risk of heart disease diminishes. Our skin also gets a boost, rehydrating for a healthier glow.
Our brain, the central command, undergoes a recalibration process. Emotions become more vivid without alcohol’s numbing effects. Moreover, our cognitive functions, including memory, begin to sharpen. Daily tasks and information recall become easier, enhancing our overall mental agility.
That said, stopping alcohol abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms ranging from mild discomfort like headaches and irritability to more significant challenges such as anxiety, insomnia, or mood swings. It's our body's way of readjusting to the absence of alcohol.
While withdrawal can be daunting, it's a pivotal part of the journey. Consider these symptoms signs that our body is healing and readjusting — that can empower us to stay the course!
That said, once we’re past the initial discomfort, there are many additional benefits to look forward to. For one thing, our social interactions evolve. We find enjoyment in activities that don't center around drinking, allowing us to foster deeper, more authentic relationships.
Our wallets also benefit from this lifestyle change. The savings accrued from not purchasing alcohol can be redirected towards anything from a dream vacation to tech gadgets or a wardrobe update!
Here are some practical steps to help you avoid having a hangover the day after drinking, tips to help your body recover if you do end up with one, and ways to stay on track if you’re trying to cut back:
All in all, the questions we ask ourselves about our drinking habits and alcohol in general show how important it is to stay mindful of our patterns and of the role alcohol plays in our lives. What’s right for one person might not be right for another, and it’s ultimately up to us to decide what to do and where we want to go. So, let’s approach the questions about alcohol with a sense of curiosity and exploration, choosing a path that leads to the healthiest and most joyful version of ourselves.
