What is Tequila? Is it a Stimulant? Tequila shots are one of the most popular distilled spirits in the world. However, the famous drink comes with numerous deep-rooted myths. One misconception is that tequila is a stimulant rather than a depressant.  Most myths attached to tequila are untrue, including the one above. We’ll discuss...

How to Lose a Beer Belly Carrying too much weight is never healthy, but it’s especially risky when the extra weight is in your midsection. Some people who frequently drink beer gain this weight and refer to it as a beer belly. You can feel subcutaneous fat when you pinch the excess skin in...

Is Whiskey Good for You? Small amounts of whiskey have been shown to possibly have some health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Some research suggests it can also help prevent cancer and other diseases.11 Because whiskey is an alcoholic beverage, moderate drinking is the safest way to consume it....

Alcohol’s Relationship to Crime Alcohol can cause intoxication. Being intoxicated in certain situations is a crime in many parts of the U.S. Such cases include drunk driving, being drunk in public, and having open containers of alcohol on streets.  Alcohol can lower a person’s inhibitions or increase aggression. This increases the likelihood of committing...

Legal Alcohol Limits Explained A state’s legal alcohol limit refers to the blood alcohol content or blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level someone can have before being charged with a DWI (driving while intoxicated) or DUI (driving under the influence). Every state has a legal limit of at least 0.08% for drivers 21 and older....

Gray area drinking refers to a potentially dangerous pattern of alcohol consumption. You are not considered to have an alcohol problem yet—but might be on your way to developing one. This includes alcoholism, the colloquial term for alcohol use disorder (AUD). If you continue gray area drinking, it can become problematic. The more (and...

How Does Treatment for Alcoholism Work? Someone with alcohol use disorder (AUD) benefits from professional treatment. Treatment and relapse prevention increases the odds of long-term recovery and the ability to lead a healthier, more fulfilling life.  Alcoholism, or AUD, is when someone is unable to control, reduce, and/or stop drinking despite knowing they have...

What is Binge Drinking? Binge drinking is when someone drinks a lot of alcohol in a short amount of time. Their blood alcohol concentration rises faster than the body can process it.  Binge drinking is identified chemically when blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reaches 0.08%. This is equivalent to consuming five or more drinks within...

What is Alcohol Withdrawal? Alcohol withdrawal can start within hours of stopping drinking. It refers to the symptoms some people experience when they decide to stop drinking excessively. Not everyone will experience the same withdrawal symptoms. Some people will have less severe symptoms than others.  Initial withdrawal symptoms are due to absense of alcohol...

Alcohol and Fertility Infertility is the inability to conceive after a year or more of unprotected sex. One potential cause of infertility is alcohol consumption. To understand fertility, it’s essential to know the steps involved in human reproduction:  A woman’s body must ovulate (release a mature egg from her ovaries) A man’s sperm must...