10 Alcohol Myths That Are Nothing But Old Wives’ Tale

We all love to drink, well, most of us. Some like to call themselves social drinkers, casual drinkers and some proudly brag that they are drunkards which isn’t something to be proud of. I like to sip on cognac each night after dinner, just to relax, not to get drunk. The health benefits of cognac almost makes it worth it. Today we want to play a little game in which we have assumed the role of mythbusters . Alcohol is one of those things that has been surrounded by many misconceptions. Some think drinking wine won’t get you drunk and others think the belly they are carrying is because of all the beer they drink. Well, they are all nothing but myths.

Here is a list of 10 myths associated with alcohol that hopefully you already knew but if you didn’t here they are.

1. Wow! You have got quite a belly there. Must be all the beer you drink, eh?

Studies have shown that beer belly isn’t exactly caused by drinking beer. A recent study that followed 20,000 beer drinkers ( 7876 men and 12,749 women ) showed that although heavy drinkers will put on weight it isn’t necessarily around the “beer belly” area. Scientists have claimed that beer belly is purely the results of genetics and has nothing to do with drinking too many beer.

2. It is really chilly today. Maybe we should drink a little and warm up…

Although many people think drinking alcohol raises body temperature, this is far from true. Drinking alcohol actually lowers your body temperature and too much alcohol in very cold weather can even cause hypothermia.

3. Make sure you eat a heavy meal. It’ll help you stay sober while you drink at the bar.

It is believed that eating a heavy meal before drinking will help one stay sober. This is a myth. The fact is that eating a heavy meal will slow the process of alcohol absorption into the bloodstream. Heavy meal isn’t really a prevention against getting drunk.

4. We both drank the same number of drinks and he is passed out. I find it funny that he can’t handle what I can.

I am sure most of you have heard or said that and felt quite proud of yourself while seeing the other person not being able to handle it. There are many factors that affect a person’s reaction to alcohol and due to this some can tolerate more than others. Some factors are body weight, metabolism and gender among many others.

5. I have never touched alcohol in my life. I am alcohol free!

Think again. Every human being naturally produces alcohol in their body 24 hours a day. From the time of birth until death, even if you have never drank alcohol, you can’t really call yourself alcohol free.

6. I am drunk. Can you please make me a cup of coffee so I can sober up?

Drinking coffee won’t help you sober up. The only thing that can help you sober up is time. It is said that it takes approximately one hour to eliminate the alcohol in one drink from the body. Coffee will not help you sober up faster. The only thing that coffee will do is make you a wide awake drunk.

7. I have a date night with my wife tonight. Going to drink a little and then have fun with her.

It is widely considered that drinking alcohol helps boost ones sexual performance. However, this is a myth. The depressant action of alcohol lowers inhibitions. Drinking lowers your sexual performance as it does with any other activity.

8. I was switching between rum, brandy and beer at the bar. I am sure that’s why I was so drunk last night.

The main thing one needs to realize is – alcohol is alcohol. It’s the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) that determines how sober or drunk you are. A standard drink of beer, wine, or spirits contains equivalent amounts of alcohol.You were drunk last night not cause you switched drinks but cause you drank too much.

9. When I was in Mexico, I bought a bottle of Tequila that had a worm in it.

It’s not tequila that has worm in it, it is mescal. Besides, what’s in mescal isn’t really a worm, it is a butterfly caterpillar which is know as gurano.

10. I feel pretty stupid these days. Must have been all the alcohol that I drank in my younger days which has destroyed my brain cells .

And finally, the age old myth that alcohol destroys your brain cell is nothing but a myth. It has actually been said that alcohol in moderation improves cognitive functioning.

If you know of any alcohol myths please share with the rest of us through your comments.

source : 1, 2

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Related posts:

1. Alcohol Advertising Myths That Are Often Presented As Facts
2. Drinking Alcohol (in moderation) Is Good For You, Here’s Why
3. A Must Read Guide To Everything Alcohol
4. 40 Facts Related To Alcohol
5. 35 Interesting and Fun Alcohol Facts

7 Responses to “10 Alcohol Myths That Are Nothing But Old Wives’ Tale”

1. Sam says:

   July 6, 2009 at 8:55 pm

   Uhhh, a hangover is the feeling of your neurons dying from glutamate neurotoxicity…It’s a withdrawal mechanism. That’s why the hair of the dog technique works to stop hangovers; You have to wean yourself off of being drunk.
   So, with regards to #10, alcohol does sorta destroy your brain cells if you drink too much at once.
2. 10 Mitos sobre el alcohol [eng] says:

   July 7, 2009 at 9:38 am

   [...] 10 Mitos sobre el alcohol [eng]cognac.com/10-alcohol-myths-that-are-nothing-but-old-wives-t… por jacarandosa hace pocos segundos [...]
3. brit says:

   August 6, 2009 at 9:51 pm

   sam wow your an idiot a hangover is your bodys way of saying its dehydrated because of all the alchol and no water
4. Rusty S says:

   August 7, 2009 at 12:04 pm

   Shut your mouth Sam
5. Zane says:

   August 11, 2009 at 11:02 pm

   Anyone who is familure with human phisiology and biochemistry would know that Sam is basically right. It’s a good thing that there are over 100 billion neurons and even more glia cells in the brain.
6. nick says:

   September 7, 2009 at 8:54 pm

   Sam knows what glutamate neurotoxicity is. Brit can’t spell “you’re” or “alcohol” and doesn’t know any punctuation symbols. My money is not on Sam being the idiot.

   Also gonna quibble with (7). If you have confidence and fewer inhibitions, your sexual performance may well improve.

   And is gusano, not gurano, in mezcal.
7. Joel says:

   September 24, 2009 at 7:34 pm

   Gee, this has nothing to do with my search but I have to add a word here:

   Alcohol burning brain cells is NOT a myth. What IS a myth is that alcohol improves cognitive function. It was on Dr. Dean Edell. There is hard, cold evidence to prove it. Alcohol really does burn quite a bit of brain cells depending how much you drink… it begins at the onset of a buzz and the more you drink the more damage you are doing. However the government would rather you believe the false facts that THEY created because THEY generate income with alcohol tax.