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Pić czy nie pić? Co nauka mówi o wpływie alkoholu na zdrowie
Kultura socjalizuje nas do tego, byśmy pili za często i za dużo – przekonuje David Nutt w książce Pić czy nie pić?. Spożywamy alkohol, gdy celebrujemy jakąś okazję lub po prostu spotykamy się z przyjaciółmi. Gdy wszyscy wkoło piją, a my nie chcemy odstawać od reszty. Żeby „się rozluźnić”, zapomnieć o stresie lub zmartwieniach, poczuć pewniej.
W naszej kulturze alkohol jest dosłownie wszechobecny, więc jeśli zgadzamy się na każde piwo, kieliszek lub butelkę, prawdopodobnie szybko zaczniemy pić zbyt dużo – przestrzega autor, brytyjski psychiatra i psychofarmakolog, profesor Imperial College London. Nie demonizuje alkoholu, lecz w przekonujący i zrozumiały sposób opisuje, jak wpływa na nasze zdrowie – samopoczucie i dobrostan psychiczny, regularność snu, hormony, płodność… To wiedza niezbędna do tego, żeby w świadomy sposób odpowiedzieć sobie na pytanie zawarte w tytule.
W naszej kulturze alkohol jest dosłownie wszechobecny, więc jeśli zgadzamy się na każde piwo, kieliszek lub butelkę, prawdopodobnie szybko zaczniemy pić zbyt dużo – przestrzega autor, brytyjski psychiatra i psychofarmakolog, profesor Imperial College London. Nie demonizuje alkoholu, lecz w przekonujący i zrozumiały sposób opisuje, jak wpływa na nasze zdrowie – samopoczucie i dobrostan psychiczny, regularność snu, hormony, płodność… To wiedza niezbędna do tego, żeby w świadomy sposób odpowiedzieć sobie na pytanie zawarte w tytule.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 2020
433 people are currently reading
3528 people want to read
About the author
David J. Nutt
44 books82 followersDavid John Nutt is an English neuropsychopharmacologist specialising in the research of drugs that affect the brain and conditions such as addiction, anxiety, and sleep. He is the chairman of Drug Science, a non-profit which he founded in 2010 to provide independent, evidence-based information on drugs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
October 15, 2021
Overall, very useful and helpful book that made me think harder about my habits around alcohol. My major takeaways that I'm enacting:
1. Two days in a row of drinking is extremely bad for you as your body doesn't have time to recover and you don't sleep well, it's a downward spiral. Avoid this if at all possible, and go light the second day if you decide to drink.
2. Binge drinking, or getting "wasted" is very bad for you, much better to limit how much you do this.
3. Occasional breaks from alcohol of 2-4 are very, very good for you as they establish the habit of not drinking, and tend to lower your drinking after you do drink again. It can take a few weeks to remove all effects of alcohol from your system and let your liver fully recover.
4. Have a glass of water for every glass of alcohol, and a big one before bed.
Other interesting tidbits:
Alcohol is a huge dopamine stimulant, which is in part why it feels so good, and why we might crave it when stressed.
"No other drug both enhances GABA, serotonin, and dopamine and at the same time blocks glutamate and noradrenaline. Alcohol truly produces a cocktail of neurotransmitter effects."
I didn't realize that in the old days, beer and wine had much less alcohol in them than they do today (3-4% vs 5-8% today for beer). In middle ages I think it was even less, which is why people could drink it so often.
A lot of people have the believe that a small amount of alcohol is good for your health. This is particularly prevalent in France, where people believe a glass of wine a day is good for you. But the science so far has been clear: "A 2018 review in The Lancet, one of the leading medical journals, was called—pretty definitively—"No Level of Alcohol Consumption Improves Health." Their conclusion was that, on balance, any protection would be more than canceled out by the negative effects. "
Though this was interesting on the French surveys: "The real reason for the French Paradox is likely not wine, but the mainly Mediterranean diet the French were consuming, which was rich in olive oil and contained more fish and chicken than red meat, as well as lots of fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, and legumes."
Drinking while driving is a huge cause of death. In the US we have a .08% limit, which is actually not even that safe. Many countries in Europe have .05%, and many in Scandinavia have .02% (basically sober).
A good way to drink consciously is to count your drinks and plan them for the week. If you know you will be drinking 2 nights in a given week, and then plan to have no more than 4 drinks on each of those nights, you are more likely to not exceed/overdrink.
Don't drink to drown your sorrows. I love this quote: "I drank to drown my sorrows, but the damned things learned how to swim. Frida Kahlo"
1. Two days in a row of drinking is extremely bad for you as your body doesn't have time to recover and you don't sleep well, it's a downward spiral. Avoid this if at all possible, and go light the second day if you decide to drink.
2. Binge drinking, or getting "wasted" is very bad for you, much better to limit how much you do this.
3. Occasional breaks from alcohol of 2-4 are very, very good for you as they establish the habit of not drinking, and tend to lower your drinking after you do drink again. It can take a few weeks to remove all effects of alcohol from your system and let your liver fully recover.
4. Have a glass of water for every glass of alcohol, and a big one before bed.
Other interesting tidbits:
Alcohol is a huge dopamine stimulant, which is in part why it feels so good, and why we might crave it when stressed.
"No other drug both enhances GABA, serotonin, and dopamine and at the same time blocks glutamate and noradrenaline. Alcohol truly produces a cocktail of neurotransmitter effects."
I didn't realize that in the old days, beer and wine had much less alcohol in them than they do today (3-4% vs 5-8% today for beer). In middle ages I think it was even less, which is why people could drink it so often.
A lot of people have the believe that a small amount of alcohol is good for your health. This is particularly prevalent in France, where people believe a glass of wine a day is good for you. But the science so far has been clear: "A 2018 review in The Lancet, one of the leading medical journals, was called—pretty definitively—"No Level of Alcohol Consumption Improves Health." Their conclusion was that, on balance, any protection would be more than canceled out by the negative effects. "
Though this was interesting on the French surveys: "The real reason for the French Paradox is likely not wine, but the mainly Mediterranean diet the French were consuming, which was rich in olive oil and contained more fish and chicken than red meat, as well as lots of fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, and legumes."
Drinking while driving is a huge cause of death. In the US we have a .08% limit, which is actually not even that safe. Many countries in Europe have .05%, and many in Scandinavia have .02% (basically sober).
A good way to drink consciously is to count your drinks and plan them for the week. If you know you will be drinking 2 nights in a given week, and then plan to have no more than 4 drinks on each of those nights, you are more likely to not exceed/overdrink.
Don't drink to drown your sorrows. I love this quote: "I drank to drown my sorrows, but the damned things learned how to swim. Frida Kahlo"
June 28, 2021
David Nutt is an English neuropsychopharmacologist who’s research has primarily focused on the (mostly harmful) effects of drugs (including alcohol and nicotine) on the brain.
