Some of us are drinking more than our share

Press, 5 September 1981, Page 10

Some of us are drinking more than our share

Most of us will drink and enjoy an alcoholic drink, whether or not we think it is “good” for us. Indeed, recent reports indicate that a modest, sociable consumption of alcohol may be beneficial to health. Perhaps this will be a calming influence on any vague feeling of, “oh, but’ I shouldn’t.” However, the frequent over-consumption of alcoholic liquor beyond the bounds of sociable behaviour does have detrimental effects on our health. It has the short term effect of depressing the activity of our brains, and it may have the long term effects of causing heart and liver damage, malnutrition, and certain types of cancer. The news that people who do drink moderate amounts of alcohol seem to have less chance of dying from heart disease is encouraging for us in New Zealand. We live in one of the countries with the highest risk for heart disease, which is our leadingcause of death. It is not yet certain whether alcohol may reduce heart disease by: changing the levels of certain fats in our blood streams; altering the amount of fat we eat; reducing the stress and strains of everyday life; or whether, in fact, the results of the studies are pure chance. Many of the surveys have pointed to wine as the alcoholic beverage of choice to reduce the risk of heart disease. But as yet there is insufficient;; basis in- research to recommend that nonJFinkehL should begin to have' a' modest amoun' of .alcohol as a preventive measure tor h.eart disease; ■ '

much on alcohol as we do on meat (without equivalent nutritional value!). These figures are average only, but it is obvious that some people are having more than their share as many people do not drink alcohol at all (including children, for whom it is dangerous). The New Zealand National Heart Foundation Diet Survey demonstrates that a quarter of young men consume more than an average of. half a flagon of beer, or one fifth of a bottle of spirits (seven nips) each- day. Very few women have more than five nips of spirits, or one cupful of sherry on average for one day. New Zealand women drink significantly more wine, spirits, or sherry in preference to beer, in comparison with men. the majority of whom prefer beer. However, we are drinking much more wine than New Zealanders did forty years ago. Whereas our beer and spirit consumption has doubled, our wine consumption is more than twelve times greater than in 1940. Blood alcohol Alcohol is absorbed very quickly from our stomach and intestines into the bloodstream. Absorption will take thirty minutes' if the stomach is empty when the alcoholic drink is taken, but up to two hours if food is taken at the same time. The faster the alcohol is absorbed, the higher the blood sugar will rise. Let us look at this more closely. The liver transforms alcohol into substances that

Good eating

Janice Bremer DIETITIAN

Alcohol as food Alcoholic beverages have been used for medicinal purposes throughout history. Alcohol in the blood stream can induce a tranquilising effect to lessen tension, anxiety, and pain while promoting confidence and a sense of well-being. These same effects may stimulate the appetite and add to interest in food. Alcohol has food calories, but we tend to drink it in addition to food regardless of its "fattening” potential. As we have more money available we tend to spend more on alcoholic beverages, but we do not reduce our food consumption. For nutritional value alcohol does not compare with food, and this will be explained in further columns. The official year book shows that 10 to 20 per cent of our household expenditure for food and drinks is spent on alcoholic drinks. It is in the families where there is one child, or no children, that the higher proportion is spent on alcohol. On average, we spend as

’ To show the effects of drinking alcohol for a normal weight man or woman Number of drinks Blood alcohol one hour Time'to clear Effect tor man for woman after starting to drink from bloodstream hjug ioiiumls) of beer or 2 nips spirits 30 milligrams alcohol hours Increased likelihood of 2'i- nips spirits or 2 or IM- glasses per 100 millilitres of having an accident glasses wine wine blood 1 large bottle beer or 4 3 nips spirits 50 milligrams alcohol 3 1 2 hours | ac |< O f judgment, less nips spirits or or 2 glasses . per 100 millilitres of inhibited glasses wine of wine blood I'3 jugs of beer or 10 5-6 nips spirits 80 milligrams alcohol 5 hours loss of driving licence, nips spirits or 4 l a or 3L; glasses per 100 millilitres of less sociable behaviour glasses wine wine blood

This table illustrates how nine glasses .of wine, or two and a half jugs of beer will definitely cause unreasonable behaviour. People do act differently at different blood alcohol levels, but any person who contemplates driving a car within an hour after the consumption of only half a jug of beer or three nips of spirits is asking for trouble. If alcoholic drinks are consumed persistently over a period of time, or if alcohol is taken at midday and night, the effect is cumulative. We need to remember that our bodies can only clear one nip of spirits or one third of a bottle of beer each hour. “Home remedies” to “speed up” the clearance of alcohol from the bloodstream or to "sober up,” are ineffective because the liver sets the rate of alcohol clearance. Coffee or exercise have no effect on blood alcohol level. Slow down absorption We can slow down the speed with which alcohol eniers the bloodslream

It is important to have food when drinking alcohol. Alcohol on an empty stomach may increase blood alcohol levels to three times that if food is eaten as well. This effect is caused by the more rapid transport of alcohol into the bloodstream, and with the slow clearance by the liver, a higher level is reached. So our blood alcohol level will rise faster and to a higher level if we drink alcohol: — • on an empty stomach before a meal • in drinks with too much alcohol for the amount of water (sherry, liqueur, port, “straight” spirits) • instead of a meal • in liquids with no solid food or a snack • with a very light snack in place of a meal • or drink it down in a few fast gulps ■ instead of small sips over several hours • in a great quantity all at once • mixed with bicarbonated (fizzy) drinks containing no sugar

