The Disadvantages of Alcohol Far Outweights its Benefits

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

If we love something, we will make all the excuses in the world to have it. It’s the same with alcohol- some feel it is justified to have a glass or two red wine with their meals as red wine is supposed to be good for the heart. But does it really? Does the benefits outweight the risks?

Let’s look at the dangers of alcohol according to research that had been done:

• increased risks of cancer- particularly at the mouth, liver, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, breast and bowel cancers.
• even though some people say that small amounts of alcohol may protect the heart, how many people actually understand the definition of “small”? With alcohol, most people will overindulge, to the point of addiction- and that brings far greater harm, doesn’t it?
• alcohol is high in calories and offer little, if any nutritional benefit. It’s like drinking sweetened water- just with 7 kcal per gram. It’s very easy to gain weight through drinking alcohol- they don’t call ‘beer belly’ for nothing

Interesting potrayal of the dangers of alcohol crafted in Wat Rong Khun, Chiang Rai, Thailand

I’ve seen and heard about the effects of how alcohol addiction ruin lives. When drunk, people ruin their reputation and integrity by uttering ‘truths’ that bite them in the face.  Some people are not good drinkers- so once they get tipsy, they will lose all their inhibitions do things that they’ll regret later. Alcohol clouds a person’s judgement. Also, drunk driving takes away countless of innocent lives every year – it is so dangerous to drink and drive- these people are not only putting their lives in danger, but they are endangering others as well- others who have families and loved ones to go back to.

A friend of mine had been drinking alcohol for many years since she was in her teens (she is now 31).  She is now sober and had stopped drinking but she felt that somehow, the years of drinking had dulled her brain- when she was in college, she had excellent and almost photographic memory- she just need to read the book once- usually the night before the exam and she can remember all the facts. Now, her memory had deterioated and she seemed to have lost that ‘sharpness’ that she once had when young.

Fact Source: Not so merry drinking (The Star, 1 Feb 09). The article contains further information on the link between alcohol and cancer, tips on social drinking, etc.