Nutt has spent a good part of his career attempting to educate the general public regarding drug and alcohol use. And to consult and lobby government to adopt more rational drug and alcohol policies based on evidence of individual and social harm.
When all is said and done.
Nutt identifies alcohol as one of the most, if not the most harmful drug (legal or illegal) in common use.
The agenda of this book is clear:
1. Present an unvarnished, spin free account of the scientific evidence regarding the health ramifications and social impact of alcohol consumption.
2. Provide a nonjudgmental willingness to assist the reader in minimizing harm if they decide to drink once informed.
Boiled down to its essence:
The evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates there is NO safe level of alcohol consumption.
None.
It’s HIGHLY carcinogenic.
It’s HIGHLY addictive.
It’s fuckin’ SUPER bad for your brain.
It’s toxic AF to your entire nervous system.
We all know how shitty it is for your liver.
It impairs judgment.
It’s a major risk factor for violent crime.
Including but not limited to rape and murder.
Alcohol is FU-KING bad for you.
Alcohol is FU-KING bad for me.
And alcohol is FU-KING bad for us as a society.
It’s by far the most harmful food product in the grocery store. And that’s really saying something.
If you went to get FDA approval for alcohol now. It would never ever EVER gain approval.
Because it’s fucked for you.
And no one should drink it.
The public goes NUTS over products that are way less harmful.
And contrary to public opinion, there are no health benefits AT ALL to drinking.
Not even drinking red wine.
All of that resveratrol nonsense was debunked a long time ago.
French people lead the world in psoriasis and other alcohol related diseases before reforming their alcohol related laws to reduce drinking.
Now the UK is leading the world in that dubious category. Again, largely based on irrational drug policy and a lack of will to impose sanctions on the makers of $pirit$.
I could go on.
But you’re probably still going to drink.
So read this book and find out how to get the most out of drinking with the least amount of harm.
I almost gave the book 3 stars because it’s quite tedious in parts.
But the messages so dang important.
So I bumped it up to 4/5
Cheers 🥂 🤮
Nutt has spent a good part of his career attempting to educate the general public regarding drug and alcohol use. And to consult and lobby government to adopt more rational drug and alcohol policies based on evidence of individual and social harm.
When all is said and done.
Nutt identifies alcohol as one of the most, if not the most harmful drug (legal or illegal) in common use.
The agenda of this book is clear:
1. Present an unvarnished, spin free account of the scientific evidence regarding the health ramifications and social impact of alcohol consumption.
2. Provide a nonjudgmental willingness to assist the reader in minimizing harm if they decide to drink once informed.
Boiled down to its essence:
The evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates there is NO safe level of alcohol consumption.
None.
It’s HIGHLY carcinogenic.
It’s HIGHLY addictive.
It’s fuckin’ SUPER bad for your brain.
It’s toxic AF to your entire nervous system.
We all know how shitty it is for your liver.
It impairs judgment.
It’s a major risk factor for violent crime.
Including but not limited to rape and murder.
Alcohol is FU-KING bad for you.
Alcohol is FU-KING bad for me.
And alcohol is FU-KING bad for us as a society.
It’s by far the most harmful food product in the grocery store. And that’s really saying something.
If you went to get FDA approval for alcohol now. It would never ever EVER gain approval.
Because it’s fucked for you.
And no one should drink it.
The public goes NUTS over products that are way less harmful.
And contrary to public opinion, there are no health benefits AT ALL to drinking.
Not even drinking red wine.
All of that resveratrol nonsense was debunked a long time ago.
French people lead the world in psoriasis and other alcohol related diseases before reforming their alcohol related laws to reduce drinking.
Now the UK is leading the world in that dubious category. Again, largely based on irrational drug policy and a lack of will to impose sanctions on the makers of $pirit$.
I could go on.
But you’re probably still going to drink.
So read this book and find out how to get the most out of drinking with the least amount of harm.
I almost gave the book 3 stars because it’s quite tedious in parts.
But the messages so dang important.
So I bumped it up to 4/5
Cheers 🥂 🤮
January 23, 2020
Very insightful. Evidence based, pragmatic advice on the harms of alcohol. Delivered in a succinct way that doesn't patronize or preach. Professor Nutt shares the knowledge he has acquired over his lifetime of work as a doctor on the frontline and as an expert advisor and researcher on the impact of alcohol has to both society and the individual. Helped me to reframe my relationship with alcohol. I like Prof Nutt's approach: he puts the responsibility back onto the reader. He outlines the dangers and risks associated with a given level of drinking and leaves it to you as to how much risk you are prepared and willing to accept / tolerate. Essential reading for anyone who ever contemplated cutting down their alcohol consumption.
July 9, 2024
Bardzo rzetelne kompendium wiedzy na temat alkoholu. Podsumowanie wszystkich za (!) i przeciw piciu alkoholu. O tym jak, promil po promilu i chwila po chwili alkohol działa na nasz organizm, jakie reakcje chemiczne zachodzą w nas podczas picia i jak to się objawia i jakie ma konsekwencje. O przepisach (akurat autor jest z Wielkiej Brytanii, więc najwięcej jest odwołań do brytyjskiego prawa), o tym jaka ilość alkoholu jest dopuszczalna przez prawo a jaka jest bezpieczna dla zdrowia, i o tym jak ograniczać ilość spożywanego alkoholu. Ciekawy jest też rozdział o korzyściach społecznych picia alkoholu, choć jak dla mnie mógłby być odrobinę bardziej rozwinięty - choćby we współpracy z drugim autorem, antropologiem. Wtedy książka byłaby dla mnie bardziej wyczerpująca.
W tym wydaniu mamy wstęp Katarzyny Łukowskiej z Krajowego Centrum Przeciwdziałania Uzależnieniom, pokazujący polską perspektywę, jednak ciężar tego wstępu jest jak dla mnie położony zbytnio na przeciwdziałanie uzależnień. Brakowało mi w nim większej ilości danych - np. akcyzy w Polsce, przepisów dotyczących reklamowania alkoholu, dostępności alkoholu (ilość miejsc gdzie można kupić alkohol).
Jako podsumowanie obecnego stanu wiedzy medycznej na temat etanolu - to kapitalna książka, ale przez to że autor chciał zrobić z niej kompendium wiedzy wszelakiej o alkoholi i jeszcze dodać różne smaczki w postaci teorii antropologicznych, oraz że polskie wydawnictwo chciało dodać polski aspekt do niej - te miejsca są w moim odczuciu niedopracowane i dlatego słabsze.
W tym wydaniu mamy wstęp Katarzyny Łukowskiej z Krajowego Centrum Przeciwdziałania Uzależnieniom, pokazujący polską perspektywę, jednak ciężar tego wstępu jest jak dla mnie położony zbytnio na przeciwdziałanie uzależnień. Brakowało mi w nim większej ilości danych - np. akcyzy w Polsce, przepisów dotyczących reklamowania alkoholu, dostępności alkoholu (ilość miejsc gdzie można kupić alkohol).