Low blood sugar Alcohol can also cause a lowering of blood sugar in susceptible individuals, resulting in similar symptons to those of intoxication. This can be very dangerous. The alcohol blocks our body’s process to maintain normal blood sugar levels when we are running out. such as when we exercise vigorously; “diet” to lose weight; have not eaten for a while; or have an unbalanced low starch, low sugar diet. This effect is particularly dangerous for diabetics who have high blood sugar levels; children who have not eaten recently; and people who have or are about to. exercise vigorously in cold weather. (Rescue workers in the mountains are now warned of the problems of low blood sugar if they come in from exhausting work in cold weather to have as little as a few nips of spirits.) Hang-over rating The sophisticated and most

healthy way to drink alcoholic beverages is with meals, in small amounts, in a well diluted form such as wine, or spirits with added “mixers." The hang-over “rating" or alcohol may encourage more people to favour wine over other types of alcoholic drinks. For worst-to-least in effect: brandy, red wine, rum, sherry, whisky, beer, cider, white wine, gin, vodka. Moderation For "moderate" drinking, it is wise to avoid the frequent consumption of more than three nips of spirits, two glasses of wine or two glasses of sherry each day. For health, sociability, and safety, a moderate amount of wine at frequent intervals with food, is preferable to “binging" less often, with haphazard eating. The problems of alcohol with over-weight and alcoholism will be discussed in Part 11. in my next column.

are readily used by our bodies for energy use (calories). However, it is only able to do this at a specific rate. This rate is approximately lOOmg of alcohol for each kilogram of body weight, per hour. ■ • For a 70 kilogram man, about seven grams of alcohol (a third of a bottle of beer or 1 nip of spirits) is all that can be cleared from his bloodstream in one hour. • A 57 kilogram woman can clear nearly six grams of alcohol (two thirds of a glass of wine or 2 dessertspoons of sherry) in one hour. Too much alcohol? What happens if we drink more than this in one hour? Absorbed alcohol is distributed equally throughout all of our body fluids, including the bloodstream. If we have more body fluids (if we are a larger person) then the level of alcohol in the bloodstream will be less for the same alcoholic drink consumed by a smaller person. The more we drink the higher the level of alcohol will become. The level of alcohol measured in the blood indicates the alcohol level of the body, and the effects it has on the brain. This uneven balance of more alcohol consumed than the body can use immediately causes an accumulation of alcohol in the bloodstream, and results in drunkenness. It is obviously absurd that a small man. or a woman, should attempt to drink a larger man "under the table.”

In vogue

Paula Ryan

your wardrobe with dress-up city clothes if your life-style is casual, requiring throw-on-and-go gear. If a city suit fills a daily need keep’ it clean cut, loose, and unstructured.

Skirt lengths are up but you are wise to establish the length around or above the knee that looks right for you and don’t budge. Team the suit with a soft shirt in cotton or silk. Natural fibres are the number one and they work well every time. Many shirts have pleated collars! but all collars, are small. Casual shirts are often collarless, and come in fine cottons. And for a change on a hot day — the ever-popu-lar, silk camisole.

Unless your legs are really tan and veinless, bare legs just don’t riiake it with citylevel dressing. Dressing up for work requires some stocking for finish — even if that stocking colour is almost nonexistant, or a darker, semi-opaque shade. With shorter lengths up to

and above the knee a new dimension naturally falls around the feet line so there is a question you may ask this season: how do you deal with the shorter skirts and pants when you’ve been in full-length pants and longer skirts for a while, and now want to try something shorter? Suddenly you will see your shoes, your stockings in a way you have not before. Your favourite shoe may look heavy; a pale ’ stocking seems too light. If you opt for low-heeled, comfortable shoes, you can't go wrong. Some of you will suit the small Cuban heel, while others will look well in the total flat look. But please note, the new flats aren't made to work every time. They are mainly geared for day-time dressing with shorter skirt lengths, pants, bermudas, jodphurs and skirts.

Full-length evening wear calls for low heels, or strappy, dainty shoes. When selecting casual summer trousers with a classic line look for a generous shape, nothing tight or restricted although legs look well cut narrowing to the ankle. Team with the perfect shirt — small collared, style in soft cotton or fine silk. Belt the pants in narrow, tanned or bronzed leather. (The width for classic belts is a slim, three-quarter inch). Knot a silk, or super-fine wool muffler round the neck, and team with soft, flat leather pumps. For a dressed-down. faster pace select trousers in tougher cotton drill. Wear with crew neck cotton sweater and leather moccasins or soft leather slipper shoes. For another casual look try taking a tank top. team it

with the same colour blouson jacket — loosely fitting — and wear an over-sized necklace. A word about accessories: they are a big statement this summer, but look unattractive when overdone. For casual wear, pieces tend to be large in scale - large leaf, hoop or coin earings, big chokers and ethnic beads, big and bold. Bangles are ’big' also — carved, and polished, and with smooth shine.' Many beaded neckpieces are mixed with textured gold. Gold is strong, but .it doesn’t over-shadow bronze which is the number one highlight for some summer shades. Bronze looks stunning in twisted leather bells, but must be kept uninterrupted as an accessory. Next week we shall talk about the tunic, swim suits, and dressing for evening.