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Alcohol

Did you know...?

We’ve pulled together a bunch of facts that you might not have known about all things alcohol. Have a read – they might make you think twice before reaching for that one last drink…

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  • Every gram of alcohol you drink equals an extra 10mm of pee. That’s why there’s always a queue for the loos!
  • With almost 7 calories per gram, alcohol has almost has the same calorie content as pure fat (never mind the post-pub kebab). So you might want to take a night off now and again…
  • Gin really can make you cry. Alcohol is a depressant – it slows down the parts of your brain that control your emotions (called the limbic system), so you experience exaggerated emotional state.
  • A premium 5% lager has the same number of calories as a slice of pepperoni pizza (about 250). Think about that the next time you’re at the gym and consider a lower alcohol beer or a healthy meal before heading out.
  • Each unit of alcohol (one shot of spirits, half a pint or a small (125ml) glass of wine) takes one hour to process.
    So, none of the quick fixes you may have heard, like warm flat coke, bacon butties and strong coffee will make any difference. NOTHING you can do will speed it up so think about slotting in a few glasses of water or soft drinks the night before to avoid feeling so rubbish the next day.
  • Women get drunk quicker than men, despite having the same amount
    Women build up a higher concentration of alcohol in their blood after drinking the same as men. Size doesn’t matter here, the reason is that women have proportionately less body water than men, so the concentration of alcohol in their blood stream is higher. Evidence also exists that women may breakdown (metabolise) alcohol slightly differently due to an enzyme called ADH, which helps break down alcohol in the liver and is present at lower levels in women.
  • Mixing drinks doesn’t get you more drunk
    It’s actually the fact that you’re drinking different drinks with different unit content, which makes you feel more drunk. What you’re drinking is really just flavoured alcohol, it just depends which flavour and size you choose. It’s not how many different drinks you have, it’s the number of drinks. Full stop.
  • Hair of the dog makes me feel better
    Really? Think about it…your body is going through withdrawal from alcohol, hence the headache, sickness, dizziness and shakes. Drinking more just prolongs the pain. Although in the short term you'll dampen down the shakes, the body ends up having more toxins to deal with and more severe effects will result. One more beer might make you feel a bit better (for a little while) but the only hangover cure is time.