Jako podsumowanie obecnego stanu wiedzy medycznej na temat etanolu - to kapitalna książka, ale przez to że autor chciał zrobić z niej kompendium wiedzy wszelakiej o alkoholi i jeszcze dodać różne smaczki w postaci teorii antropologicznych, oraz że polskie wydawnictwo chciało dodać polski aspekt do niej - te miejsca są w moim odczuciu niedopracowane i dlatego słabsze.
October 27, 2022
Whilst I take a break from alcohol I wanted to read something dispassionate and informative. Drink?: The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health is exactly what I was looking for. Professor David J. Nutt provides the science combined with a very non-judgemental tone. It's information that everyone should be given early in life to allow rational and informed decision making. Alcohol is a subject that should receive more attention in our culture. As David Nutt states, if you want to drink less here in the UK it's as if you've decided to stop gambling yet have to live in a Las Vegas hotel.
For me, reading Drink?: The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health has been a wake up call. It's a book most drinkers should probably read.
4/5
For me, reading Drink?: The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health has been a wake up call. It's a book most drinkers should probably read.
4/5
January 12, 2026
This author points no fingers at you as an individual for drinking too much, but definitely argues that the UK government policies are much too influenced by the beverage industry lobby. He gives the latest science on how alcohol influences health negatively, and that you can actually die from alcohol poisoning after just one binge drinking session. This is so common that it makes no head lines. Plus, a lax government alcohol policy means that the emergency rooms in the UK are full of patients that have ended up there because of alcohol. Be it poisoning, brawls or accidents.
The author also presents many useful tips for cutting down drink. Making sure that you don't drink more than the 14 recommended units a week, spreading them out, calculating how much a glass of wine or beer actually is in units. One 175 ml of wine can be as much as 2,5 units (depending on alcohol %) and if you drink more than 6 units at a time, that qualifies as binging. Alcohol damages every organ in your body, not just your liver.
Over the past five years I've gone from a "grey zone" drinker, to moderate, to limited and this year, to none. This book certainly supports my decision, although its main message is "this is how you can reduce" after explaining why. It also makes me question whether I should ever go back, since it's very easy to fall back into drinking patterns. For me, this means the risk of drinking too much when I do drink, although the occasions have been reduced from weekly to monthly, looking at the past couple of years. Since I am quite focused on health span, it's time to conclude that from this perspective, alcohol has no place in my life.
This weekend I was at a party with my girlies. There are videos from this event that show zero indication that I was actually completely sober. Social anxiety is one of the main reasons for drinking, but that does not apply to me.
Anyway, this book is great to evaluate your drinking and it doesn't judge, it provides concrete actions.
The author also presents many useful tips for cutting down drink. Making sure that you don't drink more than the 14 recommended units a week, spreading them out, calculating how much a glass of wine or beer actually is in units. One 175 ml of wine can be as much as 2,5 units (depending on alcohol %) and if you drink more than 6 units at a time, that qualifies as binging. Alcohol damages every organ in your body, not just your liver.
Over the past five years I've gone from a "grey zone" drinker, to moderate, to limited and this year, to none. This book certainly supports my decision, although its main message is "this is how you can reduce" after explaining why. It also makes me question whether I should ever go back, since it's very easy to fall back into drinking patterns. For me, this means the risk of drinking too much when I do drink, although the occasions have been reduced from weekly to monthly, looking at the past couple of years. Since I am quite focused on health span, it's time to conclude that from this perspective, alcohol has no place in my life.
This weekend I was at a party with my girlies. There are videos from this event that show zero indication that I was actually completely sober. Social anxiety is one of the main reasons for drinking, but that does not apply to me.
Anyway, this book is great to evaluate your drinking and it doesn't judge, it provides concrete actions.
September 4, 2020
1) More expensive booze is probably not better for your body. It often contains congeners which are in effect different types of alcohol and they can (probably) worsen the hangover.
2) Cocaine and alcohol produce a new chemical coca-ethylene which stays in the body for longer and makes it more toxic to the heart which is what causes so many heart attacks.
3) Alcohol affects more than 200 different diseases. Alcohol is one of the top five causes of disability and disease in Europe. In the UK alcohol is a leading cause of death of men between 16-54.
4) 'No Level of Alcohol Consumption improves Health' as per 2018 review in the Lancet.
5) Alcohol is strongly linked to dementia - around 20% of cases are due to alcohol.
6) Dehydration. Every unit (8g) makes you pee out 80ml of extra urine.
7) Alcohol is calorie-dense but has almost non-existent nutritional value - it can make up to 16% of female drinkers' energy intake.
2) Cocaine and alcohol produce a new chemical coca-ethylene which stays in the body for longer and makes it more toxic to the heart which is what causes so many heart attacks.
3) Alcohol affects more than 200 different diseases. Alcohol is one of the top five causes of disability and disease in Europe. In the UK alcohol is a leading cause of death of men between 16-54.
4) 'No Level of Alcohol Consumption improves Health' as per 2018 review in the Lancet.
5) Alcohol is strongly linked to dementia - around 20% of cases are due to alcohol.
6) Dehydration. Every unit (8g) makes you pee out 80ml of extra urine.
7) Alcohol is calorie-dense but has almost non-existent nutritional value - it can make up to 16% of female drinkers' energy intake.
October 10, 2020
Alkohola lietošanas negatīvo seku saraksts ir ļoti garš. Beidzot būtu nepieciešams pārdomāt tā vietu mūsu visu dzīves, jo tā ir narkotika, kura brīvi ir pieejama, kura ir integrēta mūsu ikdienā, svētkos, kāzās, dzimšanas dienās un bērēs.
July 6, 2024
A Sobering Look at Alcohol's Impact on Health
"Drink? The New Science of Alcohol and Health" by David Nutt is a groundbreaking and eye-opening exploration of alcohol's effects on our bodies and society. Much like how Michael Greger's "How Not To Die" revolutionized many readers' approach to nutrition, Nutt's work has the power to fundamentally change one's relationship with alcohol.
Nutt, a renowned neuropsychopharmacologist, presents a compelling and evidence-based examination of alcohol's impact on human health. The book deftly combines scientific research with accessible prose, making complex concepts understandable to the general reader.
What sets this book apart is its honest and unbiased approach to a subject often clouded by societal norms and misconceptions. Nutt doesn't shy away from challenging deeply ingrained beliefs about alcohol consumption, backing his arguments with robust scientific evidence.
The author's expertise shines through as he dissects the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol on various aspects of health, from brain function to cancer risk. He also delves into the societal and economic costs of alcohol consumption, providing a holistic view of its impact.
Perhaps the book's greatest strength is its potential to inspire personal change. As a reader who gave up alcohol after reading this book, I can attest to its persuasive power. Nutt doesn't preach abstinence but rather empowers readers with knowledge to make informed decisions about their drinking habits.
