Learn the facts about alcohol

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Shen-Chia Chu
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. - --  Alcoholic beverages come in many forms. They are sold in appealing bottles and can be shaken, stirred or served on the rocks. Wines are poured into fancy glasses and margaritas are served in salt-rimmed cups decorated with toothpick umbrellas. Regardless of the look or the taste, they all have one thing in common - if abused, they can have harmful effects on the body.

Whether sipping your first can of beer or celebrating for a holiday, here are some tips that aren't printed on the bottle.

What is alcohol?

"Alcohol is a drug which contains ethanol, a substance which depresses the body's central nervous system," said Master Sgt. Kimberley Thrash, 436th Medical Operations Support NCO in-charge of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program. "Wine, wine coolers, beer and distilled spirits all contain alcohol. On average, a 12-ounce wine cooler is seven percent alcohol, the same amount as one and a half ounces of distilled spirits, five ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer."

How does it affect the body?

According to The Partnership for a Drug-Free America nonprofit organization, the moment alcohol enters the body it is absorbed directly into the blood stream through the walls of the stomach. It causes the heart to beat feaster and skin to become flushed, and coordination, depth perception, reflexes, vision, reason and judgment are adversely affected. Alcohol starts to attack liver cells, destroy proteins and disrupt the body's balance of sugar and water.

According to AbovetheInfluence.com, a Web site created by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, drinking alcohol increases the risks of liver damage, mouth, throat, esophagus and larynx cancer, heart disease, can cause high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver, malnutrition and death.

"Pregnant women who drink alcohol are also at risk because their baby may be born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which can damage a baby's brain, weight, heart and can cause physical deformities," said Sergeant Thrash.

The truth about"sobering up"

"Drinking coffee, taking a walk or cold shower will not help you sober up," said Sergeant Thrash. "The liver does most of the work to rid the body of the toxin and nothing can speed up the elimination process. The body can process an ounce of alcohol an hour.

"Drinking milk or eating a meal before drinking alcohol will not prevent a person from getting drunk. While body weight and the rate of alcohol consumption directly influences the amount of alcohol needed to make a person drunk, nothing will prevent alcohol from entering the bloodstream," she said.

Are you an alcoholic?

"Some warning signs that you may need help would be: unsuccessful attempts to cut down, increased tolerance, blackouts, a greater amount of time spent in activities to obtain alcohol, recurrent failure to fulfill obligations at work or home, drinking in situations which it is physically hazardous like drinking while driving or riding with a person who has been drinking," said Sergeant Thrash. "Recurrent, substance-related legal problems; underage drinking and getting into fights while intoxicated and continued drinking despite having persistent problem."

Active-duty Airmen needing help, who may be struggling with concerns involving alcohol, can call the Dover Air Force Base Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment office Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 677-2674.