Myth 1: Mixing Alcohol with Soft Drinks is Trendy Mixing alcoholic beverages with soft drinks has become a popular trend. Red wine with Sprite, whiskey with iced black tea, beer with cola... the combinations are endless. Since these mixed drinks have lower alcohol content and feel more like beverages, many people favor them.
However, experts caution that the carbonated drinks commonly used for mixing release carbon dioxide gas in the stomach, forcing alcohol to rapidly enter the small intestine. The small intestine absorbs alcohol much faster than the stomach, thereby increasing the harm.
Moreover, mixing drinks with alcohol may seem to dilute the alcohol, but it actually encourages people to drink more. Because drinkers initially feel like they're consuming a beverage, they tend to drink heavily. By the time they notice the effects of alcohol, they've already consumed too much.
Myth 2: Baijiu Harms You, Wine Nourishes You
Many believe baijiu is harmful while wine is beneficial, assuming moderate consumption is harmless. In reality, whether red or white wine, moderation is key.
Experts indicate that weekly alcohol intake should not exceed 140 grams for men and 70 grams for women. Exceeding these limits increases the risk of alcoholic liver disease. 140 grams of alcohol is equivalent to 3-4 liang (approximately 150-200 grams) of 50-proof baijiu. This means adult men should not consume more than 3-4 liang of 50-proof baijiu weekly, while red wine intake should be limited to 1-2 liang daily.
Myth 3: Flushing from alcohol means you won't get drunk
"People who flush when drinking don't get drunk easily" is a common excuse used at banquets to encourage drinking. However, intoxication has little to do with facial color.
Some believe that turning as red as Guan Yu after drinking is a good sign, thinking it indicates good blood circulation that quickly breaks down alcohol, thus preventing drunkenness.Experts clarify that alcohol tolerance varies significantly between individuals and is largely unrelated to facial color. The common perception that flushed drinkers stay sober longer stems from two factors: they are typically urged to drink less, and their post-drinking drowsiness allows them to recover quickly after a 15-30 minute nap. In contrast, those who remain pale often misjudge their limits, drinking excessively while highly excited.
Myth 4: Smoked meats and sausages as drinking snacks
Never drink on an empty stomach during gatherings. If you can't eat beforehand, at least eat while drinking.Crucially, avoid pairing alcohol with salted fish, sausages, or cured meats. These smoked and cured foods contain high levels of pigments and nitrosamines. When reacting with alcohol, they not only damage the liver but also harm the mucous membranes of the mouth and esophagus, potentially leading to cancer.
To minimize alcohol's damage to the stomach and liver and reduce the risk of fatty liver disease, it's best to eat something before drinking. Options include a glass of milk or some eggs and meat. These high-protein foods can bind with alcohol in the stomach, reducing its absorption.
Myth 5: "Deep Friendship Calls for a One-Gulp Down"
Some people enjoy drinking quickly, often urging others with phrases like "Deep friendship calls for a one-gulp down, shallow friendship calls for a sip," or "Let's go one round."
In reality, drinking should be slow rather than fast. Drinking quickly causes blood ethanol levels to rise rapidly, leading to intoxication sooner. Drinking slowly gives the body ample time to break down ethanol, reducing its accumulation and making it harder to get drunk.
Myth 6: Cigarettes and alcohol go hand in hand.
Some believe "a cigarette and a drink make life blissful."" Especially when drinking gets lively and someone offers a cigarette, even non-smokers might accept it, saying, "It's a rare occasion to be this happy."
But in reality, smoking while drinking harms both the liver and lungs. The nicotine in cigarettes weakens alcohol's effects on the body, creating a kind of "numbing" effect that unknowingly increases alcohol consumption.
Myth 7: Only high-proof alcohol packs a punch.
In reality, higher alcohol content means higher pure alcohol levels. Since over 90% of alcohol is metabolized by the liver, large amounts of alcohol increase the liver's detoxification burden. The higher the alcohol content and the greater the intake, the more severe the damage to the liver.Additionally, breaking down alcohol in the liver requires multiple enzymes and vitamins. The higher the alcohol content, the more enzymes and vitamins the body expends. That concludes our list of 10 shocking myths about drinking. We hope you've gained some insight. Finally, we sincerely wish you good health and happiness.