"Drink?" is more than just an informative read; it's a potential life-changer. Whether you're a regular drinker, an occasional imbiber, or a teetotaler, this book offers valuable insights that may reshape your understanding of alcohol's role in health and society.
In conclusion, "Drink? The New Science of Alcohol and Health" is an essential read for anyone interested in health, science, or social issues. Its impact can be profound, potentially altering readers' lifestyles as dramatically as it did mine. This book deserves the highest recommendation for its thorough research, clear presentation, and potential to drive positive change.
"Drink? The New Science of Alcohol and Health" by David Nutt is a groundbreaking and eye-opening exploration of alcohol's effects on our bodies and society. Much like how Michael Greger's "How Not To Die" revolutionized many readers' approach to nutrition, Nutt's work has the power to fundamentally change one's relationship with alcohol.
Nutt, a renowned neuropsychopharmacologist, presents a compelling and evidence-based examination of alcohol's impact on human health. The book deftly combines scientific research with accessible prose, making complex concepts understandable to the general reader.
What sets this book apart is its honest and unbiased approach to a subject often clouded by societal norms and misconceptions. Nutt doesn't shy away from challenging deeply ingrained beliefs about alcohol consumption, backing his arguments with robust scientific evidence.
The author's expertise shines through as he dissects the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol on various aspects of health, from brain function to cancer risk. He also delves into the societal and economic costs of alcohol consumption, providing a holistic view of its impact.
Perhaps the book's greatest strength is its potential to inspire personal change. As a reader who gave up alcohol after reading this book, I can attest to its persuasive power. Nutt doesn't preach abstinence but rather empowers readers with knowledge to make informed decisions about their drinking habits.
"Drink?" is more than just an informative read; it's a potential life-changer. Whether you're a regular drinker, an occasional imbiber, or a teetotaler, this book offers valuable insights that may reshape your understanding of alcohol's role in health and society.
In conclusion, "Drink? The New Science of Alcohol and Health" is an essential read for anyone interested in health, science, or social issues. Its impact can be profound, potentially altering readers' lifestyles as dramatically as it did mine. This book deserves the highest recommendation for its thorough research, clear presentation, and potential to drive positive change.
February 19, 2021
This book described in one word? Balanced.
David Nutt has struck me as one of the more honest and fair writers I have had the pleasure of reading. It is not uncommon to pick up a non-fiction book and notice that from the first chapter the author has a motive, especially in a book that speaks on drugs or substance abuse.
Nutt is a Neuropsychopharmacologist as well as a owner of a wine bar and uses that background to comment on alcohol. In drink? Nutt walks the line perfectly in his critique of alcohol while also speaking of the cultural benefits and minor protective benefits as well.
However, the evidence is pretty damning, even though alcohol is associated with blue zone diets and minor improvements in cardiovascular health drinking any amount of alcohol has more negative effects than positive.
But just how bad is alcohol? Well Nutt dives into the brain and bodily science to describe it's implications in over 200 diseases. Nutt evens names alcohol as the most damaging drug to society.
Now Drink? isn't only a book bashing the safety of alcohol. What I most enjoyed about the book was learning the interactions of the ethanol molecule on the brain. Did you know there is over 400 variations of the ethanol molecule that can lead to the difference in highs between drinks like wine, beer, and spirits? In my opinion this may be the reason there is so many wild stories around tequila in particular.
Finally this book finishes up with a section on how to identify if you or a loved one has a problem with alcohol and what tactics and tools you can use to beat addiction.
The only complaints I have are not with the book itself but more with me just wanting more of the same. I would have loved more commentary on the social aspect of drinking, or more on the molecular effects in the brain, or more of how ethanol is involved in the brewing or fermenting processes. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole of the book (Even if some sections like that of addiction were not relevant to me) and I just wished there was more.
David Nutt has struck me as one of the more honest and fair writers I have had the pleasure of reading. It is not uncommon to pick up a non-fiction book and notice that from the first chapter the author has a motive, especially in a book that speaks on drugs or substance abuse.
Nutt is a Neuropsychopharmacologist as well as a owner of a wine bar and uses that background to comment on alcohol. In drink? Nutt walks the line perfectly in his critique of alcohol while also speaking of the cultural benefits and minor protective benefits as well.
However, the evidence is pretty damning, even though alcohol is associated with blue zone diets and minor improvements in cardiovascular health drinking any amount of alcohol has more negative effects than positive.
But just how bad is alcohol? Well Nutt dives into the brain and bodily science to describe it's implications in over 200 diseases. Nutt evens names alcohol as the most damaging drug to society.
Now Drink? isn't only a book bashing the safety of alcohol. What I most enjoyed about the book was learning the interactions of the ethanol molecule on the brain. Did you know there is over 400 variations of the ethanol molecule that can lead to the difference in highs between drinks like wine, beer, and spirits? In my opinion this may be the reason there is so many wild stories around tequila in particular.
Finally this book finishes up with a section on how to identify if you or a loved one has a problem with alcohol and what tactics and tools you can use to beat addiction.
The only complaints I have are not with the book itself but more with me just wanting more of the same. I would have loved more commentary on the social aspect of drinking, or more on the molecular effects in the brain, or more of how ethanol is involved in the brewing or fermenting processes. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole of the book (Even if some sections like that of addiction were not relevant to me) and I just wished there was more.
December 20, 2022
"If alcohol went through food standards testing for toxicity now, you'd only be allowed to have less than a wine glass of alcohol per year."
This book certainly exceeded my expectations. The overall pedigree and experience of Dr. Nutt put him in an excellent position to author this book, and he did a laudable job balancing it with a sufficiently rigorous scientific/health-related dive, the effects at the personal versus the societal level, economic considerations, as well as the many benefits of alcohol that people tend to overlook. The author also concludes with a seemingly sensible plan for those who take the facts seriously, both personally and at the institutional/policy level. The book is not a meant to scare people into worry about their habits, but rather provide a sober (hah) analysis of the risks at hand.
I think that some further information on counterfactual opportunity cost, based on time/money spent related to alcohol, could have been a helpful addition to this book, albeit difficult to acquire overly didactic data on such factors.
Definitely recommend the read, whether one is curious about their own relationship with the drug, or the issue as a general cause area for an improved society.
This book certainly exceeded my expectations. The overall pedigree and experience of Dr. Nutt put him in an excellent position to author this book, and he did a laudable job balancing it with a sufficiently rigorous scientific/health-related dive, the effects at the personal versus the societal level, economic considerations, as well as the many benefits of alcohol that people tend to overlook. The author also concludes with a seemingly sensible plan for those who take the facts seriously, both personally and at the institutional/policy level. The book is not a meant to scare people into worry about their habits, but rather provide a sober (hah) analysis of the risks at hand.
