Fact or Fiction? by Jeff Colombria But before you enjoy that next beer take a minute to think about some of those old sayings about drinking. Do you believe that you should drink liquor before beer to avoid getting sick? When you're feeling health-conscious do you choose red wine over beer? Is a pot of coffee and a fast-food burger and fries still your preferred method of sobering up? Many of us either consciously or unconsciously follow "rules" like those never really questioning their effectiveness or the science behind them. As the new year begins it's finally time to find out if they are fact or fiction. Let's start with the adage "liquor before beer". You probably heard someone tell you, more than once, that "liquor before beer never fear; beer before liquor, never sicker" and then took it to be the gospel truth. Sorry, that one is bogus. There is absolutely no scientific evidence that drinking in a particular order alters how sick you get if you over indulge. Some research does suggest that the body absorbs carbonated drinks, such as a gin and tonic, more quickly than still beverages. It's also possible that drinking beer over some mixed drinks on an empty stomach might slow your intoxication. Also, it takes longer for the body to absorb a 12-ounce glass versus a 1.5-ounce cocktail, its equivalent in terms of absolute alcohol. But ultimately, it's the amount you drink and your pace that will determine how you feel, not the order in which you do it. We've all heard red wine may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease thanks to resveratrol, a substance found in the skin of grapes. But did you know beer may be good for you, too? When consumed in moderation — in other words one 12-ounce glass a day for women and two for men (our legal guys made me put that in)— research has shown that beer will have the same effect, especially darker brews. Plus beer may be associated with other significant health benefits not found in wine. Who hasn't said something stupid after having a few too many? But if you believe the old Latin saying in vino veritas, or "truth in wine," you might think those drunken comments reflect a person's real feelings. It is true, not false, that alcohol lowers people's inhibitions and might lead to doing things one might not otherwise do. So the belief that beer can lead to saying things you might not want heard is a fact. What about eating after drinking? Conventional wisdom (and your stomach) say it's the right thing to do. Well, eating after a few drinks, is a good way of sobering up. Any food you put in your stomach will slow your body's absorption of alcohol. Note that solid food works better than liquid foods, like soup, and carbs and high- protein foods may be a better choice than fatty foods. Having a hearty meal before drinking, or eating and drinking at the same time, also can help prevent you from getting sick. Lastly let's examine the time-honored way of helping someone sober up which is filling them with coffee and giving them a cold shower. Not at all true; those techniques are likely to create a cold and alert drunk. While research has shown that caffeine can counteract some of the effects of alcohol in terms of a handful of cognitive tasks, a person's reaction time is still going to be slower than normal. Giving a drunken person a cold shower is a bad idea because alcohol is already reducing their body temperature. The one thing that always helps alcohol get out of the system is time. Thanks to Bob for giving me the opportunity to write this month's column. I hope it helped a few people out. ------------ |
| BeerNexus proudly presents Bob Montemurro "the ombudsman of beer" Bob and Friends Speak of Beer...... |
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| Thanks to Jeff for writing this month's column and setting the record straight on a few myths that never seem to go away.Your submissions are encouraged - just send them to me here at BeerNexus.com Cheers! See you next time to "speak about beer". Bob Montemurro |
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