Arielle Cruz
Alcohol is bad for your health, and excessive drinking can lead to severe health issues, including liver disease, depression, anxiety, and memory problems. However, some alcoholic drinks are considered worse than others. For example, darker alcohols like bourbon, rum, and brandy tend to have higher levels of congeners, which are substances that contribute to a drink's flavour, aroma, and colour. These congeners can make hangovers worse and even contribute to early signs of ageing. Additionally, drinks with added sugars, such as cocktails mixed with juice or soda, can increase the risk of weight gain, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes. Alcohol can also negatively impact skin health, causing inflammation and accelerating signs of skin ageing, including acne and rosacea. While there is no healthy alcohol, some drinks, like light beer and red wine, are considered less detrimental to health when consumed in moderation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Health Risks | Increases the risk of developing at least seven types of cancer, heart and liver disease, depression, anxiety, memory problems, weight gain, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, skin irritation, rosacea, eczema, acne, high blood pressure, and stroke |
| Worst Types for High Blood Pressure | Beer, wine, distilled spirits |
| Worst Types for Skin | Dark liquors like rum, whiskey, bourbon, and gold tequila |
| Worst Types for Weight Gain | Alcohol mixed with sodas, juices, and other types of alcohol |
| Calories | Red wine: 125 calories per 5-ounce glass; Light beer: 100 calories per 12 ounces; Hard liquors: 100 calories per 1.5-ounce shot |
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol and high blood pressure
While there are no definitive answers on which type of alcohol is the worst for you, alcohol in general has been linked to a range of health issues, including high blood pressure. Drinking alcohol, especially in excess, can raise your blood pressure and cause hypertension, which is one of the most preventable alcohol-related problems. Binge drinking and long-term heavy drinking can lead to strokes and heart rhythm problems, and can also cause the heart muscles to weaken, a condition known as alcoholic cardiomyopathy. This condition results in a droopy and stretched heart muscle that cannot effectively pump blood around the body, potentially damaging organs and tissues.
The effects of alcohol on blood pressure are significant, with excessive alcohol use linked to a range of health conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive alcohol consumption includes eight or more drinks per week for women or 15 or more per week for men, or four or more drinks per occasion for women or five or more for men. Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with heart and liver disease, depression, anxiety, and memory problems.
The impact of alcohol on the body begins with the conversion of ethanol, present in alcoholic beverages, into acetaldehyde, a harmful substance that can damage DNA and increase the risk of developing various types of cancer. Additionally, some types of alcohol are high in calories, which can contribute to weight gain and obesity, further impacting heart health. Cocktail mixers containing added sugars can also increase the risk of obesity and health conditions like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
While there is no single type of alcohol that is the "worst," darker alcohols like bourbon, rum, and brandy tend to have higher levels of congeners, substances that contribute to worse hangovers. Clear liquors like vodka or gin are often considered less harmful, but as Jürgen Rehm, a senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, states, "alcohol is alcohol." Therefore, the key to minimising the negative effects of alcohol on blood pressure and overall health is moderation. If cutting back on alcohol is difficult, seeking help from a healthcare professional is recommended.
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Alcohol's impact on skin health
Alcohol can have a detrimental impact on skin health, causing dehydration, inflammation, acne, ageing, and redness. Firstly, alcohol is a diuretic, which leads to dehydration, leaving the skin dry, tight, and dull. Dehydration also causes the body to crave salty and fatty foods, which can further contribute to skin issues. In addition, alcohol is a vasodilator, promoting the opening of blood vessels in the skin, which leads to increased redness and flushing, particularly in those prone to rosacea. This is especially true of red wine, which is also a histamine releaser, triggering allergic reactions, inflammation, and acne. White wine, while not as bad as red, still lacks any redeeming qualities for skin health, with high sugar content leading to inflammation and bloating.
Sugary cocktails, such as mojitos, margaritas, and drinks mixed with energy drinks or juices, are also detrimental to skin health due to their high sugar content, which causes systemic inflammation, wrinkles, acne, and weight gain. Dark liquors like rum, whiskey, bourbon, and gold tequila are worse than their clear counterparts as they contain congeners—chemicals that are difficult for the body to process and can contribute to ageing and worsen hangovers.
On the other hand, clear liquors like vodka and gin are considered better choices for skin health when consumed straight or with minimal additives. Tequila is also a relatively better option due to its lower sugar content, reducing the likelihood of triggering inflammation and breakouts. Similarly, beer contains antioxidants and other anti-ageing benefits, and its lower alcohol content and slower consumption rate make it less dehydrating than spirits.
Overall, the impact of alcohol on skin health is significant, and reducing alcohol intake or adopting healthier drinking habits, such as drinking water alongside alcoholic beverages, can help mitigate its negative effects.
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Alcohol's link to cancer
Alcohol is linked to over 200 health problems, including heart disease and liver disease. It is also associated with a heightened risk of several types of cancer. Drinking less alcohol can lower your risk of cancer, improve your mental health, and help you lose weight.