I think that some further information on counterfactual opportunity cost, based on time/money spent related to alcohol, could have been a helpful addition to this book, albeit difficult to acquire overly didactic data on such factors.
Definitely recommend the read, whether one is curious about their own relationship with the drug, or the issue as a general cause area for an improved society.
January 24, 2024
If you already know that there is no safe amount of alcohol, this book will not be mind-blowing. Nevertheless it is good to remember why any drink should be a conscious and responsible choice
July 18, 2020
Drink?
by Professor David Nutt
Pub Date: 22 Dec 2020
read courtesy of http://netgalley.com
I realize this has turned into more of a critique than a book review. You may just want to read the first three and last three of the following paragraphs if you want the short version of my review.
Labeled as "self-help," this book is then presented a little backwards. The beginning is the "why" alcohol does what it does, and the second half is the "how" one can reduce or eliminate alcohol use. By the time I got through the "why," I was almost uninterested in the "how." Granted, one might never read the "why" section if they get through the "how" section, since the self-help portion is the reason one would obtain the book in the first place. However, I was more impressed, and less confused, by the self-help section, so I'm glad I persevered.
Read the introduction; it contains some of the 'truths' about alcohol. "Marketing has altered our perception," "...its's absurd that coming of age should still be about alcohol," and "Would you take a new drug if you were told it would increase your risk of cancer, dementia, heart disease, or that it would shorten your life?"
Chapters 1-5 are the "why" - chemistry and biology - and chapters 6-10 are the "how" - psychology and sociology.
WHY: Chapters 1-5
There were a number of places in the book where I questioned whether Professor Nutt's statements were opinion or fact. These were the places I expected to see citations, like throughout the rest of the book, but where documentation for an assertion was lacking. For example, Professor Nutt's use of words like 'slight,' 'possible,' 'seems,' 'I think,' and 'some' caused me to search for citations to determine the research behind the associated statements, but the citations just as often weren't referenced. One example is "...the number of people living with it [alcoholic dementia] is expected to triple by 2050." THAT'S a statistic that requires a citation!
Irrelevant to which part of the book some of his suggestions appeared, a few concerned me. Although one section is subtitled, "Hangover Cures: What's the Evidence," implying he's presenting information and not recommendations, since this is a self-help book, I might assume that most readers aren't processing the "What's the Evidence" portion of the heading and merely focusing on the promise of "Hangover Cures."
For example, in number 2 he describes beta blockers and ends that paragraph with, "Whether they do more than that, I'm not sure." It's irresponsible to leave it at that; do beta blockers for a hangover do more good? More harm? Not enough 'evidence,' Professor Nutt.
Although one shouldn't expect 100% definitive guidelines, I'm bothered by some contradictions. At one point he says, ""...don't drink at all - because there are no health benefits" and "...no level of drinking is actually beneficial to health." However, one whole chapter (8) is about "The Social Benefits of Alcohol." Granted, health and social benefits are different, but he expounds in so many places how alcohol provides social benefits, which others can argue can positively affect health benefits. He concludes that "...But if you want the sociability benefits alcohol brings, it's a different story. In that case, you need to decide what risks you want to accept...." Teeter-totters go in both directions; he implies that the benefits of alcohol abstinence and social drinking have an inverse relationship, so one has to choose, to "balance out the pleasure you gain." Further into the book he says, "...that the amount of alcohol optimal to provide the protection ["partial protective effect on cardiovascular health - The Lancet"] appears to be very low - about one unit a day." So there are some health benefits; he just wants us to know "...that the benefit to the heart does not outweigh all the other risks of alcohol...." And remember the reference to alcoholic dementia above? Later in the book, he says, "...low levels of alcohol consumption - that is between one and ten drinks a week - reduced the risk of dementia. In fact, it appears that being teetotal may raise your risk of dementia...." He also includes "...a 2017 review [that] concluded that light to moderate drinking does reduce the risk of diabetes," and that report IS cited.
I also questioned some of his assertions like, "...there are wards full of these kids," while talking about "acute alcoholic hepatitis" in young binge drinkers. Then he goes on to say, "However bingeing is not the reason behind most cases of alcoholic hepatitis...." He also provided no citation regarding the number of kids or the number of wards. There were also some judgmental statements peppered throughout the book. In one instance, Nutt says that he doesn't think people seeing their doctors for hypertension are being asked about their alcohol use, "...perhaps because many doctors drink too much themselves?" If that's not just a judgment, then where's the citation?
The British perspective came through a few times. For instance, in the section, "Major Ways Alcohol Affects Your Length of Life," I had to look up Professor Nutt's reference to Damien Hirst's sharks and cows with regards to Nutt's mention of formaldehyde. However, I was pleased that Professor Nutt was inclusive and did include science references to Asia and Africa along with Europe, the UK, and the USA.
I liked his discussion (and the reality check) of the arbitrariness of legal blood alcohol limits. He points out that for .079 and .081 "...is not that one is safe and the other dangerous, but that one if legal and the other is not." I also appreciated that he found a way to show how one's alcohol use affects others and not just one's self. He cites that the estimated prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is 8 in 1,000 while the prevalence of Down's Syndrome is 1 in 1000. Perspective on preventable disorders is powerful. These type of discussions absolutely support his goal of an individual being "...able to work out how little you need in order to get the effects you do want."
HOW: Chapters 6-10
Early in the second half of the book, Professor Nutt relays some social the history of alcohol. One interesting part discussed how "...ancient Persians would only finally make a decision after the issue at hand had been discussed both sober and drunk," since being drunk brought out one's creativity. And though I knew alcohol was ancient, I didn't know that "It's only been in the last millennium that it has been banned by some religious groups, for example in Islam." [The irony isn't lost on this reader that modern "Persia" now Islamic.]
But sometimes he still spouts a factoid that he doesn't substantiate with a citation. I'd like to see the documentation of these assertions, Professor Nutt!
"...a view popular with conservative politicians, that addiction is fun and addicts enjoy getting drunk...."
"...conflation of morality and science happens in addiction more than any other branch of medicine."
"Drinking has become your hobby or the only way you socialize. This often happens with retirees or expats."
Professor Nutt does a much better job of citing some psychological aspects of why people drink, i.e., the self-help portion of the book. [Read the section on "Is Your Booze Buzz in Your Head?"] Later on he cites one study that "...showed that people drank lager 60 percent more slowly out of straight glasses than out of outward-curving (pilsner type) ones." Now that's interesting, don't you think? He also does a better job in this half of the book delineating when he is discussing fact or logic and not just opinion.
The best part of the book is headed, "How to Talk to Your Children about Booze." I can easily see this portion of the book being used with PTO/PTA groups. It was logical and could be easily implemented as a workshop program to support children and teens from succumbing to peer pressure, social norms, and advertising. While I did learn some things throughout the book, I'm not sure that much else is new or particularly persuasive that could convince an alcoholic to change their behavior; they'd just now be able to tell you why they are doing what they do.
