Health and Fitness : April is National Alcohol Awareness Month

By Ricki Hall

The month of April is National Alcohol Awareness Month. When the topic of alcohol is being discussed, there is often misinformation in the conversation. We want our community to be safe and healthy, so let's work together to understand the effects of alcohol.

Alcohol works by slowing down the brain. When alcohol is paired with caffeine, a stimulant that increases brain activity, the brain has a difficult time processing the amount of alcohol that is in the body. This leads to people over-drinking alcohol and becoming dangerously intoxicated.

On average, liquor has an alcohol content of 40%. It is especially dangerous when mixed with other beverages, such as soft drinks and other caffeinated products. Soft drinks can mask the taste of liquor, leading to drinking the beverage quickly and more often.

A standard drink is defined as one 12-ounce beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor. However, the keyword is standard because there are exceptions to the rule. As craft beer is becoming more popular, it's important to understand that craft beer has a higher alcohol content than regular beer. Craft beer is made in smaller batches and is done so to get a stronger and more specific flavor, whereas regular beer is mass-produced for a more standard flavor. Your average regular beer has an alcohol content of around 3%. On average, craft beer has almost double the alcohol content. Remember to drink responsibly to ensure you don't over-drink.

There is plenty of misinformation about wine as well. The standard rule suggests one 5-ounce glass of wine and refers to the wine having an alcohol content of around 12%. The alcohol content of wine can reach up to 20%. Sometimes these higher alcohol content wines can be referred to as fortified wines. It is important to read the bottle carefully so you are aware!

If you have concerns about someone in your life and their drinking or substance use, contact Area Substance Abuse Council. We can provide education for your community or help you find treatment services. During National Alcohol Awareness month let's work together to help our communities and the people we love to be safe, thoughtful and responsible. Contact prevention@asac.us or 319-390-4611 for more information about prevention, presentations or treatment services.