Wine has been present in human life for thousands of years, associated with cuisine , beliefs and festivals. However, because it contains alcohol, this drink makes people easily drunk and tired.
Therefore, people who regularly drink alcohol turn to countless word-of-mouth tips to avoid getting drunk, sober up, or reduce the harmful effects of alcohol on the body.
Many people believe in these methods even though they have never been scientifically proven. In fact, some of these beliefs can even put drinkers at greater risk by creating a false sense of security.
Here are three common misconceptions about alcohol, debunked by scientific research, according to Popular Science.
The order in which beer and wine are consumed does not determine the level of intoxication.
In many parties, the saying “drinking beer before wine will never make you drunk” is still repeated as an immutable principle. However, there is no scientific basis to show that the drinking order helps reduce the level of drunkenness or limit the feeling of hangover the next morning.
The severity of a hangover depends on the total amount of alcohol consumed, not the order in which beer or wine is consumed (Photo: Getty).
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that the severity of a hangover depends on the total amount of alcohol consumed, not on whether the beer or wine was consumed first. As alcohol levels increase, the nervous system, liver, and circulatory system are all overloaded, leading to headaches, fatigue, and dehydration.
A team of researchers at Witten Herdecke University in Germany conducted an experiment with three groups of people. The first group drank beer then wine, the second group drank wine then beer, and the third group drank only one drink. Then, they switched the order in the next test session.
The results showed that all three groups experienced similar levels of drunkenness and nausea. The order of the changes had no effect on the body’s response. So the myth simply created an illusion of control.
Feeling hot after drinking alcohol is not a sign of warming up the body.
Many people believe that drinking alcohol helps warm the body in cold weather because of the feeling of red face and hot body after a few drinks. However, this reaction is only the expansion of blood vessels under the skin. The dilated blood vessels cause more blood to rush to the surface and carry heat away.
According to Dr. Krishna Vakharia in the UK, the body's core temperature actually drops when drinking alcohol. As heat escapes, the body appears warmer, but in fact, it loses the heat needed to maintain life functions in a cold environment.
A study by Japan's Waseda University also came to a similar conclusion. When comparing the water-drinking group and the alcohol-drinking group in a slightly heated room.
The results showed that the blood flow under the skin and the rate of sweating in the alcohol-drinking group increased rapidly, causing heat to be dissipated more rapidly. After about 20 minutes, the core body temperature of the alcohol drinkers began to decrease and continued to drop lower than the control group.
This explains why drinking alcohol in cold weather can be dangerous, especially for people who travel long distances or work outdoors. The feeling of heat is only temporary.
Coffee cannot help sober up
Coffee is the world's most popular stimulant, with alcohol coming in second. The fact that the two are often combined in the same drink has led many to believe that caffeine helps to stay awake and counteract the effects of alcohol.
However, science shows the opposite. Caffeine only provides a false sense of alertness, while the level of impairment in cognition, reflexes, and judgment caused by alcohol remains the same.
Caffeine only creates a false sense of alertness and cannot reduce the effects of alcohol (Photo: Getty).
Boston University School of Public Health conducted a study on 127 volunteers with 4 types of beer, including: non-alcoholic beer, alcoholic beer, caffeinated beer and non-alcoholic beer with caffeine.
After drinking, they were asked to drive a simulated car under various unpredictable conditions.
Results showed that the group that drank caffeinated beer did not improve vehicle control or reaction time when compared with the group that drank only alcoholic beer.
Experts say caffeine can make drinkers think they are more alert than they actually are, leading to risky decisions like continuing to drink or driving home.
The only way to get over a hangover is time. It takes hours for the liver to completely metabolize the alcohol you drink. No liquid, food, or stimulant can shorten this process.
The World Health Organization has confirmed that all levels of alcohol consumption increase the risk of non-communicable diseases, especially liver disease, cancer and metabolic disorders.
In the context of the festive season and long gatherings, drinkers need to understand the effects of alcohol to protect themselves. Drinking slowly, eating plenty of food, drinking enough water and not driving are always important principles.
Anecdotal tips such as changing the order of drinks, drinking coffee after alcohol or relying on the feeling of hot flashes have no health-protective value.
Understanding common misconceptions helps people make safer choices.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/nhung-meo-chong-say-ruou-tuong-dung-hoa-sai-khien-co-the-te-hon-20251125200440063.htm
Comment (0)