And speaking of irony (which I did in the first ¶ of HOW: Chapters 6-10), his daughter runs a wine bar.
by Professor David Nutt
Pub Date: 22 Dec 2020
read courtesy of http://netgalley.com
I realize this has turned into more of a critique than a book review. You may just want to read the first three and last three of the following paragraphs if you want the short version of my review.
Labeled as "self-help," this book is then presented a little backwards. The beginning is the "why" alcohol does what it does, and the second half is the "how" one can reduce or eliminate alcohol use. By the time I got through the "why," I was almost uninterested in the "how." Granted, one might never read the "why" section if they get through the "how" section, since the self-help portion is the reason one would obtain the book in the first place. However, I was more impressed, and less confused, by the self-help section, so I'm glad I persevered.
Read the introduction; it contains some of the 'truths' about alcohol. "Marketing has altered our perception," "...its's absurd that coming of age should still be about alcohol," and "Would you take a new drug if you were told it would increase your risk of cancer, dementia, heart disease, or that it would shorten your life?"
Chapters 1-5 are the "why" - chemistry and biology - and chapters 6-10 are the "how" - psychology and sociology.
WHY: Chapters 1-5
There were a number of places in the book where I questioned whether Professor Nutt's statements were opinion or fact. These were the places I expected to see citations, like throughout the rest of the book, but where documentation for an assertion was lacking. For example, Professor Nutt's use of words like 'slight,' 'possible,' 'seems,' 'I think,' and 'some' caused me to search for citations to determine the research behind the associated statements, but the citations just as often weren't referenced. One example is "...the number of people living with it [alcoholic dementia] is expected to triple by 2050." THAT'S a statistic that requires a citation!
Irrelevant to which part of the book some of his suggestions appeared, a few concerned me. Although one section is subtitled, "Hangover Cures: What's the Evidence," implying he's presenting information and not recommendations, since this is a self-help book, I might assume that most readers aren't processing the "What's the Evidence" portion of the heading and merely focusing on the promise of "Hangover Cures."
For example, in number 2 he describes beta blockers and ends that paragraph with, "Whether they do more than that, I'm not sure." It's irresponsible to leave it at that; do beta blockers for a hangover do more good? More harm? Not enough 'evidence,' Professor Nutt.
Although one shouldn't expect 100% definitive guidelines, I'm bothered by some contradictions. At one point he says, ""...don't drink at all - because there are no health benefits" and "...no level of drinking is actually beneficial to health." However, one whole chapter (8) is about "The Social Benefits of Alcohol." Granted, health and social benefits are different, but he expounds in so many places how alcohol provides social benefits, which others can argue can positively affect health benefits. He concludes that "...But if you want the sociability benefits alcohol brings, it's a different story. In that case, you need to decide what risks you want to accept...." Teeter-totters go in both directions; he implies that the benefits of alcohol abstinence and social drinking have an inverse relationship, so one has to choose, to "balance out the pleasure you gain." Further into the book he says, "...that the amount of alcohol optimal to provide the protection ["partial protective effect on cardiovascular health - The Lancet"] appears to be very low - about one unit a day." So there are some health benefits; he just wants us to know "...that the benefit to the heart does not outweigh all the other risks of alcohol...." And remember the reference to alcoholic dementia above? Later in the book, he says, "...low levels of alcohol consumption - that is between one and ten drinks a week - reduced the risk of dementia. In fact, it appears that being teetotal may raise your risk of dementia...." He also includes "...a 2017 review [that] concluded that light to moderate drinking does reduce the risk of diabetes," and that report IS cited.
I also questioned some of his assertions like, "...there are wards full of these kids," while talking about "acute alcoholic hepatitis" in young binge drinkers. Then he goes on to say, "However bingeing is not the reason behind most cases of alcoholic hepatitis...." He also provided no citation regarding the number of kids or the number of wards. There were also some judgmental statements peppered throughout the book. In one instance, Nutt says that he doesn't think people seeing their doctors for hypertension are being asked about their alcohol use, "...perhaps because many doctors drink too much themselves?" If that's not just a judgment, then where's the citation?
The British perspective came through a few times. For instance, in the section, "Major Ways Alcohol Affects Your Length of Life," I had to look up Professor Nutt's reference to Damien Hirst's sharks and cows with regards to Nutt's mention of formaldehyde. However, I was pleased that Professor Nutt was inclusive and did include science references to Asia and Africa along with Europe, the UK, and the USA.
I liked his discussion (and the reality check) of the arbitrariness of legal blood alcohol limits. He points out that for .079 and .081 "...is not that one is safe and the other dangerous, but that one if legal and the other is not." I also appreciated that he found a way to show how one's alcohol use affects others and not just one's self. He cites that the estimated prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is 8 in 1,000 while the prevalence of Down's Syndrome is 1 in 1000. Perspective on preventable disorders is powerful. These type of discussions absolutely support his goal of an individual being "...able to work out how little you need in order to get the effects you do want."
HOW: Chapters 6-10
Early in the second half of the book, Professor Nutt relays some social the history of alcohol. One interesting part discussed how "...ancient Persians would only finally make a decision after the issue at hand had been discussed both sober and drunk," since being drunk brought out one's creativity. And though I knew alcohol was ancient, I didn't know that "It's only been in the last millennium that it has been banned by some religious groups, for example in Islam." [The irony isn't lost on this reader that modern "Persia" now Islamic.]
But sometimes he still spouts a factoid that he doesn't substantiate with a citation. I'd like to see the documentation of these assertions, Professor Nutt!
"...a view popular with conservative politicians, that addiction is fun and addicts enjoy getting drunk...."
"...conflation of morality and science happens in addiction more than any other branch of medicine."
"Drinking has become your hobby or the only way you socialize. This often happens with retirees or expats."
Professor Nutt does a much better job of citing some psychological aspects of why people drink, i.e., the self-help portion of the book. [Read the section on "Is Your Booze Buzz in Your Head?"] Later on he cites one study that "...showed that people drank lager 60 percent more slowly out of straight glasses than out of outward-curving (pilsner type) ones." Now that's interesting, don't you think? He also does a better job in this half of the book delineating when he is discussing fact or logic and not just opinion.
The best part of the book is headed, "How to Talk to Your Children about Booze." I can easily see this portion of the book being used with PTO/PTA groups. It was logical and could be easily implemented as a workshop program to support children and teens from succumbing to peer pressure, social norms, and advertising. While I did learn some things throughout the book, I'm not sure that much else is new or particularly persuasive that could convince an alcoholic to change their behavior; they'd just now be able to tell you why they are doing what they do.
And speaking of irony (which I did in the first ¶ of HOW: Chapters 6-10), his daughter runs a wine bar.
