It's the world's most used drug, and considering it kills nearly 88,000 people per year, we know shockingly little about it. Alcohol consumption is undeniable and there are so many things we believe to be true but just aren't. There are many misconceptions about drinking, especially in the college scene where it's so prevalent, and it's time to clear those up.
1. "Beer before liquor, never sicker; liquor before beer, you're in the clear"
We've all heard this one before: the idea that it doesn't matter the amount you drink, but the order in which you drink it. Many people believe beer is a "softer" drink, therefore if you pound your shots of vodka after your beer, you'll be fine. However, the reality is that the amount you drink is what truly matters. Whether you drink three beers then two shots or the other way around, it will still make you equally as drunk.
2. Puking allows you to drink more
Take this as a warning as your body telling you that you've had enough. There are a lot of people who think if you throw up, they can continue drinking because all the alcohol they've already consumed has left their body. However, that is so, so wrong. Alcohol absorption works by way of diffusion into the bloodstream through the lining of your stomach and small intestine, and this happens so quickly that it's already in your bloodstream by the time you begin throwing up. Your body is smarter than your brain and this is its way of telling you to retire for the night.
3. Drinking one drink an hour keeps you sober enough to drive
As a general rule, if you want to stay cognizant and be able to drive by the end of the night, you need to limit yourself to one drink per hour. The myth says that since our bodies process alcohol at a rate of one drink per hour, we'll be fine if we pace ourselves. The math is as follows: the average rate of alcohol metabolism is 100 milligrams of alcohol per kilogram of body weight per hour. For a typical 160-pound man, this would translate into 7 grams of alcohol in an hour. The so-called standard serving, a 12-ounce bottle of beer, is 14 grams of alcohol, so it would take two hours to fully metabolize it. Therefore, you would become more and more impaired with each drink even if you kept it to only one per hour. Everyone's alcohol metabolism rate is different and chances are the "one drink per hour" rule won't work.
4. You can sober up quickly if you have to
Drinking caffeine, taking a shower, eating food and drinking water. For one, caffeine will not help your liver metabolize alcohol, and neither will any of the other ingredients in coffee. Drinking coffee, along with taking a cold shower while drunk may actually have a negative effect: you may feel more alert and capable of driving when, in fact, you're still impaired. Similarly, eating food while intoxicated to help sober up will have virtually zero effect on your level of drunkenness. However, eating food before you drink can help slow absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream.
Whether you like it or not, alcohol consumption is a big part of American and, especially, college culture. The dos and don't are important to keep in mind and as with most other things when it comes to your help, moderation is key.
