By Charalampos Karouzos,
As January rolls in, many people embrace the concept of Dry January, a month-long break from alcohol aimed at improving health and re-evaluating habits, especially after the winter holidays, the time during which people tend to abuse it. Alcohol without a doubt has been a central part of human culture for millennia, celebrated in rituals, consumed in social settings, and marketed as a marker of relaxation and sophistication. Yet, its widespread acceptance often obscures the serious health risks it poses, the myths surrounding its consumption, and the societal norms it perpetuates. Movements such as Dry January aim to raise awareness about its heavy toll on health, and the evolving public health perspective on its use.
At its core, alcohol refers to ethanol, a psychoactive substance produced through the fermentation of sugars found in grains, fruits, and vegetables. Consumed globally, it acts as a central nervous system depressant, slowing brain activity and affecting mood, judgment, and coordination. The effects of alcohol are dose-dependent, and while small amounts can create a sense of relaxation, larger quantities lead to impaired cognition and, over time, dependency. Its pervasiveness is bolstered by its legal status and cultural significance, but the biological consequences of alcohol use, paint a starkly different picture.
When alcohol is consumed, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and metabolized by the liver, the body’s primary detoxification organ. The immediate effects anyone that had a drink or two can confirm, include euphoria, lowered inhibitions, and impaired motor skills. However, over time, excessive consumption can result in a range of serious health issues with liver damage being the most well-documented, but certainly not the single one.
Chronic alcohol use overwhelms the liver’s capacity to metabolize ethanol, leading to pathological structural changes starting as fatty liver disease, and possibly extending to hepatitis, and/or cirrhosis, conditions that are life-threatening, having as a sole treatment liver transplantation. Beyond the liver, alcohol significantly increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer, including breast, throat, and colon cancers. It must be highlighted that, contrary to common belief, there is no safe amount of alcohol, and even what is considered “moderate drinking”, defined as one drink per day for women and two for men, has been clearly shown to increase cancer risk, challenging the long-held notions about “safe” levels of alcohol consumption.
Furthermore, contrary to the common misconception that moderate drinking is beneficial for heart health, it indeed significantly impacts the cardiovascular system. The myth is based on debunked older data that suggested that moderate drinking might protect against heart diseases, whereas current more robust evidence absolutely disputes this claim. Instead, alcohol has been linked to atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, and other heart-related issues. In addition, extending from the realm of physical health, alcohol greatly impacts mental health, as it can exacerbate anxiety and depression, disrupting normal brain chemistry and fostering dependency, especially for those who use it as a coping mechanism.
Another commonly believed misconception is the idea that certain types of alcohol, like wine or beer, are inherently safer than others, a fundamentally misleading statement. Although true that consuming the same volume of wine to a stronger spirit is less harmful; the danger of alcoholic drinks is tied to the amount of ethanol consumed, not the type of drink. Another debunked myth is that alcohol aids sleep. While it may initially help people fall asleep faster, as is a central nervous system depressant, it disrupts the sleep cycle, particularly REM sleep (the most important stage of sleep), leaving individuals feeling less rested. Misunderstandings are also found around how to “sober up,” with coffee or cold showers often touted as quick fixes, whereas in reality, the liver processes alcohol at its own pace, about one standard drink per hour (that can be significantly slower in some individuals), and there is no shortcut to sobriety.
Moving further than alcohol’s effect to health, it is crucial to obtain a holistic view of the substance and thus consider its deeply entrenched cultural role, making its dangers harder to address. From ancient wine rituals to modern celebrations, alcohol has been associated with joy, relaxation, and social bonding. It is marketed as an integral part of life, often glamorized as a symbol of sophistication or success, however this normalization obscures its health consequences and creates an environment where excessive drinking is often overlooked or even encouraged. Young people, in particular, are susceptible to these narratives, adopting drinking behaviors that can lead to long-term harm.
Movements like Dry January or Sobriety groups seek to challenge these norms, offering a space for individuals to reassess their relationship with alcohol. The growing popularity of such initiatives reflect a broader cultural shift toward mindfulness and moderation with participants often reporting improved sleep, better mood, and increased energy, all being short-term benefits of reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption altogether.
In fact, recent public health initiatives have also been aligning with this cultural reevaluation trend. Indeed, recently the U.S. Surgeon General’s pushed for cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages as a part of a larger effort to educate the public on the risks of drinking following the warnings found on cigarette packages, aiming to make consumers more aware of alcohol’s role in cancer development. This shift in messaging reflects the growing emphasis on harm reduction, empowering individuals to make informed choices.
Yet, addressing the societal role of alcohol requires more than individual action. Policymakers must also grapple with systemic issues, like the great social group disparities tied to alcohol abuse and the economic interests tied to its sale. The alcohol industry, much like the tobacco industry before it, has resisted efforts to limit its influence, prioritizing profits over public health. Balancing these competing interests remains a significant challenge for governments worldwide, however increased awareness is pushing for change. However, one must consider whether it is ethically acceptable for industries to profit from an addictive substance that contributes to significant health and social issues. Also on a deeper level, what does our relationship with alcohol reveal about our values as individuals and as a society? Can true health equity exist in a world where access to alcohol’s benefits and protections from its harms are so unevenly distributed?
Ultimately, alcohol is both a cultural mainstay and a health risk, a duality that complicates how we address its use. While its role in fostering connection and celebration, acting as a social lubricant, is undeniable, so too are the risks it poses to physical and mental health. Regardless of one’s opinion on the matter, it remains fundamental to bring facts forward by debunking myths and collectively embrace knowledge and assisting harm reduction strategies. On a larger scale, it still remains challenging to address the elephant in the room, and contest the normalization of alcohol, however small steps such as taking a month-long break can lead to meaningful change.
References
- Surgeon General Calls for Cancer Warnings on Alcohol. The New York Times. Available here
- Surgeon general calls for alcohol to carry cancer warning. The Washington Post. Available here
- US surgeon general sounds alarm about link between alcohol and cancer. CNN. Available here
- Alcohol’s Effects on the Body. NIH. Available here
- Alcohol Use and Your Health. CDC. Available here