March 6, 2021
Surprised to find I enjoyed this more than ‘Drugs’! Bit neeky to have a favourite scientist but Nutt definitely takes the title 💫
September 10, 2020
Alcohol is everywhere. In fact, 80 percent of adults consume it, but only about one-fifth of us get into trouble with it. The challenge is that we now have scientific proof that alcohol is the most harmful drug there is. Yet we still drink anyway because it’s socially acceptable. It’s also legal and accessible. And, unless we start to face severe consequences as a result of our drinking, giving it up entirely isn’t going to change anytime soon.
In Drink?, neuropharmacology professor David Nutt shows us the evidence from the latest studies on alcohol. And why we might want to reconsider our relationship with it. After all, alcohol impacts our health, our sleep, our emotions and our productivity. And that’s if we drink moderately.
Nutt tells us how drinking affects our bodies—from the first sip through the hangover. He also addresses topics such as hormones, mental health, fertility and addiction.
Yet, despite the harmful effects, Nutt doesn’t insist on abstinence. In fact, he fesses up to owning a wine bar with his daughter and partaking in drinking himself. For those reasons, I cannot get on board with giving this book rave reviews. Especially because it so clearly demonstrates that we shouldn’t be using this drug. I don’t quite get the logic.
Thanks to NetGalley, David Nutt and Hachette Books for the electronic copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 11, 2022
I've been reading about the dangers of alcohol multiple times, so this didn't really offer anything new.
Parts of this was laughable. Long chapters about different ways to talk about alcohol use, just very clumsy kitchen psychology and mundane.
Compared to Gabor Maté this felt very naive and unfinished.
Still: it had good stuff in it, here and there. And if you know nothing about the subject, maybe you can start with this.
Imagine that we sell in almost every store a neuropoison that causes at least eight different cancers, destroys your intestines, makes you depressed and tired and sluggish, causes heart attacks and strokes, is highly addictive, kills young people and causes most of the violence we experience.
Just let that sink in.
And then they recommend that you should keep at least two days off alcohol IN A WEEK.
Two. Days. In. A. Week.
Wow.
This was very British. And felt extremely careful. Like the writer had in mind his audience of football hooligans. Maybe that was true.
Also felt like lacking something, for example how alcohol destroys the gut bacteria and the intestines, how high blood pressure puts pressure on all intestines and how alcohol lowers testosterone etc.
But, all in all; important stuff.
Parts of this was laughable. Long chapters about different ways to talk about alcohol use, just very clumsy kitchen psychology and mundane.
Compared to Gabor Maté this felt very naive and unfinished.
Still: it had good stuff in it, here and there. And if you know nothing about the subject, maybe you can start with this.
Imagine that we sell in almost every store a neuropoison that causes at least eight different cancers, destroys your intestines, makes you depressed and tired and sluggish, causes heart attacks and strokes, is highly addictive, kills young people and causes most of the violence we experience.
Just let that sink in.
And then they recommend that you should keep at least two days off alcohol IN A WEEK.
Two. Days. In. A. Week.
Wow.
This was very British. And felt extremely careful. Like the writer had in mind his audience of football hooligans. Maybe that was true.
Also felt like lacking something, for example how alcohol destroys the gut bacteria and the intestines, how high blood pressure puts pressure on all intestines and how alcohol lowers testosterone etc.
But, all in all; important stuff.
October 13, 2022
Actually rated a quarter-star higher elsewhere, but my review is so short that I don't need to link to that.
Nutt's good on the health issues of alcohol, including more details on cancer than I had known before.
He is a failure on the "get help."
First, for people who may not have crossed an "invisible line," not recommending Moderation Management or HAMS (or whatever there is in the UK) is not good.
Second, for people who have? Not recommending "secular" alternatives to AA, like Lifering Secular Recovery or SMART Recovery, both of which are in the UK as well as the US — and both of which, unlike AA — totally support the use of medications like naltrexone, is DEFINITELY not good.
Nutt's good on the health issues of alcohol, including more details on cancer than I had known before.
He is a failure on the "get help."
First, for people who may not have crossed an "invisible line," not recommending Moderation Management or HAMS (or whatever there is in the UK) is not good.
Second, for people who have? Not recommending "secular" alternatives to AA, like Lifering Secular Recovery or SMART Recovery, both of which are in the UK as well as the US — and both of which, unlike AA — totally support the use of medications like naltrexone, is DEFINITELY not good.
December 10, 2021
I can see why the dude got fired.
Alcohol bad. Drink none is perfect. Drink less is good. Drink more is probably bad. Drink a lot is definitely really bad. That’s basically the book.
Most data are as reliable as the counter argument you hear on TV. Too much reliance on correlations and how alcohol contributes to all the diseases. Very little causation type sources stated.
His writing style reminds me of when I have a paper due at midnight and it’s 7pm so I just find a shit ton of sources I can cite and paraphrase what’s in the sources without any additional insight.
Alcohol bad. Drink none is perfect. Drink less is good. Drink more is probably bad. Drink a lot is definitely really bad. That’s basically the book.
Most data are as reliable as the counter argument you hear on TV. Too much reliance on correlations and how alcohol contributes to all the diseases. Very little causation type sources stated.
His writing style reminds me of when I have a paper due at midnight and it’s 7pm so I just find a shit ton of sources I can cite and paraphrase what’s in the sources without any additional insight.
February 1, 2020
Picked this up to get me through the last week of Dry January and reduce my intake in the longer time.
Practical and non-judging, it made me feel positive about the steps I can make to reduce drinking and improve my physical and mental health.
Practical and non-judging, it made me feel positive about the steps I can make to reduce drinking and improve my physical and mental health.
April 2, 2022
Kinda wish this focused more on psychosocial vs physical aspects. Also wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style but did learn some things which is always good.
If you’ve never read about alcohol, you should.
If you’ve never read about alcohol, you should.
June 20, 2024
Nieco bardziej wyważony punkt widzenia na temat kultury alkoholowej i ogólnie chlania. I mówiąc „wyważony” mam na myśli to, że autor nie pozostawia złudzeń co do szkodliwości alkoholu ale zauważa też pozytywne strony. Polecam.
November 24, 2021
Alcohol is a huge part of American culture. It frustrates me that alcohol gets a total pass in our society when other drugs, particularly marijuana, doesn't. Alcohol is a poison, plain and simple. When we drink we are poisoning ourselves just a little bit at a time (sometimes a lot at a time). This book drove home the point that there is no safe level of alcohol. While it negatively affects certain organs like the liver, it also affects the brain. Heavy drinking will take years off your life.
It seems really hard to have a good social life and not drink. It is such an accepted part of life. People don't really understand the effect it has on our bodies and our lives. Of course people do understand at the extreme of becoming an alcoholic, but short of that, what's the big deal? Everyone should educate themselves on why it could be a big deal, so we can all make better informed decisions around drinking, and this book is an excellent introduction to this.