The link between alcohol and cancer has been well-established by various studies. Alcohol can disrupt cell cycles, increase chronic inflammation, and damage DNA. When DNA is damaged, cells can grow out of control and become cancerous. Alcohol consumption can also increase levels of hormones like estrogen, which plays a role in the development of breast cancer, the most common alcohol-associated cancer among women.
Alcohol further exacerbates the absorption of carcinogens, particularly when used alongside tobacco. This increases the risk of mouth and throat cancer. Additionally, drinking three or more alcoholic beverages per day is associated with a higher risk of stomach and pancreatic cancers. Colorectal cancer is the most prevalent alcohol-associated cancer among men.
To reduce the risk of alcohol-related harm, health experts recommend limiting alcohol consumption to no more than 14 units per week and incorporating at least three alcohol-free days into your weekly routine. Drinking in moderation, such as opting for a light beer or red wine in place of high-calorie alcoholic beverages, can also help mitigate some of the negative effects of alcohol on health.
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Alcohol's effect on weight gain and obesity
Alcoholic drinks are often referred to as ""empty" calories. This means that they provide your body with calories but contain very little in the way of nutrients. There are almost 155 calories in one 12-ounce can of beer and 125 calories in a 5-ounce glass of red wine. Drinks that have mixers, such as fruit juice or soda, contain even more calories.
Alcohol inhibits fat oxidation, suggesting that frequent alcohol consumption could lead to fat sparing and, thus, higher body fat in the long term. Alcohol also increases energy expenditure, likely due to its high thermogenic effect. However, the results of various cross-sectional and longitudinal studies do not unequivocally support such a hypothesis.
The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) conducted a systematic review on alcohol and obesity and found that it is unclear whether alcohol consumption is a risk factor for weight gain because studies have found positive, negative, or no association. Where there is a positive association between alcohol and body weight, it is more likely to be found in men than in women.
While the relationship between alcohol consumption and obesity remains unclear, there are good reasons to think that alcohol may play a role. Alcohol stops your body from burning fat, it leads to greater hunger and less satiety (the feeling of being full), and it is high in kilojoules. An animal study found that mice given ethanol over a period of three days demonstrated a significant increase in food intake. This study suggests that alcohol can trigger hunger signals in the brain, leading to an increased urge to eat more food.
Overall, it appears that light-to-moderate alcohol intake is less likely to be a risk factor for obesity than heavy drinking. Heavy drinking and binge drinking have been more consistently linked with adiposity.
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Alcohol and binge drinking
Binge drinking is defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or higher. This typically corresponds to consuming five or more drinks for men, or four or more drinks for women, in about two hours. Binge drinking is a concern across all age groups, with rates among young people and older adults being particularly high.
The risks of binge drinking are significant and include both short-term and long-term health problems. In the short term, binge drinking can lead to accidents and injuries, impaired judgment, slower reaction times, and loss of coordination. It also increases the risk of unsafe sexual behaviour, unintentional pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections. Binge drinking can also have serious mental health consequences, including mood changes, memory problems, and an increased risk of suicide.
In extreme cases, binge drinking can lead to acute alcohol poisoning, which can be life-threatening. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include breathing problems, seizures, and a loss of consciousness. If you suspect someone is experiencing alcohol poisoning, it is important to place them in the recovery position and seek immediate medical attention.
The long-term health risks of binge drinking are also severe. Binge drinking increases the risk of developing at least seven types of cancer and is linked to heart and liver disease, depression, anxiety, and memory problems. It can also lead to alcohol dependence and serious pancreatic issues, such as acute pancreatitis.
To reduce the risks associated with alcohol consumption, experts recommend limiting the total amount of alcohol consumed on any single occasion, drinking slowly, drinking with food, and alternating alcoholic drinks with water. It is also important to plan ahead to ensure you can get home safely and avoid potentially dangerous situations.
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Frequently asked questions
All types of alcohol are bad for your health, but some are worse than others depending on your specific health concerns. For example, dark liquors like bourbon, rum, whiskey, brandy, and gold tequila are worse for hangovers and can contribute to early signs of ageing. Drinks with added sugars, such as those mixed with soda, dessert cocktails, and high-alcohol content drinks like Manhattans, can also be unhealthy as they raise the risk for obesity and other health conditions like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Alcohol is inflammatory and its regular use can lead to accelerated signs of skin ageing. It can also cause flare-ups of rosacea and worsen eczema.
While there is no evidence that one type of alcohol is worse than another for your liver, excessive alcohol use can lead to liver disease.
Alcohol raises blood pressure by increasing renin, a protein that constricts arteries, and decreasing nitrous oxide, a compound that relaxes arteries. Regular binge drinking can lead to long-term increases in blood pressure.
All alcohol is converted into acetaldehyde, which can damage your DNA and increase your risk of developing cancer. Excessive alcohol use is also linked to many other health conditions, including heart and liver disease, depression, anxiety, and memory problems.