Nutt helps the reader self-assess the level you may be at, and gives tips and advice for how to limit your drinking, and how to talk to others about their drinking. He also discusses talking to your children about drinking. Tell them:
1. It won't make you happy, it can lead to anxiety and depression or make them worse.
2. Avoid spirits as it is too easy to get catastrophically drunk. Weak beer is better.
3. You can die from alcohol poisoning, it is the leading cause of death in young people according to the WHO.
4. Have one drink, not two.
5. Help drunk friends.
6. Drunk people get into trouble that can lead to lifetime consequences.
7. Easier to get taken advantage of when you're drunk.
8. Never mix drinking with drugs. You are less likely to know what you're taking when you're drunk, and you don't know how it will mix.
9. Never drink and drive, call home.
10. No social media.
11. Walk away from fights.
12. It is not possible to give consent when you are drunk, so never have sex with a drunk person.
It seems really hard to have a good social life and not drink. It is such an accepted part of life. People don't really understand the effect it has on our bodies and our lives. Of course people do understand at the extreme of becoming an alcoholic, but short of that, what's the big deal? Everyone should educate themselves on why it could be a big deal, so we can all make better informed decisions around drinking, and this book is an excellent introduction to this.
Nutt helps the reader self-assess the level you may be at, and gives tips and advice for how to limit your drinking, and how to talk to others about their drinking. He also discusses talking to your children about drinking. Tell them:
1. It won't make you happy, it can lead to anxiety and depression or make them worse.
2. Avoid spirits as it is too easy to get catastrophically drunk. Weak beer is better.
3. You can die from alcohol poisoning, it is the leading cause of death in young people according to the WHO.
4. Have one drink, not two.
5. Help drunk friends.
6. Drunk people get into trouble that can lead to lifetime consequences.
7. Easier to get taken advantage of when you're drunk.
8. Never mix drinking with drugs. You are less likely to know what you're taking when you're drunk, and you don't know how it will mix.
9. Never drink and drive, call home.
10. No social media.
11. Walk away from fights.
12. It is not possible to give consent when you are drunk, so never have sex with a drunk person.
January 11, 2024
Sensible book with advice doled out in spades; the style is evidently from an academic who set himself to writing for the general public and he only partially succeeds; the overall tone remains a bit dispassionate and geared towards the one-way transfer of hard earned scientific knowledge on the subject; the text would have benefitted from a more narrative approach; more storytelling.
The short term effects of alcohol in a single paragraph:
"The first thing alcohol does is to turn on the calming GABA system, so you start to feel relaxed. Valium works on the same system. This is why we drink. And it’s especially why a lot of us drink at parties. Most of us have some level of social anxiety, and alcohol removes our fear and inhibitions. Alcohol’s calming effect is also the reason why, as soon as the seatbelt sign is turned off on an aeroplane, the drinks trolley is wheeled down the aisle. It’s because many people are anxious about flying. However, if you turn the GABA system on too much, it can switch off parts of the brain you don’t want switched off, for example your judgement or even your consciousness. And if you drink a great deal of alcohol and the GABA system is maximally potentiated, it turns off your brain, in the same way as an anaesthetic, so you stop breathing. That’s one way you can die from alcohol. This is what we call alcohol poisoning."
The short term effects of alcohol in a single paragraph:
"The first thing alcohol does is to turn on the calming GABA system, so you start to feel relaxed. Valium works on the same system. This is why we drink. And it’s especially why a lot of us drink at parties. Most of us have some level of social anxiety, and alcohol removes our fear and inhibitions. Alcohol’s calming effect is also the reason why, as soon as the seatbelt sign is turned off on an aeroplane, the drinks trolley is wheeled down the aisle. It’s because many people are anxious about flying. However, if you turn the GABA system on too much, it can switch off parts of the brain you don’t want switched off, for example your judgement or even your consciousness. And if you drink a great deal of alcohol and the GABA system is maximally potentiated, it turns off your brain, in the same way as an anaesthetic, so you stop breathing. That’s one way you can die from alcohol. This is what we call alcohol poisoning."
November 23, 2025
Very informative as always, I did not know politicians drank in parliament 😂 but I guess that’s expected.
I also didn’t know how it affects the brain: ‘it enhances GABA, serotonin and dopamine whilst simultaneously blocking glutamate and noraderanline’. Therefore you get a sense of calm so social anxiety seems to go away. If you continue to drink your GABA levels increase further and your judgment may become impaired and even your consciousness turned off aka ‘blackout’. If you have even more to drink and your GABA levels increase further you may stop breathing and die from alcohol poisoning.
Basically don’t drink if you don’t feel the need to and the big issue is how alcohol is portrayed not as harmful but a fun way to relax whereas in fact due to how many people legally consuming it across the world it amounts to a crazy loss in health, productivity and lives.
Britain should definitely be following suit and charging more for alcohol with no special offers so people drink less (even if it’s only slightly) and making sure people are making informed choices when choosing to drink.
I also didn’t know how it affects the brain: ‘it enhances GABA, serotonin and dopamine whilst simultaneously blocking glutamate and noraderanline’. Therefore you get a sense of calm so social anxiety seems to go away. If you continue to drink your GABA levels increase further and your judgment may become impaired and even your consciousness turned off aka ‘blackout’. If you have even more to drink and your GABA levels increase further you may stop breathing and die from alcohol poisoning.
Basically don’t drink if you don’t feel the need to and the big issue is how alcohol is portrayed not as harmful but a fun way to relax whereas in fact due to how many people legally consuming it across the world it amounts to a crazy loss in health, productivity and lives.
Britain should definitely be following suit and charging more for alcohol with no special offers so people drink less (even if it’s only slightly) and making sure people are making informed choices when choosing to drink.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2025
“Gdyby alkohol zostat odkryty w dzisiejszych czasach, niemal na pewno nie zostalby wprowadzony na rynek jako produkt spożywczy i prawdopodobnie byłby nielegalny. Jeżeli zastosujemy wobec niego kryteria dotyczące standardów bezpieczeństwa żywności, w pełni bezpiecznym limitem spożycia będzie jeden kieliszek wina rocznie.”
January 25, 2022
An absolute primer on alcohol. A mix of theory and practical advice on more sensible consumption. You literally want to drink less with every read page, and the book presents lots of options how to do this effectively.
December 21, 2021
Really good read if you drink, want to start, have children who may start drinking or want to stay away from it.
June 10, 2023
Must-have for everyone. I wish I read this book being a teenager.
Uncover myths about "benefits" of alcohol drinking and it's impact on us.
As I am great advocate for science based approach, it inspires to re-think our relationship with alcohol.
Uncover myths about "benefits" of alcohol drinking and it's impact on us.
As I am great advocate for science based approach, it inspires to re-think our relationship with alcohol.
April 30, 2022
While most of this wasn't new knowledge , it was good to reconsider and re-contextualise alcohol use. The top Goodreads review covers most of the salient